Missing links

This blog thing has been an organic process over the last few years.

The process (two paragraphs, two references to a process; Kevin Steele would be proud) used to involve me spending hours every morning scouring the Internet for links of interest to you folks.

Things gradually changed, and it was less an orchestrated thing and more an unconscious evolution into opinion-based riffs based on whatever whims happen to strike at 7 in the morning.

Some of you seem to like it this way, and some have expressed some wistfulness for the link-heavy format. So today we'll go retro with the objective of helping get ourselves up to speed with Clemson's ACC football opponents this fall.

Have to admit I haven't paid close attention to the daily goings-on at other ACC locales. So some homework is in order as we try to figure out where Clemson stands.

For obvious reasons, Florida State is an important offseason storyline. Biggest question to me is quarterback, though E.J. Manuel did some impressive things in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Manuel for Heisman, though?

Surely the publicity czars in Tallahassee learned their lesson last year with the ill-fated CP-7 campaign. We can safely assume Manuel will begin the season in relative obscurity.

Question of the day, as it relates to the Seminoles:

Let's say Clemson were coming off 1) a 10-win season, 2) a division title, and 3) a nine-point bowl win over an SEC division champ. How utterly giddy would the fan base be right now?

At N.C. State, a Q&A from the rubber-chicken circuit with Tom O'Brien. And the Wolfpack's receiver rotation is a work in progress.

Sorry for the nerdy cliche alert, but isn't everything a work in progress?

In Atlanta, here's a B-Back update from the AJC.

Gotta be honest, don't think I've ever heard of the four guys mentioned: Preston Lyons, Richard Watson, David Sims and Charles Perkins.

And it doesn't look like PJ was happy with his offensive linemen earlier this week.

“There’s 10 offensive linemen out there,” Johnson said, answering a question about the team’s injury status, before clarifying. “There’s 10 bodies.”

The Jackets return three starters on the line from last season’s unit that helped Tech lead the nation in rushing — guards Omoregie Uzzi and Will Jackson and tackle Phil Smith. Regardless, the line has been a weak spot throughout the spring. Asked about the competition at B-back, Johnson said it was difficult to discern, implying the blame lay with the line.

The B-backs “don’t really have much of a chance, if you want to know the truth,” he said. “It’s hard to tell.”

In Blacksburg, superb tailback David Wilson is all smiles as he talks about new running backs coach Shane Beamer.

“I would say they’re complete opposites,” Wilson said. “Coach Hite is more laid back at practice. Coach Shane Beamer is a young guy. He’s more fired up, but both of them are good coaches. Both get the job done.”

Having heard that, I wandered over close to the running backs when they broke out for individual drills at tonight’s practice. And I saw what Wilson meant. Shane Beamer was sprinting up and down the field with his backs. At one point he strapped some funny-looking pads to his arms and showed the guys who to correctly execute a swim move on a defender to create separation on a passing route.

Beamer jabbed his padded hands at the players’ chests and told them to try to break his forearms as they swatted him away. Then he stopped and looked at Wilson and made sure to clarify: “I didn’t literally mean to try to break my forearm.”

Later, when tailback Tony Gregory let Beamer get right in his face before trying to swat him away, the coach yelped, “Don’t let me get close! I’m going to try to break your ribs!”

Wilson looked over to the scribes and grinned. “See that energy?”

In College Park, Cliff Tucker moves from the hardwood to the gridiron.

And here's more on that.

The swingman-turned-wide receiver showcased his quick hands and athletic ability during Thursday's open practice. Listed at 6 feet 6, Tucker — sporting No. 88 — towered over most of the other receivers.

"He's got good size and good leaping ability," Maryland coach Randy Edsall said. "We have to get him back to catching that oblong ball instead of that round ball, which is a little tougher to catch."

Edsall said another school showed interest in adding Tucker to its football team. When he heard Tucker was pursuing a return to the gridiron, Edsall reached out to the former Texas prep star.

"Here's a young man that's right here on this campus who's played before and expressed interest," Edsall said. "I'd be crazy as a coach to not have him come out and work with us."

In Chestnut Hill, the defense confuses Boston College's young quarterbacks.

And here's a recent feature Ivan Maisel wrote on Luke Kuechly.

In Chapel Hill, Butch Davis (yup, he's still there) talks running backs with Heather Dinich.

He also makes an appearance on Dave Glenn's radio show.

And here's a story on the new guy at QB, Bryn Renner.

Dinich checks in with Wake Forest's Jim Grobe, who says the Deacs are going to be a "much, much better football team."

And here's a story on the Deacs relying on veteran help.

Happy Friday, everyone.

LW