Thoughts on the game and football's general trend (long)

Sep 24, 2023, 9:16 AM

Now that (most) of Tnet has had a day to step back from the ledge I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on the team and what I'd like to see for the rest of the season.

I think a good place to start is that I think Clemson played well enough to win the game yesterday. Unfortunately for us Florida State also played well enough to win the game; and as the rules of college football dictate, there are no ties. Next weeks game will tell us how mentally tough the team is, the national championship dream is gone and we need chaos to make it to Charlotte. If the team can continue their trajectory and play better it will build a lot of momentum to next year where we have a lot of our offense coming back and some promising players on defense. If the team comes out flat and looks uninspired then Dabo has lost the locker room and that always spells disaster.

Cade is getting better in his confidence but one area he struggles on is the RPO. The play in Overtime is the obvious one but there were a couple other times last night he made the wrong read and the result was a lost play. I think Cade is going to become a great QB at Clemson, but Riley might want to put the RPO on the shelf until Cade has more time to practice it.

Our RB's have been terrible at picking up the blitz all year, both Shipley and Mafah aren't finding blitzers and skip to the next part of their sequence way too soon. In best case scenarios it results in a sack and in the worst case we are turning the ball over. CJ and the staff need to emphasize the importance of being patient on blocking plays.

Wes has done a solid job in terms of game prep and second half adjustments, even adjustments out of a timeout. Where he seems to really struggle is making situational adjustments in the plan. The three man rush at the end of the half can work against a lot of teams. Some QBs can get impatient and try to scramble or throw in coverage, but not Florida State their QB and WRs are too good and we paid for it. I don't think it's hyperbole to say that Goodwin is coaching for his job the rest of the season, and I think he can do enough to retain it. We'll just have to wait and see.

Lastly if Weitz nails the field goal it's a Hallmark movie ending, unfortunately we don't live in Hallmark we live in the real world. I'd like to see the kicking responsibilities go back to Gunn at this point. Gunn has got the leg he is just having problems mentally. Let him try to kick his way out of it, it's what he was brought in for.

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Great post. Agree with almost everything.

I do believe had Weitz made the field goal, FSU would have cone down the field and made a fg in that last 1:19, or perhaps even won the game. That's not a slam on defense, but it's hard to stop a team that is going foir downs for the win as opposed to going four downs with ot in your back pocket.
As for Wes, I agree he has done a good job. I don't see where he should be worried about his job. When FSU is held to 17 points in regulation, offense gave up the other 7, then the offense should be able to win the game. 22 yards rushing, then offense should be able to win the game.
Offense lost this game in regulation, giving up the 7 on scoop and score because if poor blocking and lost it in ot.
I agree Cade is going to be a great one and played great yesterday except for a couple of disastrous plays that cost us the game. And they were due to no blocking..
The defense before the half was a killer and a bad decision.

Re: Great post. Agree with almost everything.

Yes, absolutely.

Thoughts on the game and football's general trend (long)

Great post. Agree with almost everything.

Re: Great post. Agree with almost everything.

Yes, absolutely.

Great post. Agree with almost everything.

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