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110%er [5105]
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For Those Worried About Clemson's Defense
Aug 18, 2013, 12:24 PM
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Yes, we will have to stop UGA in order to get the ball and do what we do best, but for goodness sake, stop worrying about our ability to stop the run. Here's what your coach said recently:
“When this season is over, I’ll be incredibly disappointed if our front seven is not one of our main strengths, if not the strength, of our football team.”
I realize the first game is not when the season is over, but folks, that was said about a football team with one of the best offenses in the country:
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20130814/SPORTS/308140018/Robinson-bowl-win-exception-new-rule-Clemson-defense-
Think about the last scrimmage and how little the starters played. I take it as a sign that:
a) We don't want any more injuries.
b) It's time to get the legs rested.
- and -
c) The coaches are satisfied that we're ready to play.
Both teams will have some secondary issues, but I suspect ours will be better on balance than UGA's. I also think we'll be able to get pressure on Murray better than they will get pressure on Boyd. If they do get pressure on Boyd, his legs will get him out of more jams than will Murray's.
Our O-line will have a tough job on inside runs, but we have some tough, quick backs that so far have been greatly overlooked. They also are not afraid to run between the tackles and can move the chains with just a small crease.
We have a very good punter and the best FG kicker in the country.... UGA, not so much - at least not in this game.
We have WRs that are completely underrated. UGA isn't even in the same league with us in that area.
Expect Vic Beasley to wreak havoc from the weak side. Corey Crawford will be fine on the other side. We're 5-deep at DT, for goodness sake. We will get some INTs because of the pressure those guys will bring.
Our LBs will be as good as any in the country. They are no longer playing on their heels and are not afraid to plug a hole or shoot the gaps.
TE may be questionable to some, but did you see the smirk on Chad Morris' face when he was asked about the need for creativity in the offense with the TE situation? For heaven's sake, in addition to a couple of journeymen TEs, he's got a 6'1"/240lb FB to set the edge and if that doesn't work, he's been working 2 OLs at the position to bring some heavy-duty edge-setting - one at 6'4"/295 and the other at 6'5"/285. We WILL run the ball. In fact, it just may be Clemson playing ball-control, with UGA trying desperately to get it back, which is when we'll burn them deep. How would you like to see one of those horses on a TE fly or skinny post in the UGA secondary? How about a little look-in, drag route. If you're the UGA nickel-back, how would you react to it?
UGA will get their points - but we will get more. I don't think the game will even be close.
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Orange Blooded [2796]
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Re: For Those Worried About Clemson's Defense
Aug 18, 2013, 12:33 PM
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I'm not worried at all about our run defense. The secondary is still scary though. I think our LB play and secondary will determine how far we go. We have the talent at LB with experience. The secondary lacks experience but is littered with 4 and 5 star players.
On offense, I think we are better at OL, QB, and WR. The tape I've seen of Watkins this falls looks like he has reached full beast mode and the guys around him are NFL caliber WR's in their own right. TE and RB are the questions on offense, but not nearly the questions we have in the secondary on defense. Again, we have talent with experience there.
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CU Guru [1346]
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Our defensive has a little more experience...
Aug 18, 2013, 12:33 PM
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...assuming they start who they are telling us will start. The only question or uncertainty is whether the experienced ones like Blanks, for example, will stay consistent. Most have proven they have stepped up their game. And the new guys have all the usual uncertainty.
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CU Guru [1278]
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Re: For Those Worried About Clemson's Defense
Aug 18, 2013, 12:43 PM
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Yeah, this is all well and good to hear, and I agree with your thoughts, but after what's happened the last two years on defense I'm going to need to see proof to be a believer. The players and coaches can be optimistic all they want, and I'm glad they are. Don't get me wrong, we need encouraging updates on how things are going. But in the end, I expect the defense to do all the talking on the field. This is the only way we will know for sure if they for a fact have made progress under Coach V.
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Orange Blooded [2796]
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Re: For Those Worried About Clemson's Defense
Aug 18, 2013, 12:45 PM
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I agree with this 100%
However, I saw some good things building towards the end of the season that give me hope.
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CU Guru [1346]
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The most encouraging aspect is the trend last year
Aug 18, 2013, 12:48 PM
[ in reply to Re: For Those Worried About Clemson's Defense ] |
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Venables seemed to be able to turn around a few key players finally as the season progressed last year. So we know he can do it. Now it's a matter of him proving how he develops newer talent.
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Orange Blooded [2488]
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Fantastic assessment. This is exactly how I see it
Aug 18, 2013, 12:57 PM
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playing out.
GA will score some points, but we will score more and the game won't be that close. It will be over before the 4th quarter.
Yes, our secondary is kind of scary, but we get experience back that we didn't have last year. GA's secondary is in much worse shape than ours.
Our D-line and front 7 is EXTREMELY DEEP. We too deep. Plain and simple. We will get pressure on Murray and their RBs will get stuffed, repeatedly. Especially since the game is at home with a crap load of hyped up Clemson fans and Gameday in town.
Our kicking game is much better than theirs. I'm sure about the return game - this was an area of concern for us last year - but all in all, I'm confident on special teams. We have some of the best kick specialists in the country.
Bring on the Bulldogs.
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110%er [5105]
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Kick Coverage
Aug 18, 2013, 1:06 PM
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That's a question mark until we see how we cover kicks to UGA.
Last year, the right-side gunner would not stay in his lane and went too deep and too far inside over and over. Usually it was Rodriguez - and the return man had the angle on him. I hope he's learned his lesson about being over-eager. There has been a lot of work on it since last year, but those errors sure put the defense in a hole too may times.
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All-TigerNet [10553]
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Our linebackers will be as good as any in the country?***
Aug 18, 2013, 1:58 PM
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Scout Team [171]
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Re: Our linebackers will be as good as any in the country?***
Aug 18, 2013, 2:02 PM
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Some good weed out there.
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CU Guru [1211]
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Re: Our linebackers will be as good as any in the country?***
Aug 18, 2013, 2:12 PM
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What a loser you are sir, for being a member of your rivals message board for over 12 years. That is all...
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Rookie [12]
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Re: For Those Worried About Clemson's Defense
Aug 18, 2013, 2:16 PM
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Just asking an honest question... Didn't your coach say everyone would be taking about Clemson's defense before the Orange Bowl started and he was absolutely wrong. I am sure the front seven will be better but could it have been much worse over the past two years when compared to the play Clemson is used to having? Clemson is an offensive team and that will be the strength of your team Dabo.
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110%er [5105]
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Re: For Those Worried About Clemson's Defense
Aug 18, 2013, 2:43 PM
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I don't remember if he said that or not before the Orange Bowl game. Like Will Rogers, "All I know is what I read in the papers'..... except I do see and read some other stuff - not to mention tea leaves...... 
The Clemson defense (at least the front 7) turned the corner last year and this year will be much improved..... just my opinion, though.
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Oculus Spirit [94275]
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I'm not worried and haven't been since the end of the...
Aug 18, 2013, 3:44 PM
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LSwho game. We stopped their run and their passing game too. +1 yards in the 4th quarter was all they took. We gave them nothing.
I read the post anyway. I think the LBs are not all you've made them out to be but they'll be the best crew we've seen in many years. The same can be said for our linemen on both sides. They are our best in a decade, physically and mentally developed, seasoned, big, nasty, humble and hungry for respect.
I fully agree with your WR report. HotRod is my breakout pick for this season. I'm expecting 1300 yards if he stays healthy.
If we are beaten by uGAY I'd expect them to go on to great things this season. That's not gonna happen in our house cause we ain't gonna let it!
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110%er [5105]
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Re: I'm not worried and haven't been since the end of the...
Aug 18, 2013, 5:37 PM
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OK, I'm a little over the top on the LBs, but I got so used to bronze statues a couple of years ago that the present batch seems like the best in the country to me. Anyway, I think they're good enough.
If Stephone Anthony has learned enough to win the Mike and Shuey is at Will, the middle and weak-side should be fine..... not sure about the Sam, but we're probably ok there.
The biggest problem for the LBs and the secondary is going to be the UGA TEs and SEs. I don't think UGA shows too many WR looks - more 2-TE and some 3-TE sets, with the SE and flanker thrown in if my memory is correct - so there should be a lot of short action, with a few deep balls.
Some of those TEs are huge with a height advantage and will be hard for CBs and safeties to bring down. It will be very interesting to me to see what coverage we put on them. Imagine having 2 or 3 Dwayne Allens and/or Brandon Fords loose in the secondary.
If we're ready to play, our best results might be from jumping routes on steady QB pressure. I'd love to see about 3 picks on Murray.
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Orange Blooded [4787]
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nice assesment. however, we do have some speed with our
Aug 18, 2013, 5:54 PM
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'backers, we have two number 1 rated guys (out of hs), at the inside and outside positions. bv has to be salivating at the opportunity to coach our linebacker's with all their talent. true, uga has some talented te's but we can counter. i hate the fact that we lost cooper in the spring, and now leggett is out. however, stanton seckinger is a former wr, who should have the speed to get open against any of uga's backers. and this is just 1 position. we have advantages all over the field!
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Legend [16333]
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I'm jacked about our DT's. IMO that group is the one that
Aug 18, 2013, 6:44 PM
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got it together the most mid-season last year and is #1 reason why our defense looked in better control down the backstretch than earlier in the year, NC State the exception.
We're stocked thick here, and can rotate fresh and hungry throughout any game. Stuffing the run inside, getting a QB to flank and taking away half the field, this position more than any other really dictates how effective an entire defense can be. And we flat out got it going on with our "no name" grunts there heading into the season. With the size, speed, and talent we have at LB covering underneath, our inexperience in the secondary shouldn't be near the factor early on many of us want to believe.
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