SU gave Clemson the toughest game all year

[Trueblue25]

You gotta love college football fans.

After watching a conference foe take Alabama apart last night, some might think, "Oh-oh! We have to play these guys next year".

But the optimists among us see opportunity.

Wonder how close this game would’ve been if Alabama didn’t get the benefit of playing on a neutral field

 

[illi3]

Having it be the Saturday of the most disruptive week in years for Clemson didn't hurt.

Yeah. That week where your unbelievably well coached and focused team saw their coach install the better QB that they had watched in practice all summer must have been hard.

/sarcasmfont

 

[Trueblue25]

Having it be the Saturday of the most disruptive week in years for Clemson didn't hurt.

How fortunate for you the backup happened to be crossbred between Manning and Optimus Prime

 

[orangecuse]

This is the real test of where our program is. We shouldn't need to be the "surprise"team anymore, just the good team we have become. No more "Hey they didn't know. No one told them" Now it is "we tried to tell you the past 2 seasons. Did you not listen to us?" We told you. You knew, and we still beat you. Because you are in OUR HOUSE!!!

Nice! I wouldn't be surprised if SU steals your script!

 

[Trueblue25]

I know our DE’s matchup with anyone in the country.

How do our db’s matchup with ND’s and Bama’s? Sunshine embarrassed them.

 

[SkyTopBus44]

I completely have forgotten about the Notre Dame game. The same Clemson humiliated them in the semi final game. They destroyed us.

 

[orangecuse]

Yeah. That week where your unbelievably well coached and focused team saw their coach install the better QB that they had watched in practice all summer must have been hard.

/sarcasmfont

That game against Clemson in defeat gave us a lot of media attention, positive PR all season, and continued last night as a couple of times it was mentioned how Clemson was on the brink, until rescued on that late 4th Q 94 yard drive and that crucial 4th and 6 conversion. All of that positive love has certainly done a lot for the program's current image.

However, that being said, there's no doubt Clemson was distracted all week by the QB drama, and it would be foolish to think it didn't have any affect. Dabo himself admitted to same in his interview after the game. They played a sloppy game, along with 4-5 turnovers, including one on a completely muffed punt by their returner early 4th Q where we scored our only TD in the 2nd half...an 8 yard drive punching it in on 4th and goal. Otherwise, we had been completely dominated in the 2nd half, and the total first downs for the game were like 28 for Clemson, 12 for us.

 

[GoSU96]

You gotta love college football fans.

After watching a conference foe take Alabama apart last night, some might think, "Oh-oh! We have to play these guys next year".

But the optimists among us see opportunity.

It is an opportunity. Total house money game, all upside and no downside regarding the outcome.

 

[721Comstock]

Hmmm... I seem to recall that Clemson had a bit of an issue with A&M as well this season.

For some reason Clemson’s coaches and players appear to be overly challenged by Dino, the system and our players. Hopefully that won’t change.

Not really. Clemson was in control of that game pretty much the whole way.
14-3 at half, 28-13 end of 3rd Q. Does that sound like a tight game to you?
aTm rallied late to make it close(r), but - a road win is a road win.

We were up TWO SCORES in the 4th quarter AT Clemson.

And needed just ONE of 2 different 4th quarter 4th down plays to go our way, and we win that game.

Agree 144% with your last part tho.

 

[cuse10]

I watched the game last night and kept saying "how did we have these guys beat". No Lawrence clearly helped but man they have athletes.

Lawrence also looked terrible. SU got penetration into the backfield. If the run defense was as good as it became at the end of the season, Etienne would have been shut down. A lot of what ifs with that game. Clemson won, but they weren't the better team that day. Syracuse woke up a sleeping giant. The game next year in the Dome is going to be something if the Orange take care of business in the weeks ahead.

 

[gbo]

Lawrence also looked terrible. SU got penetration into the backfield. If the run defense was as good as it became at the end of the season, Etienne would have been shut down. A lot of what ifs with that game. Clemson won, but they weren't the better team that day. Syracuse woke up a sleeping giant. The game next year in the Dome is going to be something if the Orange take care of business in the weeks ahead.

I don't know about shutdown but you definitely would have contained him better no doubt.

 

[orangepassion]

To be fair, it was also Lawrence's 1st start against us. I assume he improved since that time. Hopefully, so have we.

 

[Shark58]

Hmmm... I seem to recall that Clemson had a bit of an issue with A&M as well this season.

For some reason Clemson’s coaches and players appear to be overly challenged by Dino, the system and our players. Hopefully that won’t change.

that game was 14-3 at the half and 28-13 going into the 4th. not as close as the final score indicates.

 

[rrlbees]

That game against Clemson in defeat gave us a lot of media attention, positive PR all season, and continued last night as a couple of times it was mentioned how Clemson was on the brink, until rescued on that late 4th Q 94 yard drive and that crucial 4th and 6 conversion. All of that positive love has certainly done a lot for the program's current image.

However, that being said, there's no doubt Clemson was distracted all week by the QB drama, and it would be foolish to think it didn't have any affect. Dabo himself admitted to same in his interview after the game. They played a sloppy game, along with 4-5 turnovers, including one on a completely muffed punt by their returner early 4th Q where we scored our only TD in the 2nd half...an 8 yard drive punching it in on 4th and goal. Otherwise, we had been completely dominated in the 2nd half, and the total first downs for the game were like 28 for Clemson, 12 for us.

What was the distraction the prior season?

 

[SUFan44]

We were up 16-7 at halftime with Lawrence having played all meaningful possessions of the first 30 minutes. Backup knelt the ball with 19 seconds left.

I think our defensive backfield is one of the top 15 in the country next year, if healthy. Especially with the emergence of Trill. Couple that with one of the top DE duos in the nation, and it isn't all that easy to throw on us.

Need to solidify DT -- Slayton is a huge loss and we need to be at least adequate up the middle to stop the run. But our pass defense should be extremely effective next year.

 

[gbo]

What was the distraction the prior season?

 

[orangepassion]

We were up 16-7 at halftime with Lawrence having played all meaningful possessions of the first 30 minutes. Backup knelt the ball with 19 seconds left.

I think our defensive backfield is one of the top 15 in the country next year, if healthy. Especially with the emergence of Trill. Couple that with one of the top DE duos in the nation, and it isn't all that easy to throw on us.

Need to solidify DT -- Slayton is a huge loss and we need to be at least adequate up the middle to stop the run. But our pass defense should be extremely effective next year.

Need to bring in a 300 pound+ run stopper. Doesn't need to be able to rush the passer. Just stop the run, so we don't have to use all our LB's and safeties for that

 

[721Comstock]

What was the distraction the prior season?

They didn't know.

It wasn't their fault.

 

[SWC75]

I watched the game last night and kept saying "how did we have these guys beat". No Lawrence clearly helped but man they have athletes.

They were better off without Lawrence, a great run stopper but not a pass rusher. If Alabama had played Hurtz, Lawrence would have had a big game. But his lighter back-ups are quicker than he is.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

That game against Clemson in defeat gave us a lot of media attention, positive PR all season, and continued last night as a couple of times it was mentioned how Clemson was on the brink, until rescued on that late 4th Q 94 yard drive and that crucial 4th and 6 conversion. All of that positive love has certainly done a lot for the program's current image.

However, that being said, there's no doubt Clemson was distracted all week by the QB drama, and it would be foolish to think it didn't have any affect. Dabo himself admitted to same in his interview after the game. They played a sloppy game, along with 4-5 turnovers, including one on a completely muffed punt by their returner early 4th Q where we scored our only TD in the 2nd half...an 8 yard drive punching it in on 4th and goal. Otherwise, we had been completely dominated in the 2nd half, and the total first downs for the game were like 28 for Clemson, 12 for us.

I was just going to say we were lucky. This is a nicer way to put it.

 

[storange]

Having it be the Saturday of the most disruptive week in years for Clemson didn't hurt.

You had us at home and lost to us the year before, should have been wanting to rip us up and run up the score. I know about the QB change,

 

[JeremyCuse]

They were better off without Lawrence, a great run stopper but not a pass rusher. If Alabama had played Hurtz, Lawrence would have had a big game. But his lighter back-ups are quicker than he is.

I think he's talking about Trevor Lawrence getting knocked out of our game, your talking about the suspended DE for yesterday.

 

[orangecuse]

I was just going to say we were lucky. This is a nicer way to put it.

We were lucky against UNC. And, if it weren't for their idiotic play calling/coach and Devito coming in to rescue us in the waning moments, we would've had 3 straight losses. That miraculous W in the Dome, in many ways, saved our glorious season. IMO.

 

[SWC75]

I think he's talking about Trevor Lawrence getting knocked out of our game, your talking about the suspended DE for yesterday.

Yes, I meant Dexter Lawrence, (who is a DT, not a DE). Sorry for the confusion. But I think my point aobut him holds.

 

[SWC75]

We were lucky against UNC. And, if it weren't for their idiotic play calling/coach and Devito coming in to rescue us in the waning moments, we would've had 3 straight losses. That miraculous W in the Dome, in many ways, saved our glorious season. IMO.

No matter how good you are there are going to be 'turning point' games like that each year. For Clemson it was the Syracuse game.