Koenning still haunted by last year's loss to Gamecocks
Vic Koenning would need a calculator to add up the hours of sleep he's lost as a result of last year's loss to South Carolina.
"They whipped our tail," Koenning said Tuesday.
The Gamecocks moved the ball from beginning to end in a 31-28 victory at Memorial Stadium, rolling up 492 yards and leaving Koenning incensed. The Tigers' third-year defensive coordinator says his players were emotionally flat, and he's determined to keep that from happening again Saturday in Columbia.
"If we don't go down there ready to play, we're going to get embarrassed," he said.
Quarterback Blake Mitchell carved up Koenning's secondary (268 yards passing on a 23-of-36 clip), and the Gamecocks rushed for 208 yards on 35 carries.
"It wasn't an easy thing to do to get them inspired, and it hurt us," Koenning said.
Koenning based last year's game plan on the belief his front four could win one-on-one battles with the Gamecocks' offensive line. The Tigers lost most of them, failing to sack Mitchell and allowing the Gamecocks to surmount a 14-point deficit in the second half.
"It's unfortunate that you remember the bad experiences and tend to phase out the good ones," he said. "That's a sad state, but it's the way I am."
Davis wants more carries
James Davis' mother had a question for him when he arrived home after Saturday night's 20-17 loss to Boston College. "She was like, 'Are y'all allergic to running the ball?'" James Davis recalled.
James Davis had 10 yards on 12 carries, and seven of those attempts were on the first drive. James Davis was steamed when he was taken out on the first possession of the second half; Clemson had to settle for a field goal after facing first-and-goal from the 2.
James Davis ran for no gain on first down and was taken out. Cullen Harper threw incomplete on second down, and a called third-down pass was derailed on a bad snap by center Thomas Austin.
"If you're only going to run the ball one time and throw it two times, I'm thinking you either don't have confidence in your running backs or your offensive line," James Davis said. "I think you need to put the ball in your best players' hands."
In six of Clemson's 11 games, James Davis has carried the ball 12 or fewer times. James Davis said he'll ask offensive coordinator Rob Spence for more carries.
"I've got to get touches to get in a rhythm," he said.
Snap judgment
Austin said his poor snaps against Boston College were the result of miscommunication and nervousness.
On the third-and-goal play, he didn't know Harper was in the shotgun. He snapped the ball into his rump, and Harper fell on the ball for a 3-yard loss.
"I knew the immensity of the game, and it was important. And yeah, just nervousness and stuff like that," he said. "I guess I just have to get in a rhythm and find a comfort zone."
See more at www.charleston.net
