Central Michigan wasn't supposed to tell us much. It's a Week 4 game against a MAC team.
But with CharMar Brown out, Mark Fletcher Jr. resting, and the staff still shuffling the interior of the offensive line, it turned into the closest thing to an open audition we've had all year.
With Congdon at guard, the size, the movement, and the way he engaged blocks all stood out, and Darian Mensah had room to breathe. With Buchanan and SJ, there were good plays. But for every good one, Ahmmon saw another where somebody missed an assignment or didn't get enough push.
"I think by default it's going to take care of itself because it's pretty obvious," Ahmmon said. "I understand it's Central Michigan, but the eye test I don't think has failed us so far."
Everybody loves to say we have the best offensive line coach in the country. Put Mirabal on a lie detector and ask where these guys fit best and he'll tell you what everybody already sees: Cantwell at tackle, Congdon at guard, SJ at center.
Maybe the staff expected the older guys to hold up better and buy more time. It hasn't worked out that way, and now the process is accelerating. Cantwell and Congdon both graded out well at PFF against Central Michigan.
That's the direction this needs to go.
Ahmmon also liked something most people will forget by Wednesday. The first drive stalled. We've been so sharp early in games that he actually wanted to see how we'd respond when it didn't go right. We got the ball back and scored 52 unanswered.
These are small tests. They add up in November.
Ahmmon wasn't shocked. He was proud.
"I respect the guy for just not jumping ship, not complaining, not crying, just waiting his turn, waiting for his opportunity to strike," Ahmmon said.
That's rare now. Two, three years of hearing "wait for your opportunity" and he actually waited.
Ahmmon thinks Hellcat earned his way up the depth chart and wouldn't be surprised to see him get a crack at Clemson depending on the score.
Injuries happen. Having another back you trust matters.
Javian Mallory looked great. Agile between the tackles, strong in pass pro, and he had a pancake block that made the rounds on the timeline. The one miss was a block on a play-action boot, and Ahmmon puts that on Mallory and Mensah together.
Girard Pringle Jr. was solid, probably not to his own liking. Ahmmon wants to see him used differently: stretch plays, pitches, screens, anything that gets him to the perimeter. His skill set doesn't match what we're asking the run game to do right now.
Jordan Lyle is still getting his rhythm back after the suspension and everything in camp. He was one missed tackle away from a big run more than once.
Rotating guards matters here too. When you're swapping interior linemen and the chemistry isn't there, running inside gets muggy and the backs don't get clean looks. Ahmmon isn't making any final judgments off one game.
Mallory has shown the most complete game overall, Pringle and Lyle have the most pure horsepower in the room, and we've seen it in flashes. The question isn't whether they can make the run that sends everybody into a frenzy. It's whether they can do it consistently over four quarters.
And with Joshua Moore out for the year we're going to see more and more of him.
Ahmmon noted how running backs are wired to follow blocks and read holes. Right now he doesn't see a return identity on special teams. No return left, return right, or middle. It's just catch it and run.
But receivers "don't rely on blocks," and can improvise as returners.
There's some similarity between Wingo and Clemson's Bryant Wesco Jr., who took a punt back that basically decided the Cal game.
Wesco might have more pure explosiveness, and he's proven. Wingo might end up the better receiver.
Wesco is also why Ahmmon wants Dylan Joyce locked in this week. We outkicked the coverage against Wake Forest, they returned it to the five, and only a penalty bailed us out. Special teams has been where opponents find an extra spark against us for a few years now. Do that at Death Valley and they'll make you pay.
We're breaking down Clemson all week on the CanesInsight Daily Podcast, and Ahmmon is putting the lab coat on Wednesday. Watch the full conversation below, and hit like and subscribe so you don't miss any of it.
But with CharMar Brown out, Mark Fletcher Jr. resting, and the staff still shuffling the interior of the offensive line, it turned into the closest thing to an open audition we've had all year.
The offensive line is sorting itself out
The line rotated all night. Ben Congdon got his run, Max Buchanan got reps, SJ Alofaituli got reps, including some at center, Jackson Cantwell played tackle and Jamal Meriweather got in there too.With Congdon at guard, the size, the movement, and the way he engaged blocks all stood out, and Darian Mensah had room to breathe. With Buchanan and SJ, there were good plays. But for every good one, Ahmmon saw another where somebody missed an assignment or didn't get enough push.
"I think by default it's going to take care of itself because it's pretty obvious," Ahmmon said. "I understand it's Central Michigan, but the eye test I don't think has failed us so far."
Everybody loves to say we have the best offensive line coach in the country. Put Mirabal on a lie detector and ask where these guys fit best and he'll tell you what everybody already sees: Cantwell at tackle, Congdon at guard, SJ at center.
Maybe the staff expected the older guys to hold up better and buy more time. It hasn't worked out that way, and now the process is accelerating. Cantwell and Congdon both graded out well at PFF against Central Michigan.
That's the direction this needs to go.
Ahmmon also liked something most people will forget by Wednesday. The first drive stalled. We've been so sharp early in games that he actually wanted to see how we'd respond when it didn't go right. We got the ball back and scored 52 unanswered.
These are small tests. They add up in November.
Hellcat waited his turn
Chris Wheatley-Humphrey ran for over 100 yards and a touchdown, and he didn't just look quick. He looked fast and powerful.Ahmmon wasn't shocked. He was proud.
"I respect the guy for just not jumping ship, not complaining, not crying, just waiting his turn, waiting for his opportunity to strike," Ahmmon said.
That's rare now. Two, three years of hearing "wait for your opportunity" and he actually waited.
Ahmmon thinks Hellcat earned his way up the depth chart and wouldn't be surprised to see him get a crack at Clemson depending on the score.
Injuries happen. Having another back you trust matters.
The running back room without CharMar Brown
This was really the first game without CharMar, and Fletcher sat too. So Javian Mallory got the start, and the other four backs got a real showcase.Javian Mallory looked great. Agile between the tackles, strong in pass pro, and he had a pancake block that made the rounds on the timeline. The one miss was a block on a play-action boot, and Ahmmon puts that on Mallory and Mensah together.
Girard Pringle Jr. was solid, probably not to his own liking. Ahmmon wants to see him used differently: stretch plays, pitches, screens, anything that gets him to the perimeter. His skill set doesn't match what we're asking the run game to do right now.
Jordan Lyle is still getting his rhythm back after the suspension and everything in camp. He was one missed tackle away from a big run more than once.
Rotating guards matters here too. When you're swapping interior linemen and the chemistry isn't there, running inside gets muggy and the backs don't get clean looks. Ahmmon isn't making any final judgments off one game.
Mallory has shown the most complete game overall, Pringle and Lyle have the most pure horsepower in the room, and we've seen it in flashes. The question isn't whether they can make the run that sends everybody into a frenzy. It's whether they can do it consistently over four quarters.
Somourian Wingo, and why receivers make better returners
Pringle hasn't had much success returning, and against Central Michigan, Somourian Wingo stepped in on kicks and punts and nearly took one the distance.And with Joshua Moore out for the year we're going to see more and more of him.
Ahmmon noted how running backs are wired to follow blocks and read holes. Right now he doesn't see a return identity on special teams. No return left, return right, or middle. It's just catch it and run.
But receivers "don't rely on blocks," and can improvise as returners.
There's some similarity between Wingo and Clemson's Bryant Wesco Jr., who took a punt back that basically decided the Cal game.
Wesco might have more pure explosiveness, and he's proven. Wingo might end up the better receiver.
Wesco is also why Ahmmon wants Dylan Joyce locked in this week. We outkicked the coverage against Wake Forest, they returned it to the five, and only a penalty bailed us out. Special teams has been where opponents find an extra spark against us for a few years now. Do that at Death Valley and they'll make you pay.
We're breaking down Clemson all week on the CanesInsight Daily Podcast, and Ahmmon is putting the lab coat on Wednesday. Watch the full conversation below, and hit like and subscribe so you don't miss any of it.
