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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 1173099, member: 289"] - We always seem to link Clemson with Florida State. They are the two power programs in our division that we are never likely to beat. The fact is, Clemson isn’t Florida State. They are 8-19 vs. the Seminoles, including 6-3 during Bobby Bowden’s dotage. They can beat them when the Noles are flying low but they, like us, get the Florida B-listers while State gets the A-listers. I think, over time we’ll see that Florida State is the clear #1 in this division and that Clemson and Louisville will be a step behind them, about as good as we used to be in 80’s and 90’s. Our goal is to get that good again. When we do, we should be very competitive with the Tigers. - And this Clemson team is the team they had last year. They lost their top skill players, quarterback Tajh Boyd, running back Roderick McDowell and wide-outs Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant. Since then they’ve lost quarterbacks Chad Kelly and DeShawn Watkins, running backs Zac Brooks, Adam Choice and Kurt Fleming, wide receivers Kyrin Preaster and Charone Peake and tight end Jordan Leggett. In the line they are missing Jerome Maybank Joe Guillermo and Shaq Anthony. Other players who might play but are trying to get over injuries: quarterback Cliff Stoudt running back Tyshawn Dye, wide-out Adam Humphries and tackle Joe Gore. Not all of those guys were starters but this list makes out injury problems look almost minor. - We had a thread this that SU’s defense, which depends heavily on the blitz, works well against offensive challenged teams like Wake Forest. They in, effect, stationary targets for our blitzers. The more talented teams can pick up the blitz or take advantage of it with screens , draws and “hot” passes for big yardage. Normally Clemson would be in the alter group but with all their injuries and a hurting Cliff Stoudt at quarterback, I think they might be in the former group right now. - The best way to deal with a strong defensive line is to run right at them. You’re going to have to deal with them anyway. You might as well be going forward. We’ve got a good line and some fine running backs. We can do it. And there we’ve got 6-7 guys going against their 5 guys. Let’s make their defensive backfield, which is also missing a couple of guys, move up to help the line out. Then they might be a little vulnerable deep, too. - Our line is going to be there, right in front of those Tigers on the defensive line. Our guys aren’t going away. We’re tied for 9th in the NCAA is avoiding sacks with only 6 in 7 games. We’re also 20th with only 6 turnovers in 7 games. They are tied for third with 26 sacks recorded in 7 games. We’ve actually forced more turnovers than they have, 13-10.That should be a good battle and it won’t be all their way. - We have complained out not having any playmakers all year. What we lacked was a quarterback who could get the ball to them. Terrel Hunt was a strong running quarterback but his passing had so badly regressed, he looked like he needed glasses. He was over or under-throwing passes or throwing behind the receivers, forcing them to stop and catch the ball and throwing bullets when some touch was needed. AJ Long hasn’t bene perfect but he’s throwing catchable balls to receivers in stride, enabling them to make plays. And he’s quicker than the lumbering Hunt, a better scrambler, which may hold him in good stead vs. Mr. Beasley and friends. - The most impressive thing about AJ is his confidence, which would borders on cockiness except it seems more of a conviction than an attitude. That’s what the great ones have. If he can come out of this with that confidence in tact, nothing he faces on a football field from here on in will ever scare him. He may have it in mind to prove just that. - We’ve thought of this one as being “off the table all season but it’s on the table right now. In the very center, on a silver platter. We’ve beaten Villanova, Central Michigan and Wake Forest. So what? Our Orangemen know they need a big scalp and that this is a great chance to get one. - The fans can’t score. Their noise my move the earthquake meter but they can’t change the scoreboard. 3-4 with 5+ to go….. LET’S GO ORANGE!!! [/QUOTE]

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