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Trainer [27]
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Ok so we havent landed any portal guys, BUT
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Jan 24, 2024, 3:29 PM
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Clemson leads the nation in snaps played by freshman. By a long shot.
This obviously bodes well for the future, considering all the flashes we’ve seen from the younger players.
This reiterates - we are a developmental program. The young guys got tons of experience while working behind the upperclassmen. By the time the upperclassmen graduate or move on, the recruiting classes are playing and gaining experience. When they return next season, are they not like going out and getting an experienced portal player? Yes, I do believe it’s the same.
As far as the folks wanting depth from the portal, well, a) portal guys don’t typically move to be depth, and b) we are developing our own depth with recruits gaining experience.
This model can work. It has worked great for us and will continue to reap benefits.
And to those who say, “we’ve declined because we’re not using the portal”, that’s simply not true. We dropped out of the playoffs due to mostly one reason - mediocre play from the most important position on the field ((QB). Until we improve in that area it doesn’t matter who the OL and WRs are. The QB makes it all go. Teams can succeed when they have a great QB, and having pieces just like we already do, will show up when the QB grows up and can execute the entire system.
Think Max Duggan. I believe Cade can be every bit as good or better than Max was, and we have more pieces.
When Cade grows up, combined with all the RETURNING experience, then the system will become way more efficient and explosive. Like TCU did , except with a better roster.
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Orange Blooded [2131]
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Re: Ok so we havent landed any portal guys, BUT
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Jan 24, 2024, 4:21 PM
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To me, the most glaring issue has been regression in talent evaluation and player development by the coaching staff over the last few years - especially on offense. This has been shored up a bit in the offseason but we still have areas that need to be addressed.
If we’re going the development route, we need a top notch coaching staff at all positions- not just OL. Dabo has proven he can identify and bring in that coaching talent but inexplicably took an unfamiliar path the last few seasons with position coaches with zero experience.
This is what boggles my mind. We effectively handcuffed ourselves.
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Legend [16952]
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Re: Ok so we havent landed any portal guys, BUT
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Jan 24, 2024, 4:43 PM
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Promoting coaches with zero experience in the role isn't an unfamiliar path for Dabo. He's utilized that process in the past and has two Natties to show for it along with numerous other stellar results. When it hasn't worked out as planned or to his level of satisfaction he's made changes.
It does seem apparent that Covid and travel and in-person restrictions robbed the staff of some of the secret sauce they employed in player evaluations over several years there. With the misses there having largely cycled out by now, I'm confident we'll see improvement on the field this coming season and going forward - more in line with our production and success prior.
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Legend [16382]
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That's a bit disingenuous, both of the NC teams were loaded with experienced
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Jan 24, 2024, 4:51 PM
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veteran coaches, particularly on the defensive side...Venables, Brooks, Hobby, Caldwell had a lot to do with those trophies
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Legend [16952]
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That D staff was loaded for sure, but also some familiar old faces, yes?
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Jan 24, 2024, 7:10 PM
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And our new D staff is still rocking it. Before the KY game and missing a few key folks as opt outs, we were a solid Top 5, the kind that wins you championships.
Our Offensive staff was composed of some key guys never having filled those roles prior to being promoted into them, and they kind of did okay I guess, right?
Seems pretty clear that Dabo has always invested in training staffers from the get go under higher ups, and promoting accordingly based on opportunity. Like recruits, he's not going to get them all right, thus changes.
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Legend [16018]
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Re: That D staff was loaded for sure, but also some familiar old faces, yes?
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Jan 24, 2024, 7:15 PM
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Biggest deal was stellar play at WR and QB positions.... and RB. OL has be passable for generational QB/WR play. Now we are suffering the OL inadequacies. Dabo has now addressed that issue.
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CU Guru [1792]
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Re: That D staff was loaded for sure, but also some familiar old faces, yes?
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Jan 24, 2024, 7:37 PM
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I agree we did not have stellar OL play even in the championship years, but go watch those guys play vs the Oline the past 2-3 years. It will jump off the screen at you…my gosh our Oline was so much better back then. I know this because I have a ton of games recorded and just did this.
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Freshman [9]
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Trainer [27]
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Orange Blooded [2131]
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The 2022 staff
Jan 24, 2024, 4:59 PM
[ in reply to Re: Ok so we havent landed any portal guys, BUT ] |
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had 8 coaches with either no major school previous coaching experience, if any at all: Goodwin Streeter Conn Richardson Austin Hall Grisham Spiller
Only Reed and Eason had the resume’ when they came here.
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Trainer [27]
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And we didnt make the playoffs because 8 of 29 or whatever
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Jan 24, 2024, 7:50 PM
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Cost us the game against the coots. Everything else goes as occurred, and we’re in the playoffs. 2022.
The QB is the most important position on the field, and you can’t be a great team without a great QB. That’s why we’ve “only” had (3) top 20 finishes.
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Tiger Cub [14]
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Trainer [27]
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No, it was mediocre QB play.
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Jan 25, 2024, 6:59 AM
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Read the original post.
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Trainer [27]
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Again, there are no great teams w/o great QBs.
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Jan 24, 2024, 7:34 PM
[ in reply to Re: Ok so we havent landed any portal guys, BUT ] |
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Combine that with the pieces we have now and coming in, and we are very very capable of making a playoff run. Almost assuredly if Cade grows up.
I’m sorry man, but your type of comments sound to me like conjecture. I will give you the lack of OL development, but I can’t go any further than that. OL has some very good pieces and returns many snaps. Luke will make a mark. One that’s been needed for sure. No offense to Austin, obviously a great man, but the guys just didn’t fundamentally perform nor did they play with enough grit. That’s fixin to change.
WRs have the pieces. No doubt whatsoever . The guys we have coming back have been getting open in this system and will continue to do so in 2024. We get Antonio and Cole back and a couple studs coming in. WRs can contribute early. Brown, Briningstool should get bigger and will continue to be a tall target. Sapp showed some things. TE is in good shape.
It’s now up to Cade Klubnock to step his game. I’ll say until we see it (or not), I do think Cade Klubnick is every bit as talented or more so than Max Duggan was at TCU. Duggan was a gristled veteran, and Cade needs to take a big step that way.
Everything else will fall in line, IF the QB grows up. All bets are off if he doesn’t. Lots of close games where a critical turnover can cost a game. These were prevalent in all 4 losses this year. Once we fixed that, we were one of only 5 teams who finished November undefeated. Punctuate that with the growth Cade made against Kentucky, and you can start to see him progressing.
That’s the key.
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Legend [16382]
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This was what Mike Gundy was talking about...We replaced transfers with
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Jan 24, 2024, 4:32 PM
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freshman...Notice the lack of good teams on that list...There's us and UGA as the only ranked teams
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Trainer [27]
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We didnt lose a single game because of that.
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Jan 24, 2024, 7:38 PM
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And now we have the most experienced sophomore class in the country. That’s the point.
This model can work. We are not replacing anyone. We have a bunch of upperclassmen and a sophomore class who showed tremendous potential. That replaces the immediate use, one and done portal dude.
And it’s all going to get restricted once the guardrails are put in.
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Scout Team [164]
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Re: Ok so we havent landed any portal guys, BUT
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Jan 24, 2024, 5:14 PM
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I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel and a return to BIG time winning is near. Retaining players is gong to be a much bigger piece of the formula in CFB. Here's just one example of why that's going to happen: As covid year redshirt players cycle out of the system, there will be fewer and fewer 6th year QB's for programs to buy. Look around the country at teams that have filled a one-year need because a rental was available. That pipeline is drying up. Transfers aren't going anywhere, but the proven, quality, multi-year starters will be fewer and are going to be replaced by portal players that didn't get playing time at their current school. Clemson is and will continue to benefit from being above average in retaining players.
Once Clemson signs one or two portal guys, and they will, the talking point about not using the portal will mostly fade into the background.
My gut says that Dabo is not laying ALL his cards on the table re: the portal and NIL. And he's taking some shots from people because of it. The cards he shows are that we believe in our guys (100% true), we prioritize development (100% true), and we're not going to use NIL to bring a player in but will use it to retain (mostly true). This all shows that Clemson is running its program the RIGHT way and faces the consequences of not breaking tampering rules, etc. This plays to Dabo's and Clemson's credit.
But, (BUT) I believe the big card he is not showing is that Clemson wouldn't be more successful even if it tried the other approach. And that's because Clemson doesn't have that extra $$ needed to recruit via the highest level of NIL. Clemson has a lot of money and can certainly compete, but there is a level of money that Clemson simply does not have. Now, some coaches would complain and beg for more money to help preserve their own image. Dabo never plays the "I'm doing the best with what we have" card, even though he has it in his hand. Ryan Day and Nick Saban have both effectively played this card before.
I think Dabo is doing a great job in general, he's made some adjustments, and he's taking the hits while managing the program through a turbulent time for the sport. Clemson is going to do very well in the 12 team playoff era! Go Tigers!!
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Legend [16952]
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Re: Ok so we havent landed any portal guys, BUT
Jan 24, 2024, 7:24 PM
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Excellent rundown here. Absolutely spot on.
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Replies: 17
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