My SU-Clemson thoughts and onward

[orangepassion]

• Gotta give it up for the Defense keeping us in the game single handedly for 3 quarters
• Not sure why Cordy played so much in this game over Scoop or even Stritzinger. At his height, it was a problem waiting to happen, even w/o the missed tackle that was the biggest defensive play of the game.
• Speaking of that Cordy play, what was the story of the sideline stripe on that play? How is there an empty patch there? May have contributed to that big play-Wonder if that will be investigated.
• Evan Foster after several years experience still taking bad angles, as he did on that play
• Tackling improved overall, but still a little too much of missed tackle
• I can't imagine how frustrated Alton and Kendall must be. Has Alton gotten 1 sack yet this year? We need to figure out a way to get something out of them, as they are being totally wasted
• Part of how they were neutralized was running game and quick passes, which our offense needs to utilize more. Considering we refuse to ever run the QB or do we any run other than right up the middle, thought our running game was okay in the beginning and went away from it too quickly.
• Is it a crime for us to do any outside runs? Didn't recall seeing 1 sweep until the game was out of reach. You can tell that the D often knows exactly what we're going to do
• Obviously the INT was a killer, especially with where the game was at the time, but our blocking and playcalling isn't giving him much of a chance.
• I don't seeing us beating anyone decent w/o running TD a few times a game to keep the D honest. I know they're scared of injury and I don't want him running 15 times/game, but we're not good enough and don't know if we'll ever be good enough on the line to lose that threat. Dino talks about OL growing up, but we're going to have to replace OL every year. There's got to be a happy medium.
• That the staff is so scared to run him also speaks to our very disappointing QB recruiting (other than TD). Our backups are a walkon and a guy who committed originally committed to Shafer. That means our than a true Freshman who apparently looked pretty bad in preseason, this staff doesn't have one scholarship QB.
• Hofrichter was the MVP with the DB's the best position group. Though the LB's were decent, too.
• Our WR's look so skinny-We need some power there-Could Cam Jordan help in the red zone?
• Think our TE's and RB's are underutilized in the passing game. They have some talent.
• Disappointed Riley didn't return 1 or 2 where he had some space
• Hope we didn't scare our casual fanbase. This was a gamble when we put everything-Homecoming, Tim Green etc. into a game against such a formidable opponent. Will be very interesting to see the attendance next weekend, which leads to:

Going forward, WMU is a HUGE game and far from a gimme. They have a ton back from last year, when we barely escaped by the skin of our teeth. I think we will have a much better idea of what this year's this team will be after that game. If we lose that game, it could get ugly. If we can beat them and especially if the offense can show they can score some points, every ACC bowl game is still a possibility.
I also believe it's a prove it game and season for the staff and team as a whole to show that we can win w/o Dungey (for a full game) against a solid team. We haven't demonstrated that to this point (under Babers or Shafer) and bears watching.

 

[Trueblue25]

Its infuriating watching us try to develop a pass rush while giving wideouts a 10 to 15 yard cushion.

 

[upperdeck]

every team outside of Clemson has issues.

if we had flipped clemson maryland home away it makes a difference too

would not be all that surprising to 5-1 at home

 

[upperdeck]

Its infuriating watching us try to develop a pass rush while giving wideouts a 10 to 15 yard cushion.

where did we give any cushion last night?

 

[Trueblue25]

where did we give any cushion last night?

The entire second half from what I saw with the exception of whoever CF was paired with. Someone let me know if I’m wrong, but it seemed like the coaches were only comfortable with CF going true man to man.

 

[upperdeck]

almost every catch they made on Cordy he was in the guys pants. they ran some slow drag plays, but thats not really cushion night and day better than the coverage vs Maryland. A few key missed tackles is what hurt is. and then Clemson realized they could run that quick toss sweep because they have RBs that beat our LBs to the corner in the 2nd half and suddenly they moved the ball.

 

[baggerbob]

The entire second half from what I saw with the exception of whoever CF was paired with. Someone let me know if I’m wrong, but it seemed like the coaches were only comfortable with CF going true man to man.

Don't know what happened to Iffy, he was playing press coverage, but was replaced in 2nd half by Cordy, and pass defense was terrible.

 

[Trueblue25]

Don't know what happened to Iffy, he was playing press coverage, but was replaced in 2nd half by Cordy, and pass defense was terrible.

Iffy hasn’t been 100% healthy im pretty sure

 

[SWC75]

where did we give any cushion last night?

We did in the first quarter. Then the staff realized we had no shot doing that and played tight coverage the rest of the way.

 

[SWC75]

Iffy hasn’t been 100% healthy im pretty sure

Cisco, Melifonwu and Williams were all sidelined at various times.

 

[SWC75]

"Think our TE's and RB's are underutilized in the passing game. They have some talent."

Agreed. We got two big plays throwing to Neal and never did it again. Adam terry said that set up a long pass to Jackson on the same side but I didn't see that, either. And a pass to Hackett might have been just the thing in the red zone situations. We did it to Pierce last year. Why not Hackett this year?

 

[tbonezone]

defense didn't quit thru 3 qtrs. offense is a hot mess. coaching, prep and recruiting concern me.

 

[721Comstock]

"Think our TE's and RB's are underutilized in the passing game. They have some talent."

Agreed. We got two big plays throwing to Neal and never did it again. Adam terry said that set up a long pass to Jackson on the same side but I didn't see that, either. And a pass to Hackett might have been just the thing in the red zone situations. We did it to Pierce last year. Why not Hackett this year?

I said the exact same thing.
That little pop pass to the TE in the red zone is money.

Especially on a clear “running situation”, so you catch the D overplaying run stop; the TE blocks for a moment, then releases.

We basically tried to out-muscle Clemson’s 5* guys with our 3* guys.
With predictable results.

 

[djorange1989]

We did in the first quarter. Then the staff realized we had no shot doing that and played tight coverage the rest of the way.

We need to do that the rest of the way I don’t care who we are playing.

 

[rrlbees]

• Gotta give it up for the Defense keeping us in the game single handedly for 3 quarters
• Not sure why Cordy played so much in this game over Scoop or even Stritzinger. At his height, it was a problem waiting to happen, even w/o the missed tackle that was the biggest defensive play of the game.
• Speaking of that Cordy play, what was the story of the sideline stripe on that play? How is there an empty patch there? May have contributed to that big play-Wonder if that will be investigated.
• Tackling improved overall, but still a little too much of missed tackles
• I can't imagine how frustrated Alton and Kendall must be. Has Alton gotten 1 sack yet this year? We need to figure out a way to get something out of them, as they are being totally wasted
• Part of how they were neutralized was running game and quick passes, which our offense needs to utilize more. Considering we refuse to ever run the QB or do we any run other than right up the middle, thought our running game was okay in the beginning and went away from it too quickly.
• Is it a crime for us to do any outside runs? Didn't recall seeing 1 sweep until the game was out of reach. You can tell that the D often knows exactly what we're going to do
• Obviously the INT was a killer, especially with where the game was at the time, but our blocking and playcalling isn't giving him much of a chance.
• I don't seeing us beating anyone decent w/o running TD a few times a game to keep the D honest. I know they're scared of injury and I don't want him running 15 times/game, but we're not good enough and don't know if we'll ever be good enough on the line to lose that threat. Dino talks about OL growing up, but we're going to have to replace OL every year. There's got to be a happy medium.
• That the staff is so scared to run him also speaks to our very disappointing QB recruiting (other than TD). Our backups are a walkon and a guy who committed originally committed to Shafer. That means our than a true Freshman who apparently looked pretty bad in preseason, this staff doesn't have one scholarship QB.
• Hofrichter was the MVP with the DB's the best position group. Though the LB's were decent, too.
• Our WR's look so skinny-We need some power there-Could Cam Jordan help in the red zone?
• Think our TE's and RB's are underutilized in the passing game. They have some talent.
• Disappointed Riley didn't return 1 or 2 where he had some space
• Hope we didn't scare our casual fanbase. This was a gamble when we put everything-Homecoming, Tim Green etc. into a game against such a formidable opponent. Will be very interesting to see the attendance next weekend, which leads to:

Going forward, WMU is a HUGE game and far from a gimme. They have a ton back from last year, when we barely escaped by the skin of our teeth. I think we will have a much better idea of what this year's this team will be after that game. If we lose that game, it could get ugly. If we can beat them and especially if the offense can show they can score some points, every ACC bowl game is still a possibility.
I also believe it's a prove it game and season for the staff and team as a whole to show that we can win w/o Dungey (for a full game). We haven't demonstrated that to this point (under Babers or Shafer) and bears watching.

Strick was in quite a bit in the 2nd half. He and Cordy were in together often because I believe Cisco and Iffy both got dinged in the 2nd half.

 

[rrlbees]

where did we give any cushion last night?

I saw it often especially in the first half. Right in front of me dbs were backpedaling on the snap.

 

[baggerbob]

Iffy hasn’t been 100% healthy im pretty sure

If they can get him healthy, put Trill at the other corner, and go to a 4-3. Get Richards in the lineup.

 

[shu 49]

If they can get him healthy, put Trill at the other corner, and go to a 4-3. Get Richards in the lineup.

Exactly

 

[pastorkenny]

every team outside of Clemson has issues.

if we had flipped clemson maryland home away it makes a difference too

would not be all that surprising to 5-1 at home

Trust me, our team has issues too. I say this with all the kindness in the world meaning no offense - the difference I think is that you guys wonder if yours will be fixed. We know ours will based on past experience. That trust didn't come cheap though. Those of us who have been Clemson fans for a long time have not forgotten where we came from. Hang in there, guys.

 

[orangepassion]

We did in the first quarter. Then the staff realized we had no shot doing that and played tight coverage the rest of the way.

I think the Defensive staff was trying be unpredictable w/ that to confuse Lawrence a bit. The negative is that is that it allows him to avoid our pass rush.

 

[JeremyCuse]

• Gotta give it up for the Defense keeping us in the game single handedly for 3 quarters
• Not sure why Cordy played so much in this game over Scoop or even Stritzinger. At his height, it was a problem waiting to happen, even w/o the missed tackle that was the biggest defensive play of the game.
• Speaking of that Cordy play, what was the story of the sideline stripe on that play? How is there an empty patch there? May have contributed to that big play-Wonder if that will be investigated.
• Evan Foster after several years experience still taking bad angles, as he did on that play
• Tackling improved overall, but still a little too much of missed tackle
• I can't imagine how frustrated Alton and Kendall must be. Has Alton gotten 1 sack yet this year? We need to figure out a way to get something out of them, as they are being totally wasted
• Part of how they were neutralized was running game and quick passes, which our offense needs to utilize more. Considering we refuse to ever run the QB or do we any run other than right up the middle, thought our running game was okay in the beginning and went away from it too quickly.
• Is it a crime for us to do any outside runs? Didn't recall seeing 1 sweep until the game was out of reach. You can tell that the D often knows exactly what we're going to do
• Obviously the INT was a killer, especially with where the game was at the time, but our blocking and playcalling isn't giving him much of a chance.
• I don't seeing us beating anyone decent w/o running TD a few times a game to keep the D honest. I know they're scared of injury and I don't want him running 15 times/game, but we're not good enough and don't know if we'll ever be good enough on the line to lose that threat. Dino talks about OL growing up, but we're going to have to replace OL every year. There's got to be a happy medium.
• That the staff is so scared to run him also speaks to our very disappointing QB recruiting (other than TD). Our backups are a walkon and a guy who committed originally committed to Shafer. That means our than a true Freshman who apparently looked pretty bad in preseason, this staff doesn't have one scholarship QB.
• Hofrichter was the MVP with the DB's the best position group. Though the LB's were decent, too.
• Our WR's look so skinny-We need some power there-Could Cam Jordan help in the red zone?
• Think our TE's and RB's are underutilized in the passing game. They have some talent.
• Disappointed Riley didn't return 1 or 2 where he had some space
• Hope we didn't scare our casual fanbase. This was a gamble when we put everything-Homecoming, Tim Green etc. into a game against such a formidable opponent. Will be very interesting to see the attendance next weekend, which leads to:

Going forward, WMU is a HUGE game and far from a gimme. They have a ton back from last year, when we barely escaped by the skin of our teeth. I think we will have a much better idea of what this year's this team will be after that game. If we lose that game, it could get ugly. If we can beat them and especially if the offense can show they can score some points, every ACC bowl game is still a possibility.
I also believe it's a prove it game and season for the staff and team as a whole to show that we can win w/o Dungey (for a full game) against a solid team. We haven't demonstrated that to this point (under Babers or Shafer) and bears watching.

Good post with lots of interesting points. The QB recruiting is one that isn't getting enough attention. The loss of Amie to transfer has already compounded a serious problem and the fact that were 0 for 2 or 3 this year on our top targets is extremely concerning. Don't know what the answer is but its unfathomable that in this offense and scheme were having so many issues recruiting high end QBs and Wrs.