Tigers eye leadership, playmakers

There's little doubt that head coach Dabo Swinney brought a renewed enthusiasm to the Clemson football program since taking over in October.

But emotion can only take a team so far.

If the Tigers are going to win their first Atlantic Coast Conference title since 1991, or even get to the ACC's championship game next season, Swinney and the Tigers will have to answer these five questions:

1. Who will be the offensive and defensive coordinators for the Tigers?

Alabama assistant coach Kevin Steele is expected to be named the Tigers defensive coordinator any day now.

The Dillon native was most recently the associate head coach/head defensive coach for the Crimson Tide, but Kirby Smart was listed as the defensive coordinator and was calling the plays on game day.

Steele, who had a stint as a linebackers coach with the Carolina Panthers, might be best remembered for his near fight with Panthers defensive end Kevin Greene on the sidelines during his last season in Charlotte.

Steele is a a top-notch recruiter and is expected to be more aggressive than his predecessor, Vic Koenning, who played more zone and blitzed less than Swinney cared for.

Maybe the biggest question is who

will call the offensive plays next season?

Will Swinney and quarterbacks coach Billy Napier continue to call plays like they did in the final seven games of this season or will Swinney go out and get a big name offensive coordinator?

Woody McCorvey is already in place as the Director of Football Operations. Swinney has called McCorvey, his old position coach at Alabama, his "national security advisor." McCorvey was Mississippi State's offensive coordinator and the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator in 1996, but that's nothing to brag about.

To hire McCovey, Swinney would have to fire one current assistant coach and as he said in December no coach is "guaranteed a job" once the bowl season is over.

2. Who will be the Tigers' playmakers in 2009?

Here's who we know are for sure leaving Clemson: Running back James Davis, the Tigers' second all-time leading rusher; Aaron Kelly, the ACC's all-time leading receiver; quarterback Cullen Harper, who threw for 5,700 yards and 42 TDs during his career; wide receiver Tyler Grisham, who finished with more than 130 career receptions; and safety Michael Hamlin, who had 18 takeaways, second most in Clemson history behind Terry Kinard.

That's a lot of weapons gone from the Clemson arsenal in 2009.

If running back C.J. Spiller and wide receiver Jacoby Ford jump to the NFL, that's 88 percent of the Tigers' offense gone from the lineup next season.

Rising sophomore running back Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington, a former Berkeley High School star, are expected to be the 2009 version of 'Thunder and Lightning,' but that's a lot of offense to make up for.

3. Will the Tigers' offensive line get tougher in 2009?

One of the biggest criticisms during the Tommy Bowden era had been the Tigers' toughness along the offensive line.

Against top-notch defensive fronts, the Tigers have been unable to run the ball with any consistency. Take away the sacks against Nebraska and the Tigers still only got 43 rushing yards from Davis and Spiller.

Having all the skill guys in the world won't help if there are no holes to run through.

The Tigers return four starters on the offensive line in 2009, so experience shouldn't be a factor.

Adding offensive tackle/tight end coach Dan Pearman should help Brad Scott and the offensive line get some toughness.

4. Can the Tigers get a respectable recruiting class in February?

The Tigers were off to a great recruiting class at the beginning of the season. But with Bowden's departure and the uncertain future of Swinney, most recruits have had a wait-and-see approach since October.

Swinney and Napier hope to sign 19-21 in this class with needs at just about every position.

Right now the Tigers have 10 verbal commitments with two or three on the way in the next week.

The Tigers picked up a huge verbal commitment after the Army All-American Bowl when wide receiver Bryce McNeal said he would attend Clemson in the fall.

Still, as of Sunday, the Tigers have the 33rd-ranked class nationally, so there's plenty of work to be done.

5. Who will be the starting quarterback in 2009?

The forgone conclusion has always been that Willy Korn is the heir apparent to take over for Harper.

Not so fast.

But by all accounts, freshman Kyle Parker, a star on the Tigers baseball team, has been pretty impressive on the scout team this fall.

Korn actually got his first career start against Georgia Tech in Swinney's first game as interim head coach.

But Korn had lingering shoulder issues and at times looked overmatched against Georgia Tech and Florida State when he was on the field. Korn had surgery on his shoulder after the South Carolina game and was throwing the ball better during Gator Bowl practice.

Parker has the better arm, while Korn has better mobility, which should make this spring practice very interesting.

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