It did not take a football genuius to clearly realize that the game was over 5-10 minutes into it. The absurd amount of penalties early, the continuous inability to get off the field on 3rd Down, the Offense getting completley blown up by Clemson's defense immediately after the ball was snapped, and the perplexed-looking facial expressions on the sidelines by both players and coaches. Anyone with some common sense objectively looking at those first 3-5 series could see it. People who were all pissed off about this game clearly failed to see what so obvious, early. Frankly for me, my whole expectations of that game changed early. That game quickly became about trying to avoid a blowout, and at least compete for 3 1/2 quarters with some self-respect. Outside of a blocked FG-TD and a single offensive consolation TD late, not sure we saw any of that.
However, there still ARE positives, and there are negatives.
POSITIVES
(1) Still A Good Team - Clearly, we are neither an elite team nor ready to compete with the elite teams of Bama, Clemson, and Georgia. But this is STILL a good team who beat a 9-win UAB by double digits, beat a Louisville team on the road by double digits, and crushed a still-talented FSU team by 50 points. Not great wins, but we can't summarily marginalize an impressive 3-0 start just because Clemson routed us. Clemson is going to rout A LOT of teams- trust me, we're not the only one. Clemson has the #1 Overall Pick and Heisman-leading QB, a top-3 HC, a top-3 RB, and loads of NFL talent. We ran into a buzzsaw. Fine. Time to move on to Pitt. We can still finish 10-1/9-2/8-3, and still have a quality improved season.
(2) Special Teams - How about Special Teams. Damn. Blocked FG for a TD. No turnovers returning either kickoffs or punts. Quality punting. Borregales a clean stat kicking his only FG and Extra Points. In a game where both the Offense and Defense sucked, Special Teams was a suprising positive. If Special Teams plays for the rest of the season like it did against Clemson, then we are going to be in solid shape.
(3) Bubba Bolden - led the team in tackles with 10 total, and was the only defensive player who had double digit tackles. Flying around all over the field. Thought he was one of the few players who was truly ready for that type of primetime game.
NEGATIVES
(1) Offense - Obviously. Tough to pin the Offensive failures on any individual. Yes, King had 2 interceptions, but he was under non-stop harrassment all night. He eventually HAD to force balls to try to make something special happen. He had no help from the OL. The OL is an improved unit, but clearly an inadequate unit to face elite teams. Can only scheme so much to mask what is an inherently average OL- good enough to block Louisville-UAB-FSU, not so much Clemson. WRs did little to help- dropped balls and lack of separation made King's much more difficult. Rhett didn't have a great night- Gameplan was not working early, and the adjustments were poor. I expect him to have a better gameplan against Pitt.
(2) Amari Carter - Must be benched. 2 ejections LAST season, already been flagged twice THIS season for targeting, including an ejection. It's an absolute joke. Lawerence is clearly sliding down, there's a holding penalty on Clemson to put them in a 3rd and Mile down and distance early to give our Offense the ball, and this guy goes full dumbass, again, on a completley unecessary spear targeting play to give Clemson a dead ball automatic first down, which of course leads to an early TD for the Tigers. Must be benched. Enough is enough.
(3) Not Mentally Prepared - Two weeks to prepare for Clemson, and THAT is how we looked early? Penalties left and right on both sides of the ball. Players out of position. Poor execution. Sure, Clemson is that good and had a hand in blowing up our gameplans, but I though that this team looked overwhlemed, overrun, and outcoached from just about the get-go. Only Bubba, Jaelen, and a few others really looked mentally dialed into that game, and ready for the occassion. Big negative for Manny having that team well underprepared for a mental standpoint.
OVERALL
As I've consistently stated, perspective is important. Again, it did not take a football genuius to realize that the game was over 5-10 minutes into it. Clemson is the undisputed #1 Team and favorite to win the National Championship. Trevor Lawrence is a uniquely talented elite QB. Certainly, we had wanted to compete in a closer game. But I firmly beleive that this is STILL a GOOD TEAM. A team with some leaders, some better coaching, and still some great opportunities against Pitt, VT, UVA, and UNC to finish 10-1/9-2 and have a great season. CANNOT let this loss to Clemson create a downward spiral of self-doubt, pity, and mental tanking. Have to get back up and fight for another win.
However, there still ARE positives, and there are negatives.
POSITIVES
(1) Still A Good Team - Clearly, we are neither an elite team nor ready to compete with the elite teams of Bama, Clemson, and Georgia. But this is STILL a good team who beat a 9-win UAB by double digits, beat a Louisville team on the road by double digits, and crushed a still-talented FSU team by 50 points. Not great wins, but we can't summarily marginalize an impressive 3-0 start just because Clemson routed us. Clemson is going to rout A LOT of teams- trust me, we're not the only one. Clemson has the #1 Overall Pick and Heisman-leading QB, a top-3 HC, a top-3 RB, and loads of NFL talent. We ran into a buzzsaw. Fine. Time to move on to Pitt. We can still finish 10-1/9-2/8-3, and still have a quality improved season.
(2) Special Teams - How about Special Teams. Damn. Blocked FG for a TD. No turnovers returning either kickoffs or punts. Quality punting. Borregales a clean stat kicking his only FG and Extra Points. In a game where both the Offense and Defense sucked, Special Teams was a suprising positive. If Special Teams plays for the rest of the season like it did against Clemson, then we are going to be in solid shape.
(3) Bubba Bolden - led the team in tackles with 10 total, and was the only defensive player who had double digit tackles. Flying around all over the field. Thought he was one of the few players who was truly ready for that type of primetime game.
NEGATIVES
(1) Offense - Obviously. Tough to pin the Offensive failures on any individual. Yes, King had 2 interceptions, but he was under non-stop harrassment all night. He eventually HAD to force balls to try to make something special happen. He had no help from the OL. The OL is an improved unit, but clearly an inadequate unit to face elite teams. Can only scheme so much to mask what is an inherently average OL- good enough to block Louisville-UAB-FSU, not so much Clemson. WRs did little to help- dropped balls and lack of separation made King's much more difficult. Rhett didn't have a great night- Gameplan was not working early, and the adjustments were poor. I expect him to have a better gameplan against Pitt.
(2) Amari Carter - Must be benched. 2 ejections LAST season, already been flagged twice THIS season for targeting, including an ejection. It's an absolute joke. Lawerence is clearly sliding down, there's a holding penalty on Clemson to put them in a 3rd and Mile down and distance early to give our Offense the ball, and this guy goes full dumbass, again, on a completley unecessary spear targeting play to give Clemson a dead ball automatic first down, which of course leads to an early TD for the Tigers. Must be benched. Enough is enough.
(3) Not Mentally Prepared - Two weeks to prepare for Clemson, and THAT is how we looked early? Penalties left and right on both sides of the ball. Players out of position. Poor execution. Sure, Clemson is that good and had a hand in blowing up our gameplans, but I though that this team looked overwhlemed, overrun, and outcoached from just about the get-go. Only Bubba, Jaelen, and a few others really looked mentally dialed into that game, and ready for the occassion. Big negative for Manny having that team well underprepared for a mental standpoint.
OVERALL
As I've consistently stated, perspective is important. Again, it did not take a football genuius to realize that the game was over 5-10 minutes into it. Clemson is the undisputed #1 Team and favorite to win the National Championship. Trevor Lawrence is a uniquely talented elite QB. Certainly, we had wanted to compete in a closer game. But I firmly beleive that this is STILL a GOOD TEAM. A team with some leaders, some better coaching, and still some great opportunities against Pitt, VT, UVA, and UNC to finish 10-1/9-2 and have a great season. CANNOT let this loss to Clemson create a downward spiral of self-doubt, pity, and mental tanking. Have to get back up and fight for another win.
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