What are Clemson's weaknesses?

[sufandu]

I'm curious to see what Clemson fans think are their team's weaknesses. Obviously they're few and far between or you wouldn't be sitting at #3 with a win over Georgia. Everyone has heard about Boyd, Watkins, and the team speed, but what are the things that concern you? How is the defense? Are any of your units weaker than the others? Do you have a specific guy that tends to be the weak link and give up a big play? Do you have one offensive lineman that tends to be the guy that needs help in pass protection?

Here are mine for our team. First and foremost, I'm afraid we can't get a pass rush with just our lineman. We have big physical guys, but not a lot of speed at DE. Second, is WR. We've looked much better the last couple of games, but I just don't know how they'll match up with a legit secondary. The hope is that we've figured out how to utilize Broyld and Estime. Third, is our secondary. I'm not sure is problems there are actually problems with the secondary or problems with the lack of pass rush that put the secondary in bad positions, so this is certainly linked to #1.

I'd like to hear what you guys think.

 

[Trueblue25]

We have such quick aggressive linebackers I figured a prominent, dangerous pass rush would be easier.

 

[omg_cuse_rules]

Overconfidence

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[CousinClem]

Offense and special teams I feel that other than WR we are very deep. At WR we only have 5 healthy scholarship players. Most of them were 4-5* as recruits with 6'5" Bryant being the fastest of the group.

On defense the secondary is the big issue. We lost several guys during the season last year and in the Duke game had a WR switch over and play defense in the second half. This years recruiting class Clemson brought in 8 fr. DB's The jewel of the class on paper was Alexander a 5* who has had nagging injuries and at this point will RS. The starters have some experience, but the depth is from those 8 freshmen. The front seven are three deep with almost no drop off in talent.

 

[TigerTown]

OL and DBs were our ????s coming in to the season, and still are. The ol had a lot of promise and played well in the ga game but have not been near as good the past 3 games. The db group is actually playing very well imo, as well as can be expected and atthis point i don't think itis even a weakness.

Ol...if your dline can use speed you will make boyd move and while he can be productive you will limit big plays.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Offense and special teams I feel that other than WR we are very deep. At WR we only have 5 healthy scholarship players. Most of them were 4-5* as recruits with 6'5" Bryant being the fastest of the group.

On defense the secondary is the big issue. We lost several guys during the season last year and in the Duke game had a WR switch over and play defense in the second half. This years recruiting class Clemson brought in 8 fr. DB's The jewel of the class on paper was Alexander a 5* who has had nagging injuries and at this point will RS. The starters have some experience, but the depth is from those 8 freshmen. The front seven are three deep with almost no drop off in talent.

Eight DBs in one recruiting class? Do you guys get an extra 20 scholarships or something that we should know about?

 

[SU2NASA]

Hygiene.

 

[xc84]

Crispy Creme

Krispy Kreme

 

[sufandu]

We have such quick aggressive linebackers I figured a prominent, dangerous pass rush would be easier.

I think our speed at DE was better last year, so the DE's took better advantage when our LB's blitzed, and the DE speed helped the blitz be more effective. Each made the other more effective.

 

[dollarbill44]

Crispy Creme

It's with a "K".

 

[Orangetradition44]

21 players. A quarter of your team. With "almost no drop in talent" on the #3 team in the country. That's amazing. Basically, your 3rd string is better than 99% of the front lines in college football. Amazing. I don't even know why anyone plays Clemson. Everyone should just forfeit.

The front seven are three deep with almost no drop off in talent.

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[Palmer103]

21 players. A quarter of your team. With "almost no drop in talent" on the #3 team in the country. That's amazing. Basically, your 3rd string is better than 99% of the front lines in college football. Amazing. I don't even know why anyone plays Clemson. Everyone should just forfeit.





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3 deep is an exaggeration, obviously. Make no mistake about it though, Lawson, Williams, and Reader would be starting for every team in the ACC outside of VT and FSU. It's been the biggest area of improvement with this year's team.

I posted this in another thread, but we're T6 in the country in sacks for a reason. We have 15 thru 4 games, while last year we only had 4. Had 4 sacks vs UGA, while LSU and USCjr combined for only 2 against their Oline (which returned all 5 starters). It's the depth that allows this. Our guys stay fresh and are all 4* or above talents and quite simply, we didn't miss on one of them.

 

[Orangetradition44]

Believe me, everyone here and on SUs team respects the talent level at Clemson. You have been an elite program for a while now. I just found the hyperbole to be funny and reminiscent of past discussions with hokie fans.

3 deep is an exaggeration, obviously. Make no mistake about it though, Lawson, Williams, and Reader would be starting for every team in the ACC outside of VT and FSU. It's been the biggest area of improvement with this year's team.

I posted this in another thread, but we're T6 in the country in sacks for a reason. We have 15 thru 4 games, while last year we only had 4. Had 4 sacks vs UGA, while LSU and USCjr combined for only 2 against their Oline (which returned all 5 starters). It's the depth that allows this. Our guys stay fresh and are all 4* or above talents and quite simply, we didn't miss on one of them.

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[ImperialOrange]

If it bleeds... we can kill it.

 

[CousinClem]

3 deep is an exaggeration, obviously. Make no mistake about it though, Lawson, Williams, and Reader would be starting for every team in the ACC outside of VT and FSU. It's been the biggest area of improvement with this year's team.

I posted this in another thread, but we're T6 in the country in sacks for a reason. We have 15 thru 4 games, while last year we only had 4. Had 4 sacks vs UGA, while LSU and USCjr combined for only 2 against their Oline (which returned all 5 starters). It's the depth that allows this. Our guys stay fresh and are all 4* or above talents and quite simply, we didn't miss on one of them.

I really don't think the 3 deep is an exaggeration. Just like the freshman Lawson is hardly a drop off from Beasley. I did the averages and the front seven average for the two deep is 3.5 stars with a lot of the higher rated players in back up roles. I understand you lose something in experience, but not in talent.

 

[CuseCactus]

Makes me think of Rutgers Al and the 'Girls. Except Clemson is good. Clemson has tradition. Clemson has cool colors. And it's not located in a superfund site.

 

[PeteCalvin]

I hear they are very susceptible to belly rubs and catnip. Makes 'em purr like kittens.

I understand that their version of hell is to be locked in a room with a DVR on constant rotations of USC games and Steve Spurrier interviews.

 

[Dabo]

Clemson weaknesses...
Secondary is so bad it's laughable. Lots of talent and athleticism but that's it.
Linebackers can be slow at times. Smart group just no real star there or anyone that stands out other than Shuey who is your typical white gym rat. Smart player, coach on the field. Haha
OL has been inconsistent and has had some bad let downs especially against state.
Boyd tends to press of things don't go his way or misses a few throws. He puts way too much pressure on himself due to expectations.
As weird as it is to say, play calling can be strange for lack of a better word. Chad likes to turn into the air raid and ignore the run at times making us one dimensional.

That's what came to mind but I'm sure they're are more.

 

[CousinClem]

Clemson weaknesses...
Secondary is so bad it's laughable. Lots of talent and athleticism but that's it.
Linebackers can be slow at times. Smart group just no real star there or anyone that stands out other than Shuey who is your typical white gym rat. Smart player, coach on the field. Haha
OL has been inconsistent and has had some bad let downs especially against state.
Boyd tends to press of things don't go his way or misses a few throws. He puts way too much pressure on himself due to expectations.
As weird as it is to say, play calling can be strange for lack of a better word. Chad likes to turn into the air raid and ignore the run at times making us one dimensional.

That's what came to mind but I'm sure they're are more.

I feel like the corners are pretty good and Blanks is a rising star at safety, but all in all that is the least depth and experience on the team. I think because our offense is either going to score quickly or turn it over on downs quickly you are never going to seee top ten defensive stats.

NCSU was 3 of 16 on third down and Wake was 2 of 17 even playing against the 4th string. By the end of the year I think the defense will have done ok.

 

[SWC75]

They think they are in New Jersey. And maybe some of them are.

 

[MadNY3]

Clemson weaknesses...

As weird as it is to say, play calling can be strange for lack of a better word. Chad likes to turn into the air raid and ignore the run at times making us one dimensional.

That's what came to mind but I'm sure they're are more.

Coach Spence haunts us all...

 

[texasorange]

Simple; they're just too fast. Can't win with speed.

 

[Chase1396]

The weakness this week will be our over confidence. You need to hope that Clemson players think this game will be a breeze and no problem.

 

[kirbivore]

 

[ImperialOrange]

I feel like the corners are pretty good and Blanks is a rising star at safety, but all in all that is the least depth and experience on the team. I think because our offense is either going to score quickly or turn it over on downs quickly you are never going to seee top ten defensive stats.

NCSU was 3 of 16 on third down and Wake was 2 of 17 even playing against the 4th string. By the end of the year I think the defense will have done ok.

Will be interesting to see how out offense looks compared to the others you've faced. We aren't on Georgia's level athletically but we could be a jv version of that which will still put us well ahead of wake, and ncsfu.

Curious if you'll make our defense look as bad as NW did. Clemson has similar pieces, albiet more talented, but our gameplan was also terrible so I'm hoping the bye week and home crowd give us an edge there vs that game. Speed won't be the problem on defense for Cuse, but discipline might be once again.