Colleges

Scouting report

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published September 3, 2007

No. 19 Florida State at Clemson, 8 p.m.

Clemson has lived and died offensively of late with the big play and running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller can produce game-changers. Davis is the power, Spiller brings the speed and elusiveness (a la his idol, former FSU great Warrick Dunn). They combined for 2,125 rushing yards and 27 rushing TDs last year. Coach Tommy Bowden plans to have them on the field together a lot, spending the offseason studying how other teams with talented tandems have utilized the backs. "You're always trying to get your best guys the ball or in a position to get it," Bowden said. Said FSU's Bobby Bowden: "Thing that scares me most about his offense is the big-play capability; its kind of like Babe Ruth coming out every ninth batter. He's going to put one out of there, you just don't know when." But the Tigers They return just one starting offensive lineman, tackle Barry Richardson, and have a first-time starter at quarterback, Cullen Harper. If the line can't control the Seminoles' front or if Harper struggles on national TV then Davis and Spiller won't roll up yards and the Tigers likely would see their two-game winning streak (and three of four) against FSU end.

[Last modified September 2, 2007, 21:08:07]