MikeyCanez
Sophomore
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2018
- Messages
- 768
...Not counting the playoff wins
It felt like a true changing of the guard night. Clemson used to own this conference and we just went in and crushed them without like 6-7 starters if you count guys like Brown and Moore. Just demoralized them.
That is absolutely a game we used to lose because of an awful turnover (or two), a few dumb penalties, some bad coaching decisions and a missed 54-yard field goal that the board would debate for years. Instead the boys handled business, took Clemson's best shot and then just suffocated them with power football.
The offensive line and defensive line are starting to gel, the team played mostly mistake-free, the defense bowed up when the offense was scuffling, we played a bunch of young guys who held their own, Lofton looked like a weapon at tight end, Wilson looks like one of the best pass rushers in the country, Mario used our timeouts well, and we did all of that without our three best defensive backs, our best pass rusher, a revolving door at offensive line and basically no downfield passing attack.
Best of all? There was no real drama. In the past, we would have gone 3-and-out on that first possession after Clemson scored the touchdown. Instead our much-maligned offensive line shoved it down their throat.
It wasn't always pretty and health will be huge, but this team can play with anyone in the country, no doubt.
BIGGEST CONCERNS:
- The defensive backfield is a problem. I think Wesco Jr. is a stud (can he portal to us midseason yet?) but Fitzgerald is out of position and Thornton cannot be trusted in coverage. Maybe Ryan Mack can make the most of an opportunity and Dylan Day looked pretty good, but the bye could not come at a better time. Just having Lucas back will give us a lot of flexibility to work with.
- We still don't have downfield threat. Toney is a big play threat, but he is not a go up and get it outside receiver, I am not sure Barkate is either unfortunately. Clemson may well have the best cornerback pairing we will see all year and I love Daylen Upshaw, but Mensah basically didn't challenge Clemson downfield at all. If the running game gets it together, we may not need a true field stretcher, but it will be a problem against teams with good secondaries (ahem, Notre Dame)
All in all, incredibly satisfying and cathartic.
We are the big bad bullies of the ACC now.
It felt like a true changing of the guard night. Clemson used to own this conference and we just went in and crushed them without like 6-7 starters if you count guys like Brown and Moore. Just demoralized them.
That is absolutely a game we used to lose because of an awful turnover (or two), a few dumb penalties, some bad coaching decisions and a missed 54-yard field goal that the board would debate for years. Instead the boys handled business, took Clemson's best shot and then just suffocated them with power football.
The offensive line and defensive line are starting to gel, the team played mostly mistake-free, the defense bowed up when the offense was scuffling, we played a bunch of young guys who held their own, Lofton looked like a weapon at tight end, Wilson looks like one of the best pass rushers in the country, Mario used our timeouts well, and we did all of that without our three best defensive backs, our best pass rusher, a revolving door at offensive line and basically no downfield passing attack.
Best of all? There was no real drama. In the past, we would have gone 3-and-out on that first possession after Clemson scored the touchdown. Instead our much-maligned offensive line shoved it down their throat.
It wasn't always pretty and health will be huge, but this team can play with anyone in the country, no doubt.
BIGGEST CONCERNS:
- The defensive backfield is a problem. I think Wesco Jr. is a stud (can he portal to us midseason yet?) but Fitzgerald is out of position and Thornton cannot be trusted in coverage. Maybe Ryan Mack can make the most of an opportunity and Dylan Day looked pretty good, but the bye could not come at a better time. Just having Lucas back will give us a lot of flexibility to work with.
- We still don't have downfield threat. Toney is a big play threat, but he is not a go up and get it outside receiver, I am not sure Barkate is either unfortunately. Clemson may well have the best cornerback pairing we will see all year and I love Daylen Upshaw, but Mensah basically didn't challenge Clemson downfield at all. If the running game gets it together, we may not need a true field stretcher, but it will be a problem against teams with good secondaries (ahem, Notre Dame)
All in all, incredibly satisfying and cathartic.
We are the big bad bullies of the ACC now.
