Were Clemson fans foolish to believe Tommy, media again?

A week ago, Ron "MoRon" Morris was making the case that Clemson has the fastest skill players in America and all is rosy in Tigertown. http://www.thestate.com/tigers/story/185931.html
Morris opined that the insertion of Cullen Harper had solved all of the Tigers' problems of a year ago.
And it's not just MoRon. Other media members, as is their tradition in this state, simply glossed over some very important personnel isues at Clemson.

What MoRon and the media left out:

Clemson Offensive line: if you watched Clemson vs FSU, when the two linemen who came out of the game, looked to me to be soft and kind of fat. And they did not look all that big (of course I'm used to seeing SEC linemen week after week.) Still, was it not foolhardy to think Clemson would be better at O-line in 07 than in 06. The Tigers lost Roman Fry (which is when their problems began last year) Nathan Bennett and Dustin Fry, and maybe a couple more from last year. That was Clemson's best O-line under Tommy Bowden. For Clemson fans to think they would not see a drop-off in 07 was unrealistic. I have not heard, but I wonder if Clemson fans are finally ready to recognize OL coach Brad Scott for his true coaching talents, which are lacking.

WR: Aaron Kelley has been a little surprising (that he has looked capable a couple time) since the trend at Clemson for a few years has been underachievement at WR. That trend began about the time Rick Stockstill bolted the program (K. Grant, Rendrick Taylor....etc.) But Kelley's progress may simply be the result of soft competition. Chansi Stuckey was more of a self-made player and it was not rational to think his absence would not be a big loss.

RB: James Davis and CJ Spiller are talented, but probably not anywhere near the best tandem in the country. MoRon, in is column (linked above) said media members laughed when Tommy Bowden credited RBs Mike Davis and Cory Boyd as possibly being in the same class with Clemson's duo. And knowing Bowden's character (or lack of it) he probably was trying to draw a laugh and make fun of SC's RBs. But if his RBs had the heart and toughness of Davis and Boyd, he may not be facing another year in fear of termination. Tommy's RBs can go down surprisingly easily when things go south, as they always seem to do during the season.

QB: Harper, may (or may not) be a little better than Will Procter, but he is a lot like Proctor. He looks great when there is no rush on him, versus an inferior opponent (most of Clemson's schedule.) But he is not a big-play guy. When you consider that Mike O'Cain brought in Charlie Whitehurst, you have to wonder if Bowden has any idea about recruiting, or coaching, the type QB he needs. Harper will throw into double coverage, too, but it has not hurt him much because of the level of the defenses he has played against. And Harper takes horrendous sacks. How familiar does that sound?

Defensive line: Phillip Merling, the nephew of Clemson assistant coach Chris Rumph (a former SC player) is a talent. You just wonder if he was worth the bargaining of a job to get Merling to sign at Clemson. Ricky Sapp has looked good, but there is not a lot after that. Gaines Adams won a game or two for Clemson. I don't think they have that type player on the D-line this year. The departure of Coach Hobby two years ago continues to haunt the D-line and may make the hiring of Rumph, who had sparse experience, even more pronounced.

LBs: I have not studied this group enough to be too analytical, but nothing I've seem makes me believe that it is anything special as a group. Nor is there a player that stands out.

Defensive secondary: With the loss of CJ Gaddis (left early) Hill and Fudge, it was not likely there would be improvement in the secondary. And that is likely to remain the case, except it may be even worse in 07.

PK: Hats of to Mark Buchholz for attempting after the way Jad Dean was treated by Tommy Bowden last year. But the kid needs to pick football or soccer. And you have to wonder what kind of coach would keep sending him out there, miss after miss, versus GT, unless the cupboard is completely empty up there.

Return team: Ford is a threat and should be feared as a return man, but his durability is likely fleeting. If he has gold medal speed (probably does) he should drop football and go to where his bacon is. Kelley may end up losing (fumble) a game before it's over. To risk Davis or Spiller at return, regularly, is just stupid or desperate.

Punt team: Already lost one game for them. How many more will they lose? And why is this a persistent problem under Tommy Bowden.