FL Cane
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Obviously, just about everything that could have gone wrong tonight did go wrong. I knew once they scored on that first drive after we shot ourselves in the foot, that we'd be in for a long game. This game was a measuring stick though, and at the least, it shows us how far we have to go to be competitive with these guys. For anyone panicking, chill out. Programs don't go from consistently underperforming and having 6 to 7 win seasons to competing with and beating teams like Clemson. Overall, here are some takeaways from the game, and how things look moving forward:
No one stays on top forever and the pendulum always swings, just ask FSU. We can get to Clemson's level, but it's going to take years of building up to it. Finish up this season 9-2/10-1, win a quality bowl game, and we'll be well on our way. Not saying Manny is Dabo, but it took Dabo years to put together the right mix of coaches and recruit quality players. Much like us right now, Clemson fans never thought he'd do it until he finally did. At the least Diaz has shown a willingness to adjust. Lashlee will pay off in the long run, and hopefully, we bring in a defensive staff that can take it to the next level.
- Evidently, Clemson is the undisputed #1 team in the country. They are a program led by a once in a generation coach who's been at the helm since 2008, and who's engineered double-digit win seasons for the past nine years. Dabo has been able to keep Power 5 quality HC candidates on his staff as assistants (like Venebales) for years. It's unheard of and is one of the many reasons they are what they are. There isn't a team in the country that will beat them this year. And no, Bama won't either, not after letting Ole Miss drop 45 on them.
- This game was always a measuring stick. Clemson is a program that has, in the past five years, gone 73-5, has owned the ACC, has played in 4 natty's, and has won two. We are a program that has gone 43-26, have appeared in one ACC Championship, and have won 1 out of 5 bowls we've played in. Point is, they've been elite for years and we've been terrible. It takes time, great recruiting/development, and the right mix of coaches to get to where Clemson is.
- The overarching goal for us now is to close this season out strong, with a 9-2/10-1 record, and play in a quality bowl game. Next week's Pitt game will define whether we bounce back or fold. That's how programs progress, that's how a team like Clemson got to where they are today. From 2008 to 2014 Clemson was a team that couldn't get over the hump and turn the corner. Once the right mix was in place, and FSU took a step back, they finally turned the corner.
- Right now, we don't have the personnel to compete with elite teams. We will need to put together 2-3 solid top ten classes to do so. We have young elite talent at RB, and that's it. We have major holes at OT, OG, WR, DT, LB, and DB. There are maybe 1-2 guys on our team right now that would start for Clemson.
- D'Eriq King is a good QB, at times he can be a really good QB. Nevertheless, he's not a great or elite QB, and tonight should be the end of any Heisman discussion for him. Make no mistake, he's the best QB we've had for a really long time, but he's got a long way to go to be a great QB. There's definitely a chance he comes back next year, especially if we can finish strong at 9-2/10-1.
- Our OL has looked better this year, but we still can't compete with good/elite defenses. Luckily we won't face a defense as good as Clemson for the rest of the year, so it can only go up from here. Justice is a good OL coach, but we need a solid 2-3 classes for our OL so this unit can be consistently good.
- We have elite talent at RB, but they can only do so much when their OL can't get any push.
- Our WR's have been average all year, but today they were abysmal. This is a position where we need to land some solid recruits this year. None of these WR's are a threat whatsoever.
- Expected to see more of Brevin and Mallory today, but it just didn't show. Brevin still looks to be hobbled by injury problems, and King severely underthrew Mallory on what should've been a TD. Either way, both need to come back because there isn't a future (at least at the first-round level expected) for them in the NFL right now. Brevin could of course make an NFL roster, but he isn't playing the way we expected him, especially with the injury issues.
- Our DL severely underperformed. Ford and Nesta couldn't get anything going on the inside, and Phillips and Roche met their match tonight. Luckily, there isn't another team on our schedule which will pose the kind of challenge Clemson did today. We should be fine moving forward.
- Our LB's were constantly out of position and at time literally pushed out of the way. For an HC that has coached LB's for decades, I've never understood why Diaz can't get it together at that position. On the bright side, Brooks showed flashes tonight and should be on the field way more. Our young guys need to get reps, and we need to recruit well here.
- Our DB's are what they are. Another position where a major infusion of talent is needed. No hate for Ivey tonight, he broke up some big passes and scored a crucial TD.
- Bolden is at another level, he's a guy that could start for a team like Clemson. Guy has major heart and played well tonight. After him and Hall though, there's a massive drop off at safety. Yet another position where we need to recruit well.
- Coaching tonight was abysmal, but it does get to a point where there's only so much a coach can do. We just don't have the personnel to compete with a team like Clemson, and as a program that's been 43-26 over the past five years, it doesn't happen overnight.
- Baker isn't the answer at DC. Our defense takes way to long to get into a rhythm, and we're extremely undisciplined. He constantly gets worked by better coaches, and his play-calling is more bend not break than anything else. He adjusts decent enough at half, but that doesn't matter if your O is stagnant and you're already down double digits.
- Tonight was a measuring stick for our O and Lashlee, and we see how far they have to go. Yeah, Lashlee got owned by Venebales tonight. Say what you want though, our Offense wouldn't have scored 52 points combined in our first three games, let alone against FSU, without Lashlee. At the least, he's probably not going anywhere for 2-3 more seasons.
No one stays on top forever and the pendulum always swings, just ask FSU. We can get to Clemson's level, but it's going to take years of building up to it. Finish up this season 9-2/10-1, win a quality bowl game, and we'll be well on our way. Not saying Manny is Dabo, but it took Dabo years to put together the right mix of coaches and recruit quality players. Much like us right now, Clemson fans never thought he'd do it until he finally did. At the least Diaz has shown a willingness to adjust. Lashlee will pay off in the long run, and hopefully, we bring in a defensive staff that can take it to the next level.
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