Time for the latest edition of Ask TCI.  Each week we will take questions on the message board The Rock.  We will take questions up until midnight on Tuesday.

Each weekend we will run our Ask TCI feature with answers to some of the questions asked by the Clemson Insiders.  Make sure to get your questions in next week.

Question – How will the addition of Notre Dame affect football recruiting for Clemson. Will ND come in and take away more southern talent or will the addition of ND allow Clemson to move in and take away some talent from up North?

TCI –The additional exposure the ACC will get with the five football games with Notre Dame should help recruiting but it would be hard to quantify how much.  Clemson has had two straight top ten classes so the recruiting is already at a very high level.  If Clemson could land Montravius Adams they could have the best defensive line catch ever, anywhere.

Question – How big of a recruiting impact will the FSU/Clemson game have? Supposedly a huge list of big time recruits at that game.

TCI – The FSU game could certainly give Clemson a boost if they can come away with the victory.  A win over the Noles and the Tigers will be a top six team and be in the early discussion for the national championship.  The national respect for the Tigers will go up big if Clemson defeats Florida State.  The biggest impact would likely be on the 2014 and 2015 classes, not the 2013 class as the Tigers have most of that class already committed.

Question – Does the defensive staff and players know why they are giving up “chunk” plays? Are they fixable short term?

TCI – Yes they are being given up because they are missed assignments.  Those are very coachable.  The two big plays against Auburn were do to the defensive not lining up correctly.

The defense is very young so the hope is these mistakes will be corrected with more experience.

Question – are we still recruiting Shaq Wiggins (Georgia commitment)?

TCI – Yes the Tigers are still recruiting Wiggins.

Question – Where has Cortez Davis been? He was highly rated coming out of hs and he was pretty tall for a DB/S at 6-3 or 6-4. Does he not have a grasp of the new scheme but plays physical, or has he been lazy and not very physical.

Right now Cortez is simply behind some players in the depth chart with much more experience.  Based on what we have heard from the staff Cortez has some physical skills, but just needs to learn the system better and get some experience.

Question – I noticed Martavis Bryant drop a ball when he unnecessarily jumped to catch it. Do you think that’s why he dropped the ball? and is this something the coaches would try to correct?

TCI – The drop had more to do with concentration that the jump.  When the ball hits you in the numbers it should be caught regardless.  The coaches are certainly working hard in practice to improve the drop balls we have seen early in the season.  Unfortunately the can’t make the player concentrate.  With the depth the Tigers have at receiver if drops continue playing time will be reduced for those not making the catches on a consistent basis.

Question – Who do you think will be our top 2 guys at running back next year (will the position be a strength?)

TCI – The top two running backs heading into 2013 with be Rod McDowell and D.J. Howard.  We would another back to push for playing time.  Brooks, Dye and Gallman will all have a chance to battle for playing time.

Question – Where does the staff plan on Blanks eventually settling? It seems like with what we have, he has to be a safety. 

TCI – Eventually we think Blanks will likely end up at safety.  If you look at the depth chart that will be a big need next year.  For this year we expect him to stay in the hybrid role he is currently playing.

Question – Do you think Ryan Carter, as a S, gets an offer based off of these numbers?

TCI – We saw Ryan play against Miami Central earlier in the month.  We spent a good bit of time watching Ryan  that night to see if he was worth an offer.  Based on what we have seen he certainly wouldn’t be a bad offer.  He is certainly as talented as some of the other guys offered over the past few years.  Right now we don’t believe the staff is ready to offer.  If they decide to offer in the future we certainly don’t believe that would be a huge mistake.

Question – Any news on Josh Outlaw?

TCI – Josh is expected to be on campus this weekend.  We will know much more about the Tiger’s chances after the visit.