South Carolina Review |
South Carolina Review
Losing sucks. Losing to South Carolina really sucks. Losing to South Carolina four years in row is something I didn't think would happen in my lifetime. Like all of the other losses, this one hurts. Its supposed to hurt. Losing to your arch rival should never feel good. This is a feeling that should irritate all Clemson players, coaches, administrators and fans. This is not acceptable. With that said, I saw five things Saturday night that stood out to me and looked like the difference in the game. Third Down Clemson's inability to get off of the field on third down was the major difference in the game. South Carolina converted on a third and 10, a third and five, scored a touchdown on third and 16, converted on third and 10, third and nine, fourth and 11 (interference), third and nine (interference), third and two, fourth and one, third and 11, and third and 19. I have said since August that the secondary is my biggest concern and watching the game Saturday night confirmed this notion. Clemson's defensive backs were awful once again. They play with poor technique which has not improved since August. Dylan Thompson was able to pick the secondary apart when Clemson dropped eight into coverage. This should not happen. When the Tigers blitzed, he light them up for big plays as well. The Tigers lack of ability to get off of the field on third down hurt in so many ways. First, it allowed the Gamecocks to run 86 plays compared to Clemson's 59. South Carolina had the ball for 23:29 in the second half compared to Clemson's 6:31. But perhaps most importantly, it was demoralizing. Time and time again South Carolina was able to keep drives going when it looked as if Clemson had great chances to get the offense back on the field. Thompson You have to give Thompson a lot of credit. He did not look like a backup. Thompson looked more like the Fun and Gun quarterbacks Spurrier had at Florida. For the night, he was 23 of 41 for 310 yards and three touchdowns with only one interception. Clemson has a way of making quarterbacks look good and Saturday night was another example of that. Thompson made Clemson's secondary look like they usually do. Sanders and Ellington Along those same lines, Ace Sanders and Bruce Ellington had huge games against the Tigers' secondary. Sanders caught six passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Ellington caught seven balls for 72 yards and two scores. This was a mismatch. Clowney Effect Speaking of mismatches, Jadaveon Clowney recorded 4.5 sacks Saturday night which was a Memorial Stadium record. I have said all year that I think he is the best player in the country and he did nothing to disprove that. Clowney had a huge effect on
Tajh Boyd Tight Finally, I thought Clemson played tight Saturday night. They played like they were trying to win the last four years instead of just winning Saturday night. The play calling on offense was a mess. The All-American candidate at wide receiver was dropping balls. The All-American candidate at quarterback was off of his game. The running game was abandoned too soon. Clemson was out of rhythm. It appeared to me that they had all of the pressure on them and they did not respond. Prayer List We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines: If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it. If you would like to add someone to the list please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com *Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list. Those who need our prayers include:Finn Brookover, Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Daniel Rosborough, The Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs,Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas. V Family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers,Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr, Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Meredith Legg, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll,
Brandon Thompson
Tajh Boyd
RS Jr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
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and his confidence. Boyd's mechanics were off. Often times Boyd threw off of the wrong foot. We saw Boyd continue to not step into his throws. Clemson did not have the ball a lot Saturday night but Clowney had a big effect when they did. The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
Brandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
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, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Billy McLeroy, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Travis Patterson, Jennifer Chancy, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, The Sturkey Family, James Caylor, Ron Johnson, John Ellis Haddad, the Lance family, Marcus Lattimore, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, Jennifer McManus, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Patrick Heher, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Bill Early, our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day plus their families.
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