Replies: 17
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Top TigerNet [30676]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Back in August
Dec 14, 2022, 1:17 PM
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Did anyone truly think we had a National Championship caliber team? If so, why? If not, why not?
There is no right or wrong answer. This is just for discussion purposes. This is not a post about Dabo, Streeter, or DJ. Just a question.
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Commissioner [1202]
TigerPulse: 96%
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Re: Back in August
Dec 14, 2022, 1:22 PM
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No, because the QB situation and our WRs were still very much unknown and I was taking a wait and see approach based on what I saw in 2021 and spring practice. I did think if we made a run it would be because of the defense.
IMO our defense has been less than expected this year.
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Paw Warrior [4709]
TigerPulse: 82%
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Re: Back in August
Dec 14, 2022, 2:19 PM
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I don't understand why everyone is down on the defense. They were ranked 20th in total defense this year - down from 7th (I think). Losing Brent Venables and only falling 13 slots is a big win. Goodwin has gotten better as the year progressed and I think he will get even better going forward.
The only problem for the defense was too many three-and-outs.
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Game Changer [1764]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Back in August
Dec 14, 2022, 1:25 PM
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I thought we would be good but didn't think we would have the offensive firepower to win it all. I did think the defense would have better stats and that our DLine would rival UGAs from last year - boy was that wrong. 11-2 or hopefully 12-2 sounds about right.
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Tiger Spirit [9504]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Back in August
Dec 14, 2022, 1:25 PM
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Was hopeful, but not optimistic. QB was questionable, but didn't have faith that our receivers could catch the ball. More drops than I could remember.
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Orange Beast [6292]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Back in August
Dec 14, 2022, 1:28 PM
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I thought we would have a champion caliber defense (as we did the year before) and hoped the offense would be vastly improved due to the presence of more than one QB option for Dabo. Turns out the defense was fairly mediocre and the offense, though improved, wasn't anything special either. We were lucky to only lose two games this season considering neither the offense nor defense were even close to elite.
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Recruit [91]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: Back in August
Dec 14, 2022, 1:29 PM
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Yes.
Main reason was the talent on defense. Another reason was just the pure dominance we've had in the ACC in the past. Felt like we would win all our conference games. Didn't foresee that ND game happening to us. and certainly didn't see the other game happening either.
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Clemson Sports Icon [54155]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 43807
Joined: 2004
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No one saw a loss to the coots at home as a possibility.
Dec 14, 2022, 1:30 PM
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Thanks, coaches.
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Ring of Honor [23707]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Posts: 32381
Joined: 1998
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I didn't think we could be a top passing team with DJ, which
Dec 14, 2022, 1:35 PM
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is our recipe for success in our 2 Championships, but I thought our defensive front would be THE most dominant in college football, allowing us the time we needed to bring Cade along in time for a successful playoff run, but alas, it did not come to fruition.
The lack of consistency and production from our starting QB was just too much to overcome.
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All-Time Great [89423]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2006
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No, not based on how last season went.***
Dec 14, 2022, 1:37 PM
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Tiger Titan [46613]
TigerPulse: 78%
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Joined: 2003
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I partly based my expectations on what Dabo said in the preseason.
Dec 14, 2022, 1:41 PM
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He said he really likes this team, and that we can be really good. He also said it’s the deepest QB room he has had.
He also felt strongly about Streeter as OC, to the point that he didn’t consider anyone else for the position. So I expected big things.
Needless to say, I am surprised that we are 55th in total offense, 46th in rushing offense, and 74th in passing offense.
When I looked at our defense, I saw a unit that has multiple future first round NFL draft picks. Some people said that we might have the best defense in the country.
Dabo believed so strongly in Goodwin and Conn as DCs that he didn’t consider anyone else for the position. As a result, I expected big things.
So I was surprised that we only rank 24th in total defense this year, especially since we haven’t played many good offensive teams.
Based on recruiting rankings, I feel that we have playoff caliber talent. Every recruiting class we’ve had since 2018 has been ranked in the top 10, and two of our last three have been top 5. That, coupled with a coaching staff that is among the highest paid in the country, suggests that we should expect to be a playoff team this year.
We should be competing for national championships every year. I don’t expect to win it every year, but I do expect to have a chance and we haven’t been close the last two years.
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Dynasty Maker [3246]
TigerPulse: 89%
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Re: I partly based my expectations on what Dabo said in the preseason.
Dec 14, 2022, 1:53 PM
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why are you not the head coach of Clemson? Or The Dallas Cowboys? wow you know so much!
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Ring of Honor [23707]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Posts: 32381
Joined: 1998
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Varsity [212]
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Re: We were just a quarterback away from being a playoff team
Dec 14, 2022, 2:05 PM
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Actually, just the fourth quarter.
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Dynasty Maker [3246]
TigerPulse: 89%
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Re: Back in August
Dec 14, 2022, 1:49 PM
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I thought we did and I still do. They won the ACC and without a Fumble on a punt. A 4th and one miracle and a bunch of dropped passes and blown assignments and a 1 point loss they would be in the Playoffs. I think if they win the Bowl Game they will be ranked in the top 5 to start next year.
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Dynasty Maker [3142]
TigerPulse: 76%
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No
Dec 14, 2022, 1:57 PM
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I was concerned about DJU's indecisions, the lack of deep WR threats, and the inconsistent secondary.
Apparently my concerns were valid.
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Paw Warrior [4709]
TigerPulse: 82%
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Re: Back in August
Dec 14, 2022, 2:27 PM
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I thought we could make the CFP with a few breaks, but I did not expect us to do well once we got there.
As it turned out, we should have made it. The bad loss at ND remains an anomaly and an enigma to me, but we could have survived it and gotten into the CFP if we had not lost top USC.
Also as it turned out, every top team has some serious flaws - and if the team under Cade had gotten into the CFP, that would have been very interesting.
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Ultimate Tiger [38958]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2003
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I Thought We Definitely Had The Defense
Dec 14, 2022, 2:44 PM
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and if we didn't get Poopy DJ in any game we could get into CFP. But, Poopy DJ showed up tooo much.
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