The Russell Wilson sweepstakes

A big problem with opining from afar is the lack of information that can accompany the opinion.

How many times have Clemson fans shaken their heads when a national voice takes an ill-informed jab at the Tigers? This summer, the common perception nationally -- and probably regionally as well -- will be that Dabo Swinney is on the hot seat and needs a really good season to avoid getting fired. The reality is that he bought himself some time by making coaching changes, and he should be back for a fourth season barring another losing season.

So I'm trying not to condemn Tom O'Brien for letting Russell Wilson go. I don't know the behind-the-scenes particulars, so it's important to proceed with some caution.

But man ... it's hard to understand how O'Brien refused to give the best quarterback in the ACC a chance to compete for the job with Mike Glennon. If you're O'Brien, you swallow your frustration about Wilson choosing spring baseball over football and realize Wilson is the guy who really makes your offense go. You realize your team is better with Wilson running the show.

And that brings us to Wilson's search for a new school to play his final college season. Joe Schad is reporting that a bunch of schools are intrigued, and he mentioned that Auburn and South Carolina "could" be interested in Wilson's services.

If I'm Steve Spurrier, it's not a matter of "could." It's a matter of calling Wilson right now and guaranteeing him the starting job. And it's the same deal if I'm Gus Malzahn or any coach that is seeking a dynamic dual-threat quarterback.

If I'm a Clemson fan, I'm hoping Wilson ends up somewhere other than Columbia or Auburn. Because defending him at either school could be quite the chore.

South Carolina's offense was going to be good already given a great tailback, a great receiver and a good quarterback (and yes, the assumption here is that there's a 100 percent chance Stephen Garcia will be reinstated based on the fact that Spurrier really needs him).

Hand Wilson the job, and you do more than wash your hands of Garcia and all the embarrassing baggage he brings. You add another feared element to an offense that was feared to begin with.

Garcia, as stated above, was a good quarterback. The Garcia I saw last year against Florida and Clemson was a really good quarterback because he managed the game really well. And his power as a runner was a nice weapon because he could punish people for tough yards.

But I'm not sure defenses really had to account for Garcia the way they'd have to account for Wilson. And when you have a third offensive weapon that defenses absolutely have to account for, in addition to Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery, a good offense can become a downright scary offense.

Here's what makes Wilson good, in my mind:

He's a jitterbug quarterback with nice moves and the ability to hurt you on the run, but he's also a skilled passer -- and particularly on the run. That's a rare package.

Last year, defensive coordinators basically had a choice when defending South Carolina: Devote your attention to Jeffery in the downfield passing game and make yourself susceptible to Lattimore, or gang up to stop the run and take your chances in the passing game.

Add Wilson to the mix, and it's another headache. Wilson is quick enough and fast enough to gouge you with the run, but he's exceptionally skilled at squirting from the pocket and firing lasers downfield after safeties are drawn up to stop his running.

Wilson would have to learn a whole new offense at Auburn, and he'd have to do it quickly. The transition to South Carolina would be much simpler because there isn't much difference between what the Wolfpack does on offense and what the Gamecocks do on offense.

This isn't Spurrier's cerebral, precision-based Fun 'N' Gun. He still dabbles some in the I-formation, drop-back passing game that made him great at Florida, but last year's success was based on the shotgun, zone-read stuff that's seen just about everywhere in college football. Simple stuff. And the same stuff that Wilson ran in Raleigh.

Wilson wasn't blessed with a bunch of supporting talent at N.C. State. His defense was average at best, and often bad. The only Wolfpack offensive players who were selected in the NFL Draft the past three years were running back Andre Brown and tight end Anthony Hill, and they were gone after Wilson's freshman season.

If you're a Clemson fan, you're hoping this kid ends up at LSU or Tennessee -- or any team that's not on the Tigers' 2011 schedule.

LW