Mature offensive line plowing the road

CLEMSON — During the dark days of 2008, as Clemson’s offensive line took the blame — and rightfully so — for many of the Tigers’ offensive issues, offensive line coach Brad Scott would remind reporters that, believe it or not, the stout “Powerline” fronted by Nathan Bennett, Roman Fry and Barry Richardson had similar problems during its more youthful days.

Have patience, he suggested, in the young, inexperienced and beat-up group led by Thomas Austin and Chris Hairston, and a similar metamorphosis could happen.

A year later, Scott looks pretty smart.

Heading into Saturday’s home finale, the line is emerging as a force behind Clemson’s suddenly powerful offense. The Tigers are averaging 42 points per game during their five-game winning streak, and they’re doing lots of damage on the ground.

In Saturday’s 43-23 win at N.C. State, Clemson rushed for 254 yards, marking the third consecutive game it had rushed for at least 240 yards. That’s the longest 240-yard rushing streak since 2000, when the Tigers went for 240-plus in five straight games.

“They’ve gotten more experience along the way,” Scott said. “They’re definitely playing better as a unit as a team. Saturday we had a lot of three-way blocks called at the line that we were able to pass off. That’s when, as a coach, you know it’s happening. You can coach them in a room, set them up on a scout team and drill it, but to be able to carry it from the practice field and game field, have them communicate that and get the same page before the ball is snapped – we’re able to do that, and I like it.”

Experience and overall continuity are two huge reasons for the line’s improvement. Last year, the Tigers started seven different combinations in the first eight games thanks to injuries that sidelined Hairston, Barry Humphries and David Smith, among others. When Mason Cloy, Landon Walker and Smith started against N.C. State, it marked the first time Clemson had started three freshman linemen in the same game since World War II.

Now that Walker (the starting right tackle), Cloy (who swings between guard slots after starting 2009 as the No.1 center) and Smith (a backup right tackle) have a year of experience under their belts, the improvement is palpable.

“We watched film from Virginia, Wake Forest, N.C. State last year, and it’s unbelievable how much better we are,” said senior tight end Michael Palmer, who often works with the line in blocking schemes. “We were bad and we’ve gotten better. Starting with Thomas and the leadership he’s had with those guys, they’ve just gelled, learned a lot and grown a lot. They continue to improve week-in and week-out.”

Continuity, said Scott, is the biggest key.

“It’s being able to play the same guys, being healthy and smart out there,” he said. “Our guys are learning how to practice and the defensive staff does a good job working with us (to prevent injury).”

Scott sees similarities between this group and the Powerline, but this group might actually be ahead of it. Austin, who has started 34 consecutive games, will be the only graduation loss, with Hairston assuming his leadership duties. Counting Cloy and redshirt freshman center Dalton Freeman, six players with starting experience will return next year.

“They’re playing as a group a little more poised and under control (than the Powerline did),” Scott said. “That crowd was aggressive sometimes to a fault. It’s us understanding it as a staff; we’ve been together a little longer, and that makes a big difference. It’ll be interesting to see how this group progresses down the road.”

So far, they’re making their coach’s comparisons seem smart.

“We watched a lot of those (older) games and saw those guys run off the ball, and now that we know what we’re doing, we can play faster,” Austin said. “That’s what’s happening with a lot of these younger guys that played a lot of football last year. They were trying to tread water. Now they have that experience, they’re starting to play, we’re finishing these blocks off and starting to play nastier.”