Clemson Game Notes

The Tigers had a good practice Saturday. No disrespect to the Citadel, but that’s what this game was. Even winning it 45-17, the Tigers did not show the dominance I had hoped for, given the typical talent difference between a 1-A team and a 1-AA team. (I know, it’s FBS and FCS now). But some of that may have been the constant shuffling of the OL and DL trying to find a combination that could work together effectively. Two things that did work effectively on the DL: Da’Quan Bowers and Brandon Thompson. Bowers showed why he is going to be a great one. Despite frequent double teams, his speed off the mark and in turning the corner around a tackle were impressive. Bowden said in his Sunday teleconference that we need to get more pressure on the QB. I think Sapp and Bowers will take care of that as Bowers gains more experience. But the DEs can’t take that outside rush if we are so soft up the middle that draws and QB keepers are going to be effective. Thompson will eventually take care of that. He’s big and mobile. If Scott can get his form back, the DL should be OK by the time we get to Maryland.

The OL is a different issue. They looked better against the talent level of the Bulldogs, and they should. But they still did not look dominant and the Tigers got stopped several times in short yardage situations. And now Hairston gets hurt on a moped! We don’t know today (Monday) how serious his injury is, but the line cannot afford any depletion.

The biggest immediate concern is that the Tigers cannot seem to stop intermediate passes over the middle. They finally tightened up the in third quarter, but the Citadel’s Roberts constantly hurt them getting open during the first half. Late in the game, against the second string defense–or maybe it was third–the Bulldogs scored a long TD pass over the middle. So is the problem the scheme, the talent, or just poor play? In any event, the Tigers must tighten up on the middle against good teams or their hopes of an ACC championship will be just that–a hope.

It was good to see James and CJ get untracked. Even thought the OL was not dominant, it opened enough of a hole for James and CJ to get through and they took advantage of it. Eight point two and twelve point five yards per carry ain’t too shabby, even against FCS competition.

All in all, Tiger fans came away from this one feeling better than after Alabama (how could they not?), but still wondering whether the lines are going to improve enough to allow the talented skill players to work their magic against good teams and whether the DBs and LBs can stop the passes over the middle. Stay tuned. Next week against NC State SHOULD BE another game the Tigers win and gain the experience to improve. If it’s not . . .

Again. Each time we think the Tigers have turned the corner in talent and ability to win, they disappoint us in a big game. Bowden’s record in not being able to get the team focused and ready for a big game is just flat horrible. I’m writing this Monday morning. So Bowden has had his press conferences to give the media a chance to hear his thoughts on his team’s performance. Bowden said he was responsible and that the team was not ready, but then, then, he goes off on a wild tangent and gives the media the sound bite “human error.” As if someone made a mistake that caused the collapse of the team. I know what he was saying but once he uttered that sound bite, it took all the focus off his accepting any responsibility. Talk about human error. What was he thinking? And, more important, what is Phillips thinking?

It bothers me that Bowden does not seem to understand that Clemson fans DO NOT CARE that Virginia Tech got beat by LSU, that Southern Cal lost to Stanford. Clemson fans care about the Tigers, period. So who was Bowden talking to? There are two choices: a potential future employer or Terry Don Phillips. I actually liked it when he wouldn’t stop walking to talk to the ESPN reporter as he left the field after the game and all he would say was a terse, gruff, “we got whipped.” I hope he retains that anger at his team’s performance at practice this week. We shouldn’t need tough practices for Citadel, but we do need them to let this team know that there are consequences to lack of effort, intensity, and focus.

I got to watch this game from the end zone. My seats in Death Valley are in the upper deck, which I love because you can see the plays develop downfield and the overall pattern of them. It’s been a long time since I watched from the end zone. It’s a perspective that finally solved a problem for me. There has always been something about Spence’s offense that bothered me. He’s had some success, and I couldn’t put my finger on what bothered me. From the end zone and with Alabama’s execution to help, it became clear. Spence’s offense depends on influencing the defense with time and spacing and pattern. Everything in the play is designed to move the defense into a certain position and then exploit that position. Alabama’s offense, on the other hand, especially in the running game, focuses on concentrating blocking at the point of attack. I see now why the Tigers have repeatedly had problems in short yardage situations. They don’t know how to block that point of attack because they are spending their practice time learning all those patterns and how the defense may react to them. You saw Saturday night what happens when a defense just ignores what you’re doing and just works at overwhelming you and getting penetration. You don’t influence them at all and your running backs never get a chance to read the pattern and run to daylight. Of course, that is not a problem if you can’t figure out a way to get the ball to the best running backs in college football, but that’s another story.

There’s really not a lot to say about this game. Alabama simply dominated the Tigers physically. I think Larry Williams, in his blog, had the best description of the Tigers reaction to playing a team with the tradition of Alabama on national TV, with high expectations, and a top ten ranking: “The Tigers looked terribly unfit to be on this stage. You know, the stage on which they were supposed to prove themselves worthy of the Top 10 ranking and all that. Yeah, the offensive line has a looooooong way to go. And yes, the defensive line was almost shockingly soft. But on so many occasions in this game, this had the look of a team that was peeing down its leg in the face of such pomp and circumstance.” (ref) That hurts for a Tiger fan, but it was just too true.

But, thank goodness it was the first game. Win the next 11 and maybe, just maybe, the Tigers can wipe away the taste this one left.

Go Tigers!!!! Beat Citadel (and even having to say that better be a joke).

The Tigers open in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome against Alabama on August 30. Early, early for a quality opponent. If the rebuilt OL (4 starters replaced) can give Cullen just a little time and James and C.J. just a little space, the Tigers will win it 24-21.

Back in 2003, I blogged about Why Tiger Fans Love(d) Danny. It included a link to a table I put together showing the winning percentage of all the coaches from 1940 through 2002. I’ve updated that table to bring Bowden’s record up to date. He’s improved his percentages, especially against Top 25 teams, significantly since 2002.

We had a fun Clemson Club meeting last night. . (more…)

I got married October 13, which was, of course, an open date for the Tigers. Good planning. We were still on our honeymoon the next week, when the Tigers beat Central Michigan 70-14. It would have been fun to see the Tigers reach 70, but trust me, I had a lot more fun in Vermont and New York City. (more…)

Boy, am I glad I said below that I would not be issuing any Game Notes on this game. Otherwise, I would have had to watch it again.. (more…)

There won’t be any Game Notes for the games with the Hokies and Central Michigan the next two weeks.. (more…)

Well, I guess I should be happy. No, not about Tech’s whipping the Tigers 13-3 (I know, that’s just 10 points, but believe me, it was a whipping). But about my cable company’s inaccurate guide. (more…)

Way to go, Tigers. There was a lot to like about the way the Tigers went about demolishing the Wolfpack 42-20. Both the running game and the passing game were working and the defense came to play. (more…)