On spring game relevance

In May of 2006, I was having a casual conversation with Rob Spence when the topic of Will Proctor's performance in the spring game came up.

Proctor, the successor to Charlie Whitehurst, completed 4 of 9 passes for 73 yards. And three of the incompletions were interceptions, including one that C.J. Gaddis returned 35 yards for a touchdown.

Most of you probably remember the popular view after Whitehurst's departure, the belief that Proctor was a "better fit" for Spence's offense. Proctor's showing in the spring game certainly didn't wipe away this notion, but there was some hand-wringing here and there.

Spence was aware of said hand-wringing, and he mocked it privately while saying Proctor's showing in the spring game was completely irrelevant.

A few months later, Proctor completely unraveled late in the 2006 season as the Tigers lost four of their last five games after a 7-1 start and a Top 10 ranking. An inability to consistently make downfield throws was the critical weakness as opposing defenses ganged up to stop the run.

On the other end of the spectrum are spring-game heroes who are seldom heard from again. Paul Macko, anyone?

Naturally, the debate after Clemson's recent spring game centers on how much or how little importance to attach to what unfolded in the scrimmage that featured split teams and bland approaches on both sides of the ball to preserve the element of secrecy and surprise.

My position is probably pretty close to the middle. I'm not hyperventilating and calling for the cancellation of the season in view of Tajh Boyd and Cole Stoudt combining to complete just 14 of 46 passes, but I'm also not totally dismissing it either.

You can learn some things from spring games, but you probably also don't want to attach monumental importance to what happens in them.

I've sat through eight of Clemson's spring games since starting on this beat in the winter of 2004. Let's comb through some of the post-game snippets and stats and quotes from each of those years and see what we learned ... and didn't learn.

2004

The revealing: If Saturday's display was any indication, replacing departed tackles Greg Walker and William Henry is going to be a difficult task. Clemson's defensive ends dominated the scrimmage, as the defense totaled nine sacks without much blitzing. That tally might have been greater had the quarterbacks not worn no-contact jerseys. Tim DeBeer, Marion Dukes, Roman Fry, Jesse Pickens and Cole Downer rotated at tackle, and none was particularly effective at keeping ends Moe Fountain, Gaines Adams, Charles Bennett and Vontrell Jamison from coming off the edges to apply pressure. Bennett and Adams had two sacks apiece, and quarterback Charlie Whitehurst was constantly harassed. He finished 19 of 47 for 290 yards, throwing two interceptions. Dukes, one of three sophomores among the five tackles, blamed the group's inexperience. ... Gaines Adams has two sacks.

The not so revealing: Junior receiver Michael Collins has touchdown catches of 9 and 8 yards. ... Gerald McCloud has 74 yards on three catches. ... Tavaghn Monts is the top tackler with eight tackles, including seven first hits.

2005

The revealing: Charlie Whitehurst completes 21 of 30 passes for 177 yards. ... Chansi Stuckey totals 11 catches for 124 yards.

The not so revealing: Macko rushes eight times for 27 yards and has a catch for 21 yards. ... Kelvin Grant has eight catches for 146 yards. ... Proctor completes 18 of 23 passes for 275 yards and completes 13 consecutive passes at one point. ... The offense is run mostly out of the shotgun.

2006

The revealing: Proctor's interceptions come on three consecutive pass attempts. Neither Proctor nor Tommy Bowden is worried. "He hasn't traveled a long way, but he didn't have a long way to travel," Bowden said. ... Backup quarterback Cullen Harper completes 15 of 25 passes for 156 yards. ... Tyler Grisham has nine catches for 106 yards.

The not so revealing: Rendrick Taylor is the spring game star, totaling 174 receiving yards on four catches (including a 97-yard catch-and-run touchdown on a screen pass). Dabo Swinney, then the receivers coach, raves about Taylor: "He can beat corners, he can beat safeties and he can beat linebackers. He's such a freak athlete that it's exciting. ... I think he can be something special, I really do, if he continues on the track he's on. ... He could be like David Boston or Anquan Boldin. He can be the first Rendrick Taylor." ... The offenses gives up 13 sacks (Clemson allowed just 15 the entire 2006 season). ... Sergio Gilliam racks up three interceptions. ... Brandon Cannon has two sacks. ... Macko rushes for 66 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

2007

The revealing: Harper leaves no doubt he'll be the No. 1 guy at quarterback, throwing for 147 yards on 15-of-24 passing with three scoring strikes and no interceptions. "He'd have to really have a poor offseason and a poor August, which would be out of character for him," Bowden said, responding to a question about what Harper would have to do to relinquish the job. ... Willy Korn completes 13 of 25 passes and throws interceptions to DeAndre McDaniel and Byron Maxwell. ... Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning raves about McDaniel, then a freshman. ... James Davis rushes six times for 100 yards. ... Jacoby Ford has seven catches for 105 yards.

The not so revealing: Ray Ray McElrathbey rushes 13 times for 58 yards after moving from cornerback to tailback. ... Sadat Chambers has an interception return of 30 yards. ... Linebackers Cortney Vincent and Jeremy Campbell combine for 19 tackles.

2008

The revealing: The White offense totals minus-9 rushing yards as the Orange defensive front dominates. Bowden: "We are young in the offensive line. Chris Hairston is ready to play, but we have some other talented players that are young and inexperienced." ... Aaron Kelly is the top receiver with eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. ... Freshman Da'Quan Bowers, an early enrollee, totals seven tackles and two sacks. ... Crezdon Butler has six tackles and an interception. ... Ricky Sapp has two sacks.

The not so revealing: Bowden on Xavier Dye, who has six catches for 87 yards: "He's been outstanding. He has played well all spring." ... Macko is the top rusher for the Orange team with 10 carries for 36 yards. ... Antwon Murchison has two tackles for loss.

2009

The revealing: Quarterback Kyle Parker completes 13 of 21 passes for 171 yards and a score, and also runs for a score to lead the White team to a 30-13 win over the Orange team. He establishes separation over Korn. ... Bowers has two sacks. ... Butler scores on a 32-yard interception return. ... Andre Ellington has 29 yards rushing on nine carries while totaling five catches for 41 yards. ... Michael Palmer has five catches for 86 yards.

The not so revealing: Taylor runs for 48 yards on 14 carries. ... Tight end Durrell Barry has three catches for 29 yards, including a touchdown grab. ... Marquan Jones has two catches for 52 yards. ... Scotty Cooper has five tackles and a sack. ... Terrence Ashe has four catches for 69 yards. ... Kevin Alexander has four tackles and a sack. ... Richard Jackson and Spencer Benton are perfect on field goals.


2010

The revealing: Tajh Boyd draws mixed reviews as he gives fans a possible sneak preview of their 2010 starter at QB. Says Swinney: "He did some freshman stuff. He held the ball too long, taking sacks ... but in the second half he made some good throws." Says Boyd: "I'm coming along. In the first scrimmage, I forced a lot of balls. I've started to go through my progressions more." ... Ellington rushes for 86 yards on 16 carries. ... Swinney says the staff will be "fairly liberal" at rotating tailbacks in 2010. ... Swinney on the defense: "We have good depth. I feel good about where we are there. We really have two starting defensive lines, and we have depth in the secondary even with the loss of Chris Chancellor and Crezdon Butler." ... Dwayne Allen has three catches for 81 yards.

The not so revealing: Parker is solid at quarterback, completing 7 of 15 passes and catching a 23-yard touchdown pass from Marquan Jones. ... Swinney says the spring game showed Clemson will be more diverse offensively in 2010, with the receptions spread over a number of receivers. "Last year, it was No. 86 (Michael Palmer), No. 28 (Spiller) and No. 6 (Ford) and everyone else in line. A number of different guys are going to get the ball. Five or six wide receivers." ... Brandon Maye is the top tackler in the game. ... Kourtnei Brown has five tackles and a pass broken up. ... Richard Jackson averages 50 yards on 10 punts. ... Swinney on the linebacker position: "I feel as good about that position as any on defense." ... Ashe has two catches for 28 yards.

LW