Tucker

[Bball44]

Again another observation not pointed at anyone. Seems like Clemsons gameplan keyed on stopping Tucker and Gadsden at all costs. Which is why Shrader had such a good first half running. Then in the second half they put a spy on Shrader to stop him. Which meant that Tucker could have had opportunities but unfortunately by that time our line was too worn down to block effectively and perhaps Tucker was hurt. Definitely a chess match.

The fact that they weren’t penalized for the late hit really bugged me.

What's really frustrating is that he had already thrown the ball. That play should be called roughing the passer even if it happens in the middle of the field.

 

[elimunelson]

Some of them were. Running out of gas doesn't explain the stupid head bob Vetterello got called on for the false start or the defensive lineman reaching inside the 2nd string QB's facemask while he's lying on the ground. Some of the penalties remain stupid and lack of attention to detail.

Mental mistakes happen when you are tired

 

[PhatOrange]

LoL, they managed him because he got like 1 touch in the 2nd half. It’s criminal and no amount of spin will change how crazy that is by the staff.

Even if you take away Tuckers 23 yard gain. His other 4 carries averaged 7.75. what more do,you want?????

Tucker got 3 touches in the 2nd half

23 yard run
15 yard run
3 yard reception

Minus the last drive, we attempted 14 passes in the 2nd half. That includes sacks. The # does not include Shrader scrambles that were pass plays - which there were a few of.

I don’t think we really ran any RPOs in the 2nd half either. We went pass happy

 

[djorange1989]

If the coaches think we can get by with Shrader doing it all, the season could unravel. The Tucker decoy gig is up. The other team knows it, Tucker knows it. Do our coaches know it?

Yeah I would rather go with Allen then just have Sean as a decoy because it is going to become clearer and clearer to the opposition. At least Allen can run. Honestly if Tucker didn’t play for a while the season could unravel anyway. The lack of a threat beyond OG in the receiving game plus no Sean would be brutal

 

[orangepassion]

This is not a response to anyone on this topic, just an observation. Looked to me like both our offensive and defensive lines ran out of gas in the second half. Because of that, in the second half we struggled to run well or pass block in order to give Shrader adequate time to pass.

I hear what you're saying about the DL, but teams generally play their starting OL the whole game, so i'm not sure if OL depth was the factor there.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Tucker got 3 touches in the 2nd half

23 yard run
15 yard run
3 yard reception

Minus the last drive, we attempted 14 passes in the 2nd half. That includes sacks. The # does not include Shrader scrambles that were pass plays - which there were a few of.

I don’t think we really ran any RPOs in the 2nd half either. We went pass happy

I think it is a combo of Tucker being banged up and the Anae O. He is a pass happy OC by nature.

 

[mark79]

I hear what you're saying about the DL, but teams generally play their starting OL the whole game, so i'm not sure if OL depth was the factor there.

I think the fact that we were holding more and allowing sacks in the second half vs the first is at least some evidence. But I hear ya.

 

[PhatOrange]

I think it is a combo of Tucker being banged up and the Anae O. He is a pass happy OC by nature.

He is pass happy but it seemed like we had an entirely different game plan in the second half. to come out passing was crazy with the lead. There was a drive maybe two that were all passes. There’s no way our second-half game plan had anything to do with Clemson’s second-half game plan either. Our change imo had more to do with countering any adjustments they were going to make. But in my world if it ain’t broke don’t fix it

 

[mark79]

Seems ridiculous they could rush 3 or 4, spy Shrader, scheme Tucker AND drop into zone coverage smothering the receivers.

Didn’t happen

I agree they couldn’t do all of that at the same time. Their original first half scheme was to stop Tucker and Gadsden which they pretty much did. And that’s why Shrader ran so effectively and really hurt them. Second half they saw Tucker wasn’t running so they put the spy in to stop Shrader. Add in the fact that our oline wore down and the penalties. That’s how I saw it.

 

[swish7]

If Tucker is banged up, then play the other guy. He certainly seems fast enough (albeit weak in the pass blocking game).

We are playing a hurt / banged up former Heisman candidate as a decoy so that he can showcase for NFL scouts in his 'last season' while he probably won't even be 1st team ACC at this point? This does not make sense. Why would we do this?

However, I had not noticed him tapping out, until y'all mentioned it. That actually is the only thing that makes sense as to why he got so few touches against Clemson. Definitely appreciate the board for pointing this out. He has seemed banged up all season, but he keeps playing, so I assumed they were minor injuries.

I am not sure what he gains this year by continuing this gambit.

Need to play Allen b/c we cannot succeed as a team without a running game. In the 2nd half, our last series netted 45 yards, and the 6 series preceding it also netted around 45 yards. This just will not work.


Tucker touches - 5 run, 6 receiving targets
12 series overall - 7 w Tucker Touches, 5 without

1st quarter, 1st series (1 Tucker run, 3 Tucker Targets)

1. 2nd & 4 at CLEM 43 - (13:30 - 1st) Garrett Shrader pass complete to Sean Tucker for 2 yds to the Clem 41
2. 1st & 10 at CLEM 35 - (12:16 - 1st) Sean Tucker run for 6 yds to the Clem 29
3. 2nd & 4 at CLEM 29 - (11:43 - 1st) Garrett Shrader pass complete to Sean Tucker for a loss of 2 yards to the Clem 31
4. 3rd & 6 at CLEM 31 - (11:10 - 1st) Garrett Shrader pass complete to Sean Tucker for 3 yds to the Clem 28

On 4th & 3, Smyzt misses a field goal, but Dino had called a timeout, and then decides to go for it, but the pass falls incomplete.

1st quarter, 2nd series (1 Tucker Target)

1. 1st & 10 at CLEM 12 - (5:30 - 1st) Garrett Shrader pass complete to Sean Tucker for 12 yds for a TD, (Andre Szmyt KICK)

TOUCHDOWN SU

2nd quarter, 3rd series (0 Tucker Touches)

2nd quarter, 4th series (2 Tucker Runs)

1. 1st & 10 at SYR 44 - (4:01 - 2nd) Sean Tucker run for 13 yds to the Clem 43 for a 1ST down
2. 2nd & 2 at CLEM 4 - (1:59 - 2nd) Sean Tucker run for a loss of 3 yards to the Clem 7

TOUCHDOWN SU - their last score of the game

2nd quarter, 5th series (0 Tucker Touches) - kneel to end the half

2nd half

3rd quarter, 6th series (1 Tucker Target)

1. 2nd & 5 at SYR 24 - (10:42 - 3rd) Shrader, Garrett pass incomplete to Tucker, Sean, PENALTY SYRACUSE holding (Hoeh, Wes) 10 yards to the SYRACUSE14, NO PLAY.

3rd quarter, 7th series (1 Tucker Run)

1. 1st & 10 at SYR 20 - (8:58 - 3rd) Sean Tucker run for 23 yds to the Syrac 43 for a 1ST down

3rd quarter, 8th series (0 Tucker Touches)

4th quarter, 9th series (0 Tucker Touches)

4th quarter, 10th series (1 Tucker Run)

1. 1st & 10 at SYR 25 - (11:20 - 4th) Sean Tucker run for 15 yds to the Syrac 40 for a 1ST down

4th quarter, 11th series (0 Tucker Touches)

4th quarter, 12th series (1 Tucker Target)

1. 1st & 10 at SYR 48 - (0:43 - 4th) Garrett Shrader pass complete to Sean Tucker for 3 yds to the Clem 49

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Tucker vs FBS teams

2022 77.7 ypg 4.4 ypc

2021 124 ypg 5.85 ypc

He isn't likely to improve much given who we have left on the schedule. So how much of the dip is being banged up vs Anae vs the OL not living up to expectations? Given how well we have thrown the ball this year, you would expect things to open up.

BTW Shrader is pretty close to even.

2022 60.7 ypg 3.75 ypc

2021 67.2 ypg 4.51 ypc


I do think Tucker has been banged up all season. He hasn't look sharp all year. I do think Anae shies away from the run. But I think the OL is the biggest factor. Outside of NC State they have struggled IMO. That shouldn't happen for a veteran group.

 

[bigmike]

Random recollection: Boy, that wheel route TD to Tucker was a thing of beauty.

 

[orangecuse]

Some of them were. Running out of gas doesn't explain the stupid head bob Vetterello got called on for the false start or the defensive lineman reaching inside the 2nd string QB's facemask while he's lying on the ground. Some of the penalties remain stupid and lack of attention to detail.

Just as our best coach in the past two decades once utterred; "don't mistake lack of execution for lack of effort." Similar holds true here, don't mistake tiredness and/or mental toughness/focus for stupidity.

 

[Newhouser]

Run the ball with someone if for no other reason to burn some clock and give the D an extra little blow - 40 seconds each run adds up.

 

[721Comstock]

Random recollection: Boy, that wheel route TD to Tucker was a thing of beauty.

YUP!! And set up beautifully by the prior pass to Tucker in the flat.

DL thought the same play was being called again, but when he turned to face Tuck, he had already turned the corner and headed upfield, where it was an easy pitch and catch for the TD, with Tuck WIDE OPEN and the DL left in the dust.
*chef's kiss*

 

[Toga]

"This has been addressed"

 

[sufandu]

Just as our best coach in the past two decades once utterred; "don't mistake lack of execution for lack of effort." Similar holds true here, don't mistake tiredness and/or mental toughness/focus for stupidity.

Tiredness? Vetterello's head bob was in the first half. He'd get the benefit of the doubt had he not been called for similar penalties in nearly every game this year. The personal foul where he reached in the facemask is inexplicable with anything you listed. It was the definition of unnecessary and stupid.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Run the ball with someone if for no other reason to burn some clock and give the D an extra little blow - 40 seconds each run adds up.

Yeah, that's why that game felt like the Atlanta Super Bowl.

DJ was not making things happen against our defense. The clock was our friend. Keeping the ball on the ground with anyone would have helped.

Our longest time killing drive in the second half was our first one at 3:20. Every drive after that but one was under 2 minutes.

I hate when repeated dives up the middle are just slamming our running back straight into a pile of fat guys, but at up to 40 seconds of clock burnt for each one, well... we might have played keep away well enough to win.

 

[orangecuse]

Mental mistakes happen when you are tired

Tiredness? Vetterello's head bob was in the first half. He'd get the benefit of the doubt had he not been called for similar penalties in nearly every ga,e this year. The personal foul where he reached in the facemask is inexplicable with anything you listed. It was the definition of unnecessary and stupid.

My response to tiredness was referring to the other quoted post that replied to yours as well. I'm in complete agreement with your post. There's a clear difference between being tired, etc. and the ensuing "mental mistakes" that result because of it vs. pure stupidity.

 

[sufandu]

Mental mistakes happen when you are tired

The penalties I specifically mentioned aren't explained by fatigue.

 

[David321]

Calling it right now, Tucker with a big game on the ground vs ND.

 

[Chip]

"This has been addressed"

I wonder why it wasn’t addressed after the first drive of the 2nd half. Or the 2nd. Or wondering what they talked about at halftime.

The whole “this has been addressed” sounds like something a head coach might say about a player attitude issue or some in-fighting. Not what he would say about 2nd half strategy.

 

[sufandu]

I wonder why it wasn’t addressed after the first drive of the 2nd half. Or the 2nd. Or wondering what they talked about at halftime.

The whole “this has been addressed” sounds like something a head coach might say about a player attitude issue or some in-fighting. Not what he would say about 2nd half strategy.

He's doing all he can to hide that Tucker is hurting. I just wish we had someone else they thought could get the job done. We need consistent production from the position, not just a big play here or there.

 

[TheCusian]

That doesn't seem right. Shrader was not running a lot and wasn't pulling the ball back from Tucker.

Rewatch the first half. It was 100% true until the 2nd. Then they were keying on Shrader.

 

[money3189]

I wonder why it wasn’t addressed after the first drive of the 2nd half. Or the 2nd. Or wondering what they talked about at halftime.

The whole “this has been addressed” sounds like something a head coach might say about a player attitude issue or some in-fighting. Not what he would say about 2nd half strategy.

They got behind the chains too often with penalties in the second half. Shrader also pulled the ball. There was one particular play where I thought Tucker would have got a good chunk of yards hadnt Shrader kept it himself.