The TCI staff of Ed McGranahan, Hale McGranahan, Will Vandervort, William Qualkinbush and Robert MacRae go Around the Horn to answer some of the questions surrounding Clemson athletics.
Who is the player Clemson can ill afford to lose this season — Isaiah Battle, Cole Stoudt or Vic Beasley?
Ed McGranahan: “Losing any key player to injury is relative to when it happens. Losing Cole Stoudt during the Georgia game would be painful but not insurmountable during the season. As valuable as Vic Beasley’s skills are, there are a lot of moving parts on defense which could minimize his absence. Until Aug. 30 the most important player on the team is left tackle Isaiah Battle. With two offensive linemen suspended for the Georgia game, there’s going to be a lot of juggling, patching and pasting to create a run game and protect Stoudt.”
William Qualkinbush: “Based on my reaction last night when news of his minor injury broke, I think the answer here is Isaiah Battle. We all know the factors at right tackle don’t exactly inspire a great deal of confidence at the moment. The only tackle people seem to feel good about is Battle, even though he’s only started four career games. With Battle out, it stretches the tackle position incredibly thin. Plus, you might have to rob Peter to pay Paul by moving a guard (i.e., Kalon Davis) out of a position group where quality depth exists just to be able to functionally run an offense. Given Shaq Anthony’s absence for the Georgia game already, as well as that of guard David Beasley, Battle absolutely must be in the mix in that and every game this season. Otherwise, Clemson’s offensive line will face the unenviable task of blocking Georgia’s edge rushers with virtually zero margin for error or injury across the front. That’s not a recipe for success.”
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Will Vandervort: “He may not be the best player on the team, but given the situation and the lack of experienced depth the Tigers have on the offensive line, they cannot afford Battle to go down at anytime. Battle is the most experienced and talented tackle they have and there is a reason he was put in the position to protect Stoudt’s and Deshaun Watson’s blindsides. Also, keep this in mind. Clemson will have to move Kalon Davis outside from his normal guard position which will take an experienced guard off the line, taking away from the overall depth at that position as well. Losing battle affects more than just his position, it affects the entire offensive line.”
Hale McGranahan: “There are plenty of able bodied defensive ends on the roster not named Vic Beasley, but he’s the guy that Clemson can most ill afford to lose this season. Though the production as a pass rusher speaks for itself, his mere presence on the field makes him one of the most valuable players on the entire Clemson roster. It’s probably safe to assume that Beasley is the first guy
that opposing quarterbacks will look for before every play, and there’s something to be said for that.”
Robert MacRae: “That is a tough question. I would have to go with Isaiah Battle. Clemson is already thin at tackle. That would be a huge loss. The others would be as well, but the DL is loaded and Watson is going to be a great one. Beasley makes everyone else on the line better, but that would not hurt the defense as much. We don’t yet know what Cole will do as the starter. We know Battle can be a force.”
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