Clemson on Clemson: Notes from their 247 reporters

Hoyacane1620

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No. 1 Clemson (3-0, 2-0) defeated Virginia (1-1, 1-1) 41-23 on Saturday night in Death Valley. Below are initial observations of the Tigers' win.

— Outside of Travis Etienne, Clemson was sort of sleepwalking through the first half until Trevor Lawrence connected with Amari Rodgers in the back of the end zone on 3rd and 15. Then Nolan Turner produced a pick and Rodgers went high-flying over a defender for another score. Suddenly, Clemson was up 24-3.

But Virginia produced three chunk passing plays with 1:19 left in the half to make it 24-10.

Swinney's comments on the broadcast at half when asked about Virginia's four-play touchdown drive: "Well we didn't get up and challenge them at the line of scrimmage. Let him throw in rhythm. Free releases too far off of them. We did not play the way we are capable of that first half. Not doing a good job on first down defensively. Quarterback made too many rhythm throws, is running the ball. Offensively just too many miscues. We've got to play a lot better."

Swinney challenged his defensive line entering the game to play better than it did last year vs. Virginia. Can't say the unit really answered the bell. Clemson went three-down on plenty of occasions and it didn't generate pressure. Blitzes, when they were called, either didn't penetrate or get home. Clemson had just four tackles for loss for 16 yards on the night. There were some coverage issues.

Clemson couldn't consistently contain Brennan Armstrong when he improvised by running. Miami quarterback D'Eriq King is brilliant in that department. So Clemson will need to get that cleaned up by next week.

Clemson's first-team offensive line wasn't exactly lights out tonight either in run-blocking. Etienne's success was a product of hard running— not open holes. Clemson averaged 4.4 yards per rush. Tigers (6.37) led the nation in this category last season. Protection was solid.


Clemson was pretty terrific up front on both sides of the ball in the first two contests. When the competition stiffened tonight, we didn't see nearly the same level of performance.

The silver lining after tonight is that the coaching staff will most certainly have the team's attention this week leading up to Miami.

Quick-hitters:

— Joseph Ngata played some in the first quarter, but after that he was done. Seems like his ab injury he suffered in the week leading up to The Citadel game is still giving him trouble.

— Nice snag by Frank Ladson over the middle on Clemson's second drive, but it sort of summarized Clemson's offense tonight: Tigers needing a big play to bail out boneheaded mistakes or poor execution that put them behind the chains.

Way too many 2nd-and-longs or 3rd-and-longs.

Average third-down yardage requited: Clemson 9.4; Virginia 4.9.

— Andrew Booth flashing that five-star talent, huh? That one-handed pick in the end zone in coverage against 6-foot-7 wide receiver Lavel Davis was eye-popping. Incredible athleticism.

Davis had just hauled in a deep ball of 31 yards to put Virginia in the red zone down only two touchdowns early in the third quarter.

Booth's pick led to a field goal to put Clemson up 27-10 instead of being ahead just 24-17 or 24-13. Play of the game.

Booth also had a noteworthy PBU in coverage vs. Davis in the first half. More good D by Booth, who started the second half over Sheridan Jones, on 6-foot-7 tight end Tony Poljan in the second half.

— Thought Clemson really missed Tanner Muse and K'Von Wallace crashing down in run support or patrolling the center of the field. They were such savvy playmakers.

Who else Clemson missed tonight? Tyler Davis. Davis wasn't on the unavailability list, but he didn't play.

— Wasn't just the d-line that didn't play up to standard tonight. Linebackers didn't wreak much havoc. Thought tackling and coverage could have been better.

— Lannden Zanders struggled some tonight but showed nice resiliency to make a play on the ball at the goal line on 4th and 6 in coverage against Poljan.

— The contact balance that Etienne showed on the 16-yard touchdown in the first quarter was so impressive. With the score, he tied the FBS record for most career games (38) with a touchdown. He's tied with Florida's Tim Tebow and Louisiana Tech's Kenneth Dixon. His second half touchdown was a thing of beauty too.

— Great awareness and strong hands in the back of the end zone from Rodgers on the 27-yard snag on 3rd and 15. He's a weapon now that he's healthy.

— Couple of nice contributions by Brannon Spector.

— Chez Mellusi (not Darien Rencher) was the third running back off the bench tonight in the fourth quarter.

— Clemson was 4-of-4 in scoring touchdowns inside the red zone.

— Nice 47-yard field goal by B.T. Potter on the first drive. He converted another 42-yarder in the third quarter. He's in a groove.

— Tackling was ugly at times.

— It got pretty dang loud tonight, especially on third down.

— The only "surprise" Clemson player on the unavailability list for tonight was backup offensive lineman Kaleb Boateng. Encouraging news for next week. Justin Foster was on the sidelines, so his prolonged absence doesn't appear to be COVID-related (at least not anymore).

— Credit where credit's due: Heck of a job Mendenhall has done in Charlottesville.


From some of their long time posters:

Zanders is awful, so is Putnam. Not that worried about our dline, need Davis back

Etienne shouldn’t have come back, this line can’t open holes and he looks a little off

Elliot got outschemed (again) and couldn’t seem to figure out anything to beat UVA bringing extra pressure off the edge

ETN’s ypc is dropping by the game and agree he doesn’t look like himself - maybe too much expectation rn or more likely as you said it’s our OL. Though he’s been dynamic in the pass game. And about scheme, my only hope is we knew we could beat this team without anything special and we’ll be ready for Miami. Hey we’ve got a real anticipated home game next week for the first time in a long time...since Louisville?

UVA took away Galloway tonight too.

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Seems like they are a bit concerned and Miami has their attention.......
 
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Clemson's first-team offensive line wasn't exactly lights out tonight either in run-blocking. Etienne's success was a product of hard running— not open holes. Clemson averaged 4.4 yards per rush. Tigers (6.37) led the nation in this category last season. Protection was solid.
I mentioned early in the game they'd look pretty pedestrian without a back like Etienne - they did pass block better, but we should get more of a rush than VA.
 
The problem is when you've been on a run like Clemson has the last couple years, boredom and complacency become an issue. The only thing that seems to change that is big games.

If they view us as a big game, theyll be ready for us. We just have to go out and execute.
 
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IMO - we actually haven’t done a great job of stopping the run. Every feature back we’ve faced has rushed for 5(?) yards per carry. Our LBs ability to get Etienne on the ground will be key in this game. If they get lost in the boot action, PA, or washed in the screen game, we’re going to have a hard time getting off the field.

Get enough stops - and Lashlee/King will put in work.
 
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Outside of Lawrence and ETN this isn’t the Clemson we’re accustomed to. Sorry you have to hear it.

Lucky for them that combo can beat just about anymore
Agreed, the thing is they are such transcendent talents.. Etienne should not be in college anymore, lol.. Dude is an elite rb and chose to come back.. Lawrence makes throws that most canot make, he can be rattled tho
 
The problem is when you've been on a run like Clemson has the last couple years, boredom and complacency become an issue. The only thing that seems to change that is big games.

If they view us as a big game, theyll be ready for us. We just have to go out and execute.
The problem is its HARD to replace top elite players with different players and not experience a drop off.. Very hard to do what Bama has done for 10 years.. New players come in and think its their birthright to be good and the players that built that level have been phased out
 
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Do you really think Lawrence and Co. cared two ***** about UVA last night...lol, if you did. They have been thinking Canes for over a week and will be ready...Question is, will the good guys be ready? Think King, Jordan and Harris will. Roche, Nesta, Boldin and Phillips will. I'll even say Blades also. The rest need to prove it under the lights, primetime game against the #1 team in the country...

Let's go!!!
 
Haven’t been able to say this in some time but I‘m not as concerned about our O. I think we’ll be able to score on them - plenty Our OL has/is improved, our RB’s and TE’s are excellent and if our WR’s can make a few plays, we’ll score some points. And Lashlee will have had 2 weeks to prepare.

Our D has gotta limit the big play. I think we have an advantage on the DL. Rattle TL and contain ETN will be the keys.
 
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The problem is when you've been on a run like Clemson has the last couple years, boredom and complacency become an issue. The only thing that seems to change that is big games.

If they view us as a big game, theyll be ready for us. We just have to go out and execute.
Not only that, i think they feed off of their home crowd. No huge crowd just the covid crowd this time, so they have to supply their own hype. If we can be self hyped it will be contagious on our sideline.
 
They are extremely concerned about their run blocking. It's been very poor. Etienne has fought for every yard he's gotten.

They also don't seem impressed with Tony Elliott as sole OC. They think his play calling lacks imagination

iirc, wasn’t Elliott being considered by manny at one point to be OC?
 
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