Senior LB to miss at least 6-8 weeks with broken ankle; Clay now in starting lineup
Senior linebacker Tramaine Billie is out at least 6-8 weeks after undergoing surgery Friday on his broken ankle, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said Friday evening.
Depending on how a planned conversation went later last night, Billie — a starter and Dreher High School product — could sit out a lot longer.
Bowden said because of Billie’s extended absence, there will be discussion about whether he should use his redshirt, which Billie did not take in his first year.
“We’ve got to find some way to absorb that loss,” Bowden said. “He was having a great camp. As I was telling the team, we can’t replace his speed. But there are other ways to absorb it.”
With Billie out until at least October, the wheels were set in motion Friday to replace the linebackers corps’ fastest set of wheels.
The first step involved speeding up the development of sophomore Antonio Clay, who had been expected to challenge Billie for the starting job.
The second step required filling Clay’s spot on the depth chart, which the Tigers took care of by sliding junior reserve Maurice Nelson back from the weak side to the strong side.
The third step finalized the promotion of freshman Jeremy Campbell to the third-string spot, increasing the likelihood he may skip redshirting because of depth concerns.
A day after inheriting his new starting role, Clay sensed an increased urgency in the coaches’ expectations of his performance.
“You have a different approach to everything,” Clay said. “You’re more serious.”
That’s because replacing Billie is serious business.
Billie, who has started Clemson’s last 18 games, may be undersized (6-foot, 205), but his speed and force were an ideal fit for the linebacker position in coordinator Vic Koenning’s zone scheme that requires the most versatility.
The strongside linebacker, or SAM, is frequently called upon to blitz off the edge. It also is charged with covering the tight end or running back in pass situations considerably more than the weakside linebacker, or WILL, whose primary duty is fighting blocks from interior offensive linemen.
Koenning has praised the run-stuffing abilities of Clay (6-0, 225), but criticized him for regressing since moving to SAM from middle linebacker in the spring.
Clay did not necessarily agree, pointing to his limited spring assignments while saying his coverage skills have been sufficient since fall camp began.
“He just has to go through the learning curve,” outside linebackers coach Ron West said.
If Clay does not hit the curve fast enough for their liking, the Tigers appear to be comfortable with Nelson as their fallback.
The 6-2, 215-pound redshirt junior out of Crestwood said his underachieving label had been justified until spring practice, when he earned the team’s most improved outside linebacker after switching to the WILL spot from SAM.
While sophomore Josh Miller remained on first-team defense as junior incumbent Nick Watkins worked to return to the coaches’ good graces, Koenning has fingered Nelson as the corps’ most pleasant surprise and a candidate to unseat both Watkins and Miller.
When Nelson saw Billie on Thursday night, Billie teased that another position switch was imminent.
How long Nelson stays a SAM linebacker depends on Billie’s health, Clay’s progression and his own performance.
“I don’t go out there saying I want to be second-team,” Nelson said. “I feel I can be that extra linebacker who plays well and plays sound.”
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/colleges/clemson_university/15311195.htm
Also Clemson TE dismissed from team:
Reserve Clemson tight end Paul Muse was dismissed from the football program Wednesday for a violation of team policy.
Clemson coach Tommy Bowden made the announcement after practice and said Muse will not be allowed back on the squad in the future.
“He is dismissed for a violation of team policy — for good,” he said.
Muse has not been at practice since being excused last Friday. At the time Bowden denied Muse would have any action taken against him and was still on the team. Bowden, at the time, said he excused the redshirt freshman from last Friday’s practice to attend to a few personal matters.
Bowden later added that Muse’s release was a clean one and he was cleared to transfer anywhere in the country, including the ACC. Muse’s father reported on an internet message board Wednesday that the 6-foot-3, 250-pound tight end hopes to transfer to either Florida or Florida State. He is from First Coast High in Jacksonville, Fla.
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/colleges/clemson_university/15291778.htm
