For Clemson, a nice problem to deal with

CLEMSON — The objective seems simple for the Tigers' defensive staff: start the best 11 players.

The catch is this: of the top 11 defenders identified following spring practice, three are defensive ends competing for two starting positions.

A bottleneck did not form this spring with Ricky Sapp limited to shorts and rehab work following an ACL reconstruction, while Da'Quan Bowers and Kevin Alexander started and performed well.

But this problem of surplus — which the coaches prefer to shortage — is on the horizon.

It is a carryover from last season's resource dilemma when Alexander and Bowers essentially split starts and none of the three ends reached 500 snaps played.

The previous year, standout end Phillip Merling played 588 snaps. Gaines Adams was on the field for 582 plays in 2006.

It seems unlikely that Bowers or a first-day NFL prospect like Sapp will be coming off the bench as a pass-rush specialist on Sept. 4. Still, if the Tigers are to maximize the usage of Alexander, Bowers and Sapp, one must change addresses.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said the "players control the starting lineup," meaning their play will determine all position battles.

Defensive ends coach Chris Rumph says it's too early to forecast. "There are too many variables out there. Bowers and Alexander are the starters today."

Steele said linebacker is his greatest concern, with the team transitioning from essentially a base nickel to a three-linebacker set. He indicated the most likely player to move to linebacker is Alexander, though the veteran coordinator wouldn't place a percentage chance on a conversion this fall.

Bowers, the most massive of the three, won't be making any move. Rumph says he will play the majority of the snaps with his hand down.

Sapp led the team in tackles for loss, so he also seems an unlikely candidate.

Alexander didn't play with his hand down until arriving at Clemson. Because of his previous linebacker experience, Steele believes he has the vision and diagnosing skills to make a switch.

With the productive combo of Brandon Maye and Kavell Conner returning at midde and weakside linebacker, Alexander could be competing with Scotty Cooper for time at strongside linebacker.

"If you play all your career looking at half the field at outside end ... everything is in the triangle,'' Steele said. "(At linebacker) everything is in the funnel ... where you have got to see, have peripheral vision, feel and instinct.

"A lot of guys can't go from playing this vision angle (defensive end) to this vision angle (linebacker). He has those instincts, and he has done it before in high school. I liken it to playing the piano while reading sheet music. You can tell (Alexander) has played a lot of football."

Even if Alexander remains at end, he and Sapp figure to be part-time linebackers in Steele's defense, which is loosely defined a 4-3 base set.

In the defense, the bandit end spends roughly half the time with a hand down like a traditional end, but will also drop into coverage like an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

Steele said all his defensive ends will have coverage reponsibilties.

Rumph and Steele also did not rule out the possbility of moving Bowers inside on some obvious passing downs, with Alexander and Sapp flanking as defensive ends.

The surplus of ends presents a problem but of the sort coaches prefer: too many rather than too few.

Harper to Bills camp

Former Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper, who was not selected in last weekend's NFL draft, will be in Buffalo this weekend for a tryout during the team's rookie minicamp.

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