To clear up a few things first: As I mentioned earlier this week, I'm unfortunately not making the trip to Boston. I'll do my best to have updates on who's suited up tomorrow, probably posted on Twitter, but it obviously won't be the same as being able to put my own eyes on things.
Overall, I've heard the team is getting healthier. That's kind of what I expected. Dave Clawson would never confirm this on the record, but last week felt like a situation of "we have a two-game cushion and Clemson is always one of the most-physical teams we play, let's rest who we can afford to rest instead of risk taking a skeleton crew to BC in a potential must-win game."
So, what I've heard on some of the Deacons' injury situations:
- Michael Jurgens is expected to be back at center, which will shift the rest of the offensive line back into the spots they've played all year. This is the big one: Center is the most-important position on Wake's offensive line because it's responsible for calling out protections and shifts before the snap.
- Ja'Corey Johns was expected back last week -- Clawson confirmed that in his Tuesday press conference -- but he logged as many snaps as I did against the Tigers. At the risk of being Charlie Brown to Clawson's Lucy holding the football, I'd think Johns will be back this week.
(and they need him; Wake Forest is seemingly down to two DEs it trusts to hold up against the run, and the only way they could get Rondell Bothroyd and Jasheen Davis on the field at the same time was to teach Davis a new position on the fly this season)
- I think Christian Beal-Smith and Nasir Greer are in the flip-a-coin category as far as whether they'll play.
- Finally: I'm trying to track down a rumor that Donavon Greene will suddenly be able to play. I've got nothing concrete so at this point, I'm inclined to believe it's just a rumor.
I'm not going to get worked up about something I don't believe is a possibility, so I'll just say this: Greene suffered a torn ACL four months ago. Even *IF* he's able to return, WR isn't a position where the Deacons are desperately thin. Bringing Greene back would seem like a lot of risk for a small, if any, reward.
Overall, I've heard the team is getting healthier. That's kind of what I expected. Dave Clawson would never confirm this on the record, but last week felt like a situation of "we have a two-game cushion and Clemson is always one of the most-physical teams we play, let's rest who we can afford to rest instead of risk taking a skeleton crew to BC in a potential must-win game."
So, what I've heard on some of the Deacons' injury situations:
- Michael Jurgens is expected to be back at center, which will shift the rest of the offensive line back into the spots they've played all year. This is the big one: Center is the most-important position on Wake's offensive line because it's responsible for calling out protections and shifts before the snap.
- Ja'Corey Johns was expected back last week -- Clawson confirmed that in his Tuesday press conference -- but he logged as many snaps as I did against the Tigers. At the risk of being Charlie Brown to Clawson's Lucy holding the football, I'd think Johns will be back this week.
(and they need him; Wake Forest is seemingly down to two DEs it trusts to hold up against the run, and the only way they could get Rondell Bothroyd and Jasheen Davis on the field at the same time was to teach Davis a new position on the fly this season)
- I think Christian Beal-Smith and Nasir Greer are in the flip-a-coin category as far as whether they'll play.
- Finally: I'm trying to track down a rumor that Donavon Greene will suddenly be able to play. I've got nothing concrete so at this point, I'm inclined to believe it's just a rumor.
I'm not going to get worked up about something I don't believe is a possibility, so I'll just say this: Greene suffered a torn ACL four months ago. Even *IF* he's able to return, WR isn't a position where the Deacons are desperately thin. Bringing Greene back would seem like a lot of risk for a small, if any, reward.
