Early game drive chart analysis

[u/jrlii]

Listen... I know this is cope and a little bit of resignation, but Clemson showed hope and promise with clearly flawed aspects of the game. Miami was bigger, faster, stronger, and was almost certainly going to win regardless of our execution.

The scoreboard shows a 41, but the defense really did hold up their end of the bargain through the first 35 minutes, only giving up 17 to a really good offense. In the meantime, our offense did the following:

• Opening kickoff to almost midfield --> blown up on 3rd and 3 --> punt
• 2nd and 5 at Mia 32 --> sacked then incompletion --> punt
• 3rd and 3 at Mia 30 --> Blown protection causing incompletion --> FG
• 1st and 10 at Mia 40 --> Stalled drive --> punt
• 2nd and 1 at Mia 4 --> incompletion and false start --> FG
• 3rd and 2 at Mia 18 --> run game stuffed twice --> turnover on downs

A decent offense can absolutely get to 17 at a minimum, and we got 6. The offense line, specifically right Guard/Tackle, could not block to save their lives. Tait made some really good scrambling plays throwing to an open receiver where Cade would have tried to run and we would have more punts. I don't know if it's the personnel, play calling, Dabo's conservative-ness, or what, but our red zone offense in prior years has been atrocious. We moved the ball well. Say we get "lucky" and we're winning 20-17 in the third quarter. Fans would have been in it, defense would have been juiced that their hard work is paying off, and offense would have some momentum.

I'm really excited/nervous about this VT game in 3 weeks, maybe the OL can gel a tiny bit more, Tait can increase accuracy, and we can salvage the season to go 9-3, 10-2. It sucks we've fallen off the mountaintop, but unlike the LSU game, I did see genuine promise and a little bit of football that makes me excited to watch.

[u/Sactown2005]

Bro, you said it cleanly first:

“Miami was bigger, faster, stronger”.

Clemson was bigger, faster, stronger than every other team (besides Bama) for half a decade. But it’s not anymore. That has to be fixed first.

[u/Cultural-Tip-9846 → u/Sactown2005]

Yes, we are lagging in NIL money vs other teams, and maybe that speaks to the talent. Go watch E Mac break down the Miami game. It isnt strength or speed thats missing, it is situational awareness and proper blocking scheme. The number of times we had three guys blocking one down lineman and letting the edge rushers go or go with one blocker who got absolutely whipped is insane. That isn't players so much as coaching and development.

Dabo made his name doing more with lesser parts, the whole was greater than the sum. But the methods he used to get recruits and build a cohesive team just don't work in the pay to play era.

[u/IronSmoltz → u/Cultural-Tip-9846]

I get the sources for NIL aren’t the most accurate, but the NY Times article had us at $30 million and 2nd in the ACC. Yes, we aren’t Texas or Ohio State, but we lost at home to Syracuse and Duke last year. Just got blown out at home to the ACC team just ahead of us at NIL.

Our coaching and player development is reminding me of late stage Bowden era FSU or Coker era Miami. There’s talent, but it’s not being coached well. OL is atrocious and it’s becoming clear why Matt Luke retired at Uga. He rode Pittman’s OL before bailing.

Our WRs certainly aren’t bad or mediocre, but they seem to do a lot of the little things wrong. They are wildly inconsistent at blocking and some of them (esp Moore) take plays off if the ball isn’t coming to them.

For instance the other night, a quick pass to Wesco only went for a few yards. Why? Because Moore was loafing on his route, and the Miami defender recognized it & ran to Wesco who was clearly ready for the ball. That stuff happens often since Grisham took over, and it rarely happened under Scott. Our WRs under Scott took pride in blocking and always pushed DBs around. That’s long gone now outside of maybe Brown currently.

[u/Cultural-Tip-9846 → u/IronSmoltz]

Yes, blocking in general seems to be a lost art in our current team. And thats coaching.