The Downside (Clemson)

[SWC75]

- In the first half the yardage was 221-188. In the second half the better team took control and out-gained us 90-281. They did it by pounding the ball with their running game, running for 198 yards in the second half. It was just a question of whether time would run out on them and it didn’t.

- Our offense just didn’t get the job done in the second half. They got only 3 first downs. It was an ancient circumstance: if your defense is on the field too long, they will get tired and their effectiveness will go down. On that last drive, every Clemson play was executed just as it’s diagrammed on the blackboard. That’s a credit to them but it can be traced to our offensive failures.

- Don’t we have a roll-out plays for Dungey? And is our only wide run an end around with Riley, (who wound up our leading rusher with 24 yards)? Where is the slant over the middle? Orange is the new fast but it isn’t very versatile. We don’t run a lot of different plays.

- Speaking of Orange being the new fast, we really didn't do much up-tempo, probably because we were trying to hold onto a lead. But there's too much of this lining up, backing off and staring at the sidelines. that doesn't wear out the other team.

- It really looked like we were going to do it.

 

[SoBristol]

Thought we tried a lot of different plays - but Clemson has a lot of good defenders. Some of what we tried, including shuffle passes inside, were dangerous and easily stuffed. Dungey did not have a lot of time, which limits the options.

 

[SWC75]

Thought we tried a lot of different plays - but Clemson has a lot of good defenders. Some of what we tried, including shuffle passes inside, were dangerous and easily stuffed. Dungey did not have a lot of time, which limits the options.

there were a lot of plays that seemed wide open and closed down quickly. That's the difference between playing Connecticut and playing Clemson.

 

[baggerbob]

there were a lot of plays that seemed wide open and closed down quickly. That's the difference between playing Connecticut and playing Clemson.

Howard has played 4 games, any more, and he can't redshirt. We need to be able to take pressure off Eric , and run the ball. Neal and Strickland have had almost 3 years, and neither is a good running back, time for a change. Neal would be a good change of pace, but he isn't an every down back, Howard might become one, and we need that.

 

[OttoMets]

This isn't really a 'downside' type of thought, but what's sticking with me is that Trill didn't catch that interception cleanly and the bobble-catch carried him out of bounds. That was the turning point to me, we forced a turnover but the offense went 3-and-out and the tired defense was sent back out there. What if Trill caught it cleanly and turned upfield with room to run? SU probably would've had at least 3 more points and the last two possessions might have looked a little different.