Tigers get jump on Tech

CLEMSON -- The Tigers face one of this season's great logistical challenges in Atlanta on Thursday.

After defeating Middle Tennessee's spread Saturday, Clemson immediately began shifting schemes and players to prepare for Georgia Tech's triple option.

An impossible task with only five days of reps? Yes. Which is why Dabo Swinney and the Tigers began their plan of attack against the Yellow Jackets' flexbone in March, an offense which produced the fourth-best rushing total in the country last season (273.2 yards per game).

Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele's forward-thinking plans were one of the aspects that impressed Swinney when the pair met this offseason.

"Kevin believes in looking at all your opponents as you plan installation and practice," said Swinney of work done during the spring period. "Prepare for as much as you can early . . . If you have an opponent that is very unique, it only makes sense to prepare a little bit. We spent some more time as a coaching staff (on Georgia Tech) this summer and hopefully that will be a big benefit."

Steele's philosophy is to build a "library" of schemes and strategies, which the Tigers can borrow from when facing an unconventional offense, or when faced with a game-day surprise.

After featuring a dime package Saturday, with last season's leading tackler Kavell Conner benched -- Conner said Monday it was a "humbling experience" -- the Tigers will feature much more size Thursday.

In the middle of the action Thursday will be middle linebacker Brandon Maye, who successfully orchestrated the defense Saturday, recording 13 tackles and earning player-of-the-game honors from Swinney.

"What we try to do in camp is build that library up," Maye said. "(This game) is one of those instances where we can go back and pull from that library."

So what makes the triple option so difficult? After all, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has said his players don't need a playbook and that his offense is essentially one play with three variables.

With three backs, two fanned out to the edge of the tackle box in its flexbone look, Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt can either hand the ball off, keep it himself, or pitch it.

"The biggest thing is assignments," Maye said. "If you've got the dive, you've gotta take the dive. If you got quarterback pitch (play that). You can't try and be a hero."

Though simple to defend in concept, it has given defenses fits since Johnson was at Navy and before that at Georgia Southern, where he won Division I-AA titles in 1999 and 2000. In 1999-01, Georgia Southern led the FCS in rushing twice, averaging 419 rushing yards per game in 1999.

At Tech, the scheme's success is more than a product of strategy.

Junior running back Jonathan Dwyer earned ACC Player of the Year honors last season, recording 1,395 yards on the ground.

He is one of the top backs in the country, possessing a blend of speed and power (6-0, 235). His first carry of the season last week against Jacksonville State went for a 74-yard touchdown.

"He's a hard runner," Conner said. "You have to wrap up and hit hard."

While Nesbitt is a threat on the ground, recording 96 yards on 14 carries in the 37-17 season-opening win, Tech believes he will become more of a passing threat this season.

And at Tech, the triple option has become a quadruple option.

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is a 6-3, 229-pound threat with ball skills and speed who could put up monster numbers in a conventional offense.

When the Yellow Jackets do pass -- Tech threw 20.4 percent of the time last season -- Thomas is usually targeted, accounting for 39 of Tech's 74 completions last season.

It was a Nesbitt to Thomas 24-yard touchdown pass that was the difference in Clemson's 21-17 loss to Tech last season, after the Tigers held up reasonably well against the option, holding the Yellow Jackets to 3.9 yards per carry.

"There is not too much misdirection," Conner said. "It's a matter of recognizing the schemes. … They're just going to come at you strong."

Reach at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at
www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.