Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

Rex Brown

Clemson’s Cory Lambert (76) blocks for quarterback Cullen Harper, center, during the Tigers’ spring game in April at Memorial Stadium in Clemson.

CLEMSON — Cory Lambert thought he was hearing things when Clemson offensive line coach Brad Scott called his name out as a guard during Tuesday’s position meeting in the McFadden Building.

“I thought he said the wrong name,” Lambert told reporters after Wednesday night’s practice.

But he did not.

Lambert, at least for the time being, is playing left guard in an attempt to get Clemson’s five best available linemen out on the field at the same time.

“The best way to get them on the field might be to move Lambert to get some reps at guard, so I’m taking a look at that right now,” Scott said

With Lambert’s move inside, that could mean redshirt freshman Landon Walker will stay at right tackle. Clemson’s line for the Wake Forest game could look like this next Thursday night in Winston-Salem, N.C. – Walker at right tackle, Mason Cloy at right guard, Thomas Austin at center, Lambert at left guard and Chris Hairston at left tackle.

“Landon has done a good job and has got better and better. He had his best game Saturday,” Scott said. “We probably played our best game up front, though it wasn’t quite good enough, but they did a nice job, and you can tell that little bit of experience is starting to pay off a little bit.”

Lambert worked both at guard and left tackle in Tuesday and Wednesday practices, while Hairston is getting about two-thirds of the work, as he is coming off the knee injury from the infamous moped accident following The Citadel game on Sept. 6.

“I could go back to tackle, but Landon is doing such a great job, he doesn’t want to mess up what has been a good thing so far,” Lambert said. “Coach is trying to see what he can work with during this bye week.”

Because he has played tackle and knows what the calls are, Lambert says the move so far hasn’t been too tough and he feels like he is adjusting well to the move.

“Just knowing that I don’t have that outside where I can push them past the quarterback, that’s the biggest adjustment,” he said. “I have to be firm on the line, both sides, inside and outside.”

Scott says he doesn’t see Lambert having any issues adjusting to the move.

“The way our offense is with the blocking schemes, the guards and tackles are together a whole lot, so he knows all the calls, and all the combination blocks and stuff, so it is not that difficult a transition. We have two weeks and we are just trying to work it out a little bit,” he said. “He did okay out there today. It was a pretty heavy contact day, and I thought he did fine out there. I don’t really have a lot of choices at guard right now, so he is a good one.”

Though there were no new injuries from the Maryland game on the offensive line, guard David Smith is still questionable for Wake Forest thanks to an ankle sprain he suffered against S.C. State.

“Of course, I’m going to try anything new because it is only going to make me a better player,” Lambert said. “That’s what I’m willing to do. If I can help the team in any way that I can, then I will do whatever it takes.”

And at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, that isn’t an easy move, considering he now has to get lower and get more leverage to drive off defensive tackles and linebackers.

“It really doesn’t bother me because I know I have to stay low enough, and it actually gets me lower in my stance,” Lambert said. “It gets me prepared for more of what is to come.”

Calling plays. Clemson coach Tommy Bowden isn’t going to be calling plays for the Tigers again. The Clemson coach says he doesn’t miss those days and isn’t leaning towards going back anytime soon.

“Why do you think (Steve) Spurrier is getting rid of it and (Mark) Richt is getting rid of it,” he said. “There are so many things to do. I did it for a long time, probably until I was about Mark’s age… I guess you get so involved with other aspects of your job. You are held accountable so much more academically, off the field, discipline and all that stuff.

“You better be on top of your Ps and Qs. You just don’t have the time to invest a lot of time in it.”

As for speaking with offensive coordinator Rob Spence since Saturday’s game, Bowden has not spoken with him in regards to play calling.

Clarification. The question asked to Spence following Tuesday’s practice by a fan Web site reporter in regards to players questioning why he doesn’t throw the ball downfield more was taken out of context. Clemson spokesperson Tim Bourret said players were asked the question in reference to the downfield passing game, and they responded by saying, “You will have to ask Coach Spence.”