Re: Next Day Orange Bowl Observations:

OK, the game did not turn out like we wanted it to. Some reasons for that:

1) A common theme in our last three BIG bowl games has been that our offensive line cannot keep the defenders out of our backfield long enough to mount an effective passing attack. That was certainly on display again last night. Now, there has been turnover all along the line, but same results. So, is it strength coaching, blocking scheme, or just lack of talent. I do not know the reason, I only see the results.

2) Our true freshman QB, under duress all night, looked just like you would expect a true freshman to look in that situation. He got blasted all night, and kept getting back up and trying it again. He is a keeper. But, one critique I must make. He would not have developed that "backpedal bailout" move if it had not worked at some point. So, I must assume it worked well for him in high school. It will NOT work in college, as the defenders are too fast. This will be painfully evident on film study, as well as physically for Cade when he wakes up this morning.

3) Once again, for the most part, our much vaunted defensive line could not get pressure on THEIR QB. Yes, we got him on the ground some, but for the most part, he was standing back there looking around, and picking us apart.

4) Back to OUR offensive line, for those who cry about "why didn't we run it more", the game turned early on our inability to gain less than two yards to keep drives alive, SEVERAL times. In short, we couldn't run it when they knew we were going to run it, and we couldn't throw it much on rhythm at ANY point. All that comes back to the offensive line.

5) KNOWING Cade had no time to throw, where were quick slants, jet sweeps, ANYTHING to slow down the bullrush of Tennessee? Offensive play calling, as it has been for most of the year, was just not well done last night. We were fortunate to get out of that game without Cade having to spend the spring rehabbing a major injury, as many times as we set him up to be blasted to the ground.

Other than those things, the night was just peachy. Except for the blown defensive coverages that led to easy Vol scores, of course.

allorangeallthetime52®

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Dec 31, 2022, 10:40 AM

They are NOT part of the problem, They are the Problem!!! We played against a 10AC team that was not more talented than our Clemson team. Our problem right now is coaching, and if our HC do not fix the problem that he himself created, going into next season will only mean our team will have the very same problems that Dabo created for those men, and like it, hate it, or get pisssed off bc someone voiced what the problem is, don't blame the messenger, blame the person/persons who created the problem bc they felt they had an ingenious idea that he came up with over everyone else. The most important thing that was overlooked with Dabo's idea of growing his coaching staff at Clemson, and I believe that he made an honestly mistake but, will he correct the very mistake that he made, and the only admission I would expect from Dabo would be, is to say that things didn't turn out the way that he expected them to, and that he feels that it's best that he changes direction for the upcoming future of Clemson FB, and we wait for his presser that he has replace Goodwin and Streeter with experience for the future success of his FB program.

I believe that if Dabo was to do, he would gain respect from around the country, even with the people that hasn't cared for Dabo since the day that he was hired as our Head FB coach. I will also confess again that I was one of not very many that cheered for Dabo when Terry Don appointed Dabo as our new HC bc everything that I read about Dabo, he had been successful, and my thoughts were why not as a HC bc all he had to do as a HC was to hire tons of experience to be his assistants, and he did, and it worked well for him leading the way. But Dabo done what most successful people do when they beat the odds. He went too far out on the limb to prove that he was a better Xs and 0s FB coach than he was, and he would train his staff to be as successful as he has been as the leader/CEO of Clemson FB, and he went too far out on that limb, and it broke, but it's not too late for a net too be placed under him before he hits the bottom.

Is Dabo compassionate enough about the program that he led to the top, is he willing to change direction of a wrong turn he made, or will his stubborn streak that has reared its head cause him to lose everything good he has done at Clemson. I don't know, what I do know is that everything good he's done at Clemson don't have to end, and it won't end if Dabo proves that he isn't afraid of change, and he makes the necessary changes that will put Clemson FB back on course, but he will have to make those changes soon even if it hurts.

Terry Don Smith was willing to suffer the consequences when he made his decision to hire Dabo as the new HC, and Dabo should do the same with his hire of coordinators last spring. Humans can't go through life without having to live or die by the sword, and this is just another of those times in Dabo's life, it won't be the first, and it won't be his last, or at least I hope not. But I do feel he can continue his success as the HC at Clemson....