AFTER REWATCHING THE GAME LAST NIGHT

Sep 5, 2023, 9:48 AM

I rewatched the game last night because I record every Clemson Football game. However painful it was, I managed to tap into the analysis of what I watched. I will break it down by position.

COACHING: It appears as if the coaches had a plan to play vanilla on offense and still win the game. That way, they wouldn't reveal too much of the playbook. Understandable, we do play FSU in two weeks after all. However, they shouldn't have waited until the second half to open the playbook. By mid 1st Qtr if you're not up by 14 points, it's time to open the playbook. The plays seemed a bit more creative in the second half. GRADE D-

QB: Aside of two Bonafide bad throws where Cade overthrew the receiver, I don't think he played too bad. He can only execute the play that is called. Bubble Screens aren't his call. That's all on the Clemson coaches. The interception he threw was out of desperation to kickstart a comeback. GRADE C+

WR: The WR routes being called or prescribed by the coaches do not create space between the receiver and the defender. Small individual actions from the receivers such as a stutter step and juking the defender would go a long way. All coachable skills and tools to provide a receiver to allow them to create separation required for a clean throw. Another thing is that the receivers need to be more physical, throw a block and slow down the defender while running past him to run the route. That creates even more space. GRADE D

TE: Tight end play was solid, he blocked and found ways to get open underneath, but wasn't targeted by Cade nearly as much as he should have been. Again, this is because the coached design pass plays have an intended target. GRADE B+

RB: Aside of the fumbles that cost us the game, the RB play was stout. B- due to the fumbles.

O-LINE: There is much improvement for run protection, but pass protection needs to be much better. GRADE D-

SPECIAL TEAMS: WHAT.... A.... DISASTER! We all watched two missed FG, and the lack of effort on the return team and the coverage team. GRADE F

D-LINE: The Defensive Line began to gain pressure on Leonard in the second quarter of the game on, but Leonard and many other QBs they face this year will be more deadly outside of the pocket. Sam Hartman, Jordan Travis, and many others will burn Clemson with their legs or throws on the run if Clemson plays the way they did last night. I give the Front 4 a solid Grade of B- due to the lack of sacks and tackles for loss.

LB: The LB did not perform to the level of Clemson football. Too many arm tackles in open space. LB is one of the most physical positions in the game because you have to put pads on the RB and wrap him up. You also have to cover receivers on the edge and underneath. Again, you have to hit the WR and RB whenever they come into contact with the ball. Another sad reality is that they didn't get enough penetration into the backfield. GRADE D-

DE: Xavier was double covered most of the game, but that other DE who is a freshman played really well. Again, not enough pressure for pass plays. GRADE D-

CB: They did well for most of the game until they just flat out gave up in the 4th quarter because the game was lost. NEVER GIVE UP! GRADE F because they flat out gave up.

Safety: The Safeties appeared to be lost at times which left Duke receivers wide open on their own island. Also, too many arm tackles in open space. We must be physical at all phases. GRADE D-

OVERALL, AN UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE AND I WOULD SAY THAT CLEMSON DESERVED TO BE HUMBLED BY DUKE! CLEMSON LOST TO CLEMSON AND THAT INCLUDES THE COACHES.

The good news is that it is only one game, right? Wrong, this is the third loss in a row under this leadership. I can handle a loss just as well as anyone, but whenever you lose to teams that you should handily beat, then you are in turn a program in decline. Tommy Bowden was satisfied with being bowl eligible, and I expect more from Dabo Swinney who earns $10M a year to win games. UofSC should have been stomped, Tennessee should have been stomped, and Duke especially should have been stomped. The lack of intensity on the Defense is a huge part of the woes, but conservative scared play calling on the offense with a slow and predictable tempo is a huge reason why Clemson is not a scoring machine anymore.

GO TIGERS!

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Our country won't go on forever, if we stay soft as we are now. There won't be any America because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race.

~Chesty Puller
Lt.General United States Marine Corps