FSU Review

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Mon Nov 13 10:09:06 GMT-04:00 2017

FSU Review

In many ways, it felt so good to see Clemson look so physically dominating against Florida State Saturday afternoon. At times I wanted to forget this was a 3-5 Seminole team. I just wanted to sit back and enjoy Clemson beating a team with those uniforms, those helmets, that coaching staff and that fight song.

There were only three things that bothered me when I started to realize this Nole team is a mere nub of itself. First was the lack of ability to put an opponent away. Clemson had a 17-0 lead and had held FSU to 46 yards in the first half. However, the Tigers later found themselves giving the Seminoles a chance late in the game.

I also get a little frustrated with some of the offense. Two fumbles inside the five-yard line hurt. The play call selection can be questionable. Etienne’s role can be questioned. The passing game can be lacking. Dropped balls hurt. But this game should have been over at the half.

Finally injuries have been maddening. On the defensive side of the ball, I looked out one play and saw Mullen, O’Daniel, and Smith as the only three regular starters on the field.

FSU’s offensive line and lack of experience at quarterback make them fairly easy to defend. Clemson held the Noles to 12 first downs, 229 yards and 3 of 15 on third and fourth downs. The Seminoles were gifted their first touchdown with a couple of Clemson penalties. Their second score came on a brilliant trick play call. Outside of that, FSU did very little. Clemson did a nice job on Cam Akers holding him to 40 yards on 12 carries.

Offensively the highlights were the 227 yards rushing. Etienne broke the game open with 97 yards on the ground. Kelly Bryant added 60 yards on the ground. Adam Choice had 40 yards and a late score.

The passing game was hampered with a couple of key drops and a few bad decisions or bad throws from Bryant. A few negative yardage plays also put the Tigers behind the chains.

However, the offensive fumbles hurt more than anything else. Clemson left 11 points on the field with two of the fumbles and the final one gave FSU a chance.

It was great to win the game and clinch the division, especially against the Seminoles. I will never take winning for granted and will always cherish trophies and championships.

This Clemson team is not elite. However, neither is Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Miami, TCU, etc. I think we got spoiled with the 2015 and 2016 Clemson and Alabama teams. Those were elite teams. This year you don’t have to be elite, all you have to be is better than the others competing for a national title.

Moving forward, I see three things that will define the end of this season. First are injuries. Clemson will need Dexter Lawrence, Kendall Joseph, Jabril Robinson, Ryan Carter, Marcus Edmond, Tanner Muse, Tre Lamar, Chad Smith, Mark Fields and others to get healthy.

Second, the offense will need to clean up the passing game. Bryant has to make better decisions and better throws. Deon Cain and the wide outs will have to catch the football more consistently.

Finally, Travis Etienne can be the difference between winning the conference title and more. He is explosive and stronger than defenses realize. He can be the explosive player on offense that can change field position and change games.

We are lucky to be in this position again. Clemson’s Atlantic Division title gives this team a shot at so much more. This has been and continue to be very fun.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

src="https://2cic.b-cdn.net/t/ads/plyler/allstate_logo.gif" border=0>

border=0>

Prayer List

The prayer list is a medium for our community to recognize those that are in need. If you would like to add someone to the list, please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com. Please let me know when it is appropriate to remove a person from the list.

Those who need our prayers include: Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki Sullins, Peter Laboy, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon Kirkland and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Mr. Gillespie, Bobbi Nicholson, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, Robert Summerville, Michelle Richey, Julie Moore, Ashley Fitch, Kevin Anderson, Lyn Price, John Robert Smith, Allison Williams, Nicholas Wickiser, Hammond Family, Elaine G. Duvall, Addison Grace, Bennie Cunningham, Kevin Orcutt, Alan Finley, Keith Wells, Steve Byrd, Jessica Hernandez, Wayne Mullins, Rita Alexander, Tony Osterman, family and friends of Gary Cooper, Derk Denton, Tim Vacek, Mike Vacek, Alma Jean Sullivan, Lindsey Motley, Riley Cook, Dwayne Wood, Eileen Thomas, Larry Nimmons and Family, Annie Gregory, Amy Black, Will Black, Sam Smith, Dixon Family, Joe Lazorik, Mark Smith, Rene' Nelson, R. Bruce Harnage, Norris Brown and family, Tanner Cain, Avery Cain, Ted Wilson, Sandra Wilson, Leoffels family, Wren Jansen, Gail Culbreth, Jody Sinex, Donald Sikes, Carolyn and Richard Helderman, Jimmy Hutto, Christina M. Facen, Mike McGrady, John Harrison, Mike Vigdor, Oscar Pullen, Tim Mayberry, John McMahan, Karen Louthian, Samantha Molnar, Bob Dobson, Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt, Lenue Hayes and family, Lamont Johnson and family, Karen Vague, Dwight Clark, Karen Lake, Laura Lake, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.