Puncher's Chance

[bigmike]

Given that this is an away game in a hostile environment, Dino and the team seem to be slipping into as favorable an environment as they could hope for. Witness:

1. It's a nooner.
2. Clemson is starting a freshman - as touted as he is - he is still a freshman.
3. We now have, potentially, some loss or focus or team turmoil from the Bryant announcement.
4. Some the younger guys are finding their sea legs - Cisco, Jarveon, Nykeim, et. al.
5. The D line seems super confident, and has experience against these guys.
6. The 'Cuse has crazy competitive Senior QB Dungey.

I picture Dino and the team looking something like this right now:

 

[texascpa]

Putting their heads in the sand?

 

[bigmike]

Not really what I was going for.

 

[orangeinjersey]

is he a true frosh or RS?

 

[upperdeck]

I think we have a punchers chance, but also a boxers chance if the D keeps down the big plays.

poo poo the FSU effort but N. Ill had the same game vs utah and Iowa who are solid teams and we pushed FSU all over on both sides of the ball.

we need to have both lines come to play.

 

[Yeti]

is he a true frosh or RS?

Lawrence is a true frosh as far as i'm aware.

 

[DNABB5]

Putting their heads in the sand?

No. Laying low waiting to spring a trap.

 

[Pyle]

Given that this is an away game in a hostile environment, Dino and the team seem to be slipping into as favorable an environment as they could hope for. Witness:

1. It's a nooner.
2. Clemson is starting a freshman - as touted as he is - he is still a freshman.
3. We now have, potentially, some loss or focus or team turmoil from the Bryant announcement.
4. Some the younger guys are finding their sea legs - Cisco, Jarveon, Nykeim, et. al.
5. The D line seems super confident, and has experience against these guys.
6. The 'Cuse has crazy competitive Senior QB Dungey.

I picture Dino and the team looking something like this right now:

View attachment 140210

No. Laying low waiting to spring a trap.

Let's just throw out #1 and #2 right now. The noon thing is bad for SU attendance. Clemson will not have the same issue. The place will be completely full and they will have been tailgating since 4am so they will be rowdy. Lawrence - this isn't some situation where a highly touted QB is taking over for a graduating Senior. This kid literally beat out all of Clemson's QBs in less than 8 weeks. Not some random P5 who missed on a recruit or two. This is freaking Clemson who recruits in the top of the country every year and this kid crushed it. Add in the fact that we are 4-0 and beat them last year.....we are not laying low. We can try to hide but as soon as we lift our head up, this is what we're going to see......

 

[WinRoadGame]

The problem I see is after watching all their coaches interviews is that they know what we did last year. They know everything they have to correct. They have a lot of returning players this year. That doesn't mean they are going to win. They just have a big edge. I think we have to blitz a lot and try new plays on offense. They know they have to contain Dungey. They know we are going to try to gas them. They know all this stuff. I say blitz the freshman QB and try to use different plays on offense with still running our scheme on O and D.

 

[TheCusian]

Let's just throw out #1 and #2 right now. The noon thing is bad for SU attendance. Clemson will not have the same issue. The place will be completely full and they will have been tailgating since 4am so they will be rowdy. Lawrence - this isn't some situation where a highly touted QB is taking over for a graduating Senior. This kid literally beat out all of Clemson's QBs in less than 8 weeks. Not some random P5 who missed on a recruit or two. This is freaking Clemson who recruits in the top of the country every year and this kid crushed it. Add in the fact that we are 4-0 and beat them last year...we are not laying low. We can try to hide but as soon as we lift our head up, this is what we're going to see...

He's very good. But he's not got a ton of ACC experience. He's not even played a full game vs anyone in college yet. He's only going to get better - but if we have to go against him, this is the week. Our D has been pretty good this year and I expect the DL to be inconsistent against a very good OL. But they'll win some of the battles. Slayton and Alton are good enough to cause some issues.

I think you're right about the noon start not being a negative. But I think a night game there is much harder to win than a nooner.

It's about a 10% chance of a win, IMO

 

[upperdeck]

he hasnt even seen a pash rush yet? will we have one?

 

[PhatOrange]

The problem I see is after watching all their coaches interviews is that they know what we did last year. They know everything they have to correct. They have a lot of returning players this year. That doesn't mean they are going to win. They just have a big edge. I think we have to blitz a lot and try new plays on offense. They know they have to contain Dungey. They know we are going to try to gas them. They know all this stuff. I say blitz the freshman QB and try to use different plays on offense with still running our scheme on O and D.

Start blitzing if the DEnds can't get pressure - but not before. Clemson is going to have their hands full with our ends. We rattle QBs.

Would guess Clemson will look for ways to neutralize our DEnds and their pass rush. I look for inside handoffs. The DT have to clog the middle and the LBs stay home. LBs will have to play the game of the century for their ability.

If we can stuff the run and limit the explosive plays they're in trouble.

 

[Pyle]

He's very good. But he's not got a ton of ACC experience. He's not even played a full game vs anyone in college yet. He's only going to get better - but if we have to go against him, this is the week. Our D has been pretty good this year and I expect the DL to be inconsistent against a very good OL. But they'll win some of the battles. Slayton and Alton are good enough to cause some issues.

I think you're right about the noon start not being a negative. But I think a night game there is much harder to win than a nooner.

It's about a 10% chance of a win, IMO

That's fair, I think ESPN has us at 8%. I have us about 5%.

 

[PhatOrange]

will be a packed house obviously but nooners are still less rowdy. they just are. and daylight games in general are also way less intimidating than night games...especially with that hollywood entrance.

 

[upperdeck]

as bad as the last game down there was. we were down 3-0 moved the ball into clemon side twice on one drive shot ourselves with 2 penalties and failed on 4th down that we are inside the 40 if we just dont take a delay penalty.. then stopped them again threw an INT and down 10-0. Dungey gets hurt and we move it with Wilson again inside the 40 stall out, give up a big play and its over.

clearly cant take penalties and have turnovers.. we took way too many dumb penalties last week.

 

[texascpa]

No. Laying low waiting to spring a trap.

Whoooossshhhh...the sound of my joke going over your head.

 

[UelSU]

Good D-line play against the run and pass...and cut down on the penalties...we might just pull this one off. I'm not worried too much about our offense.

 

[CuseLegacy]

Just to put things in some perspective. I see some folks saying that SU hasn't played anyone. WMU, Wagner, UConn and a bad FSU. So who do y'all think Clemson has played? Furman 0-3, Georgia Southern 2-1, TX A&M 2-2 and a struggling Georgia Tech 1-3.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

I’d be a lot happier if Travis Etienne had decided to transfer right before the game and he terrifies me. I’m trying to keep my hopes in check but I know by Saturday morning I’ll have myself convinced we’re going to win this game. I think you guys have it right with the 5-10% chance.

 

[CuseLegacy]

I’d be a lot happier if Travis Etienne had decided to transfer right before the game and he terrifies me. I’m trying to keep my hopes in check but I know by Saturday morning I’ll have myself convinced we’re going to win this game. I think you guys have it right with the 5-10% chance.

What 5-10%? I think it's more like 50-50.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

What 5-10%? I think it's more like 50-50.

This positivity is why we keep you around CL. And trust me by Saturday morning I’ll be right there with you.

 

[CuseLegacy]

 

[CuseLegacy]

This positivity is why we keep you around CL. And trust me by Saturday morning I’ll be right there with you.

Just keeping me around? She's not quite dead yet.

 

[Orangello]

 

[ottodaorange]

I don't know anything about the mood of the players at Clemson, but I would think that replacing the QB, and a leader of this team for the past 2-3 years, has to effect the players and probably each somewhat differently. I'm not saying it will be divisive, but it has to raise questions in some players minds. Most of the starters have played with Bryant for while and the young future hot shot displaces him. It's got make you wonder how that effects these guys.

Secondly, you may recall that one of the biggest plays in the game last year was when Chris Slayton threw Bryant to the ground early on and the results that produced. I know, this is a different year and we are not at home, but I think we have a better chance than we did yesterday. The odd thing is that we opened as a 21 point dog, went to a 24 point dog yesterday and are presently a 25 point dog. Usually the guys in Vegas have the best perspective, but I hope this time they are wrong.