My Thoughts On The Current State Of Affairs With Clemson Football

Oct 8, 2023, 2:06 AM

——Thoughts on Coach Swinney

Dabo just tied Frank Howard as the winningest head football coach at Clemson, and he did it in less than 15 seasons. The notion seemingly held by some that Dabo is just some lucky idiot who happened to smoke and mirror his way to the tune of 165 wins is patently absurd. Dabo won a conference championship BEFORE Coach V arrived, and he won one the immediate season AFTER he left. The suggestion that Coach V was somehow the “true mastermind” of the 2012-2020 run is illogical and also incorrect. People said the same sort of thing after Morris left in 2014. They were wrong.

Dabo Swinney is the greatest Clemson coach in the existence of Clemson University. One day, just like Saban and Bobby Bowden, he will have a statue outside of Memorial Stadium and probably have his name attached to some big piece of future Clemson football architecture. If he quit coaching tomorrow, he’s most likely already safely inside the storied walls of the CFB Hall of Fame, but if he isn’t, he will be before he is finished.

Now, is Coach Swinney perfect? No. What coach is without faults and failings? Will he win the conference every year and play for the national title every other year? No, because who does? Not even Bryant or Saban were or have been able to do that. Will he win another conference championship at Clemson? I think he will win several. Will any of his Clemson teams play for a national title again? I think so. In fact I think his Clemson teams will do it at least two more times before he leaves/retires from Clemson.

——Thoughts on the state of the offense

It is now quite obvious that this is going to be a building and developmental year for many of the offensive players. That’s disappointing, and I totally get and understand the aggravation. I’ve been very frustrated that preseason expectations aren’t to be achieved this season. But, I also see how this sort of makes sense. It’s a different OC with new terms and a different approach. He has to get settled in just like Coach V. Remember that while the 2012 defense was considerably better than the 2011 one, it wasn’t remotely close to what it would become over the next six years. As Coach Riley gets this first solid year established, I think the recruiting will get even better as the offense begins to produce the kind of numbers we all came to expect f between 2011-2020.

The two best receivers on the team are very young with one only being a true sophomore and the other a true freshman. They seem to be the two most likely to produce the true “deep threat/speedy elusion” that seems to have been lacking the last couple of seasons. As they develop over the next two seasons, they will be spooky good, in my opinion. I think the same can be said for the QB as well. I believe his decision making will become even more efficient and quicker. He will be making less and less of those truly head scratching passes toward crowded areas/covered receivers. I think he’s already vastly improved in his quick decision to cancel the throw and pull the ball down and run for those available 5-15 yards He’s beginning to get more first downs via this method.

Certainly, it is looking more and more like this year’s offense isn’t going to be anywhere as potent and prolific as those 2011-2020 offenses we all got used to seeing. But, the offense does appear to be better this season from last. Another consideration to be made is that very few true freshmen/sophomore D-1 QBs will ever be as talented and have the tremendous success like that of Watson and Lawrence. Shoot, hardly any of ALL D-1 QBs will ever be that good. They call them “generational” QBs for a reason. Clemson was just freakishly fortunate enough to find and have TWO of them within a six year span. I don’t think many truly conceptualize just how good and rare the likes of those two truly were while they were at Clemson. It’s much easier to have a great offense when you have CFHOF tier QB.

The biggest issue this year is the turnover and dumb penalty bug. That’s a legit criticism, and that can and SHOULD be corrected immediately. Without the dumb turnovers and stupid penalties, Clemson is 6-0 right now. While that isn’t all that shocking for a new offense with a green QB, it still remains a legit and fair criticism of this team, in my opinion. I think that criticism is quite fair and valid.

There is good news, though. Ultimately, I think the next two seasons, provided we still have a semblance of civilization and order in this land, will be EXTREMELY good and happy times for Clemson football. I’m looking forward to them. While LBs and, possibly RBs might take a step back next season. (I personally think it will only be at the LB position group. While I think both Shipley and Mafah are excellent players and backs who will make the NFL, I think both will greatly benefit from a return for their senior year). I think the DB (maybe if certain ones decide to stay) DL, OL, WR, QB, TE, and RB groups will be even better next year. And, to end on a positive note, I still think this year’s team can finish 9-3 or even 10-2 in the regular season. If the turnover and dumb penalty problem greatly improves over the last six games, I can totally see Clemson finishing the season ranked near or about the same position they were ranked in the preseason. Even better than all that, I believe the 2024 and 2025 seasons will perhaps be truly special seasons indeed. Go Tigers!

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Re: My Thoughts On The Current State Of Affairs With Clemson Football

My current thoughts on the team this year:

O-line: extremely inconsistent or non-existent at times. At times they'll pass and run block their tails off, then the next play they're getting demolished or stood up by undersized and less talented players. Baffling really. Especially when we were good at run blocking last year. Slowly growing weary of the Thomas Austin times.

QB: he's young and makes dumb young mistakes but when he flashes, it shows. I'm not ready to throw Cade in the trash. It's growing pains.

WR: noticeably better than last year which is all I can ask for right now. If Tyler Grisham can't take this group to the next level next year, he needs to be gone. Heck, I wouldn't be too upset if he was let go this year. It's still underwhelming considering the sheer talent on this roster now.

RB: They are a solid group but the o-line needs to help them out to be great. We don't need to let go of Spiller at all for the foreseeable future, dude can flat out coach (not a popular opinion around here for some reason).

TE: Inconsistency. That's all I have to say about that. Really need someone to take firm control at this position finally.

Defense: I'm putting this as a whole because they have been the most consistent and least problematic group of the team. I think D-line could be better and they're underwhelming at times but they show flashes of being really good. Oddly been getting gashed in the run game a lot of times though which concerns me for future matchups. Secondary has been absolutely great this year. Better than our front seven dare I say. Gonna jump on board and say that prevent defense sucks. I get why we do it but it hasn't been beneficial yet.

What's holding this team back is just really stupid mistakes that are fixable. But we just can't seem to get out our own way whether it be coaching decisions in crucial moments or dumb turnovers. The turnovers are just so boneheaded that it constantly has me nervous for every handoff now. Same with special teams. Lack of awareness or trying to do too much. And kicking is just one of those years where we're gonna have to just battle through it with the new guy(s). Overall, this team can be great next year. It's a rebuild year and I've accepted that. But everything here is fixable and I don't believe the sky is falling around Clemson just yet. But if things don't pick up in certain positions (WR & o-line) I do think it'll be time to find new blood.

I do need to add though, that lack of explosive plays is hindering this team badly. We need to be able to hit those 40+yard plays for TD's like we used to. Not this methodically slog down the field offense every single drive and just hope for the best and hope someone can bust a big run or hope to have a busted coverage somewhere.

My Thoughts On The Current State Of Affairs With Clemson Football

Re: My Thoughts On The Current State Of Affairs With Clemson Football

Re: My Thoughts On The Current State Of Affairs With Clemson Football

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