Monday November 16, 2009

NC State Review

NC State Review
I received an e-mail from a good friend yesterday that read, “(Thursday’s Doom and Gloom blog) was one of the best blogs you've ever written, especially since we went on to kick their teeth in.”

I thought Clemson was going to win Saturday but had no idea the Tigers would be so dominant. Clemson could have also gone into Raleigh and played poorly, turned the ball over and lost. But my point was that there was no point in thinking the negative way going into the game because I believe this group is different.

The Clemson coaching staff has done a terrific job in making the kids believe it. I wrote a blog in the summer that said that would be Dabo’s biggest challenge. I said that if he got the players to believe then it would show on the field and the fans would follow their lead. As it has turned out, that is exactly what has happened.

Saturday was a very encouraging site for Clemson fans. This team came out and took control of the game early with a 17-0 lead. The actual score was not indicative of just how dominant the Tigers were. Clemson opened up a 43-17 lead but gave up the last minute touchdown that helped the Pack close to within 20 points.

Saturday felt like old times where Tiger players, coaches and fans were involved in a big November game but had some swagger because they knew which sideline had the better team.

The offense kept up their efficiency with another outstanding effort. The win broke another school record where the Tigers have scored at least 38 points in five straight contests. Since the Maryland loss, Clemson has averaged 42 points per game.

Some of the other notes were also very encouraging. Clemson has had at least 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing in each of the last two games. Clemson is now 52-0-1 in its history when it has at least 200 or each.

The Tigers rushed for 254 yards and now has three consecutive rushing games of at least 240 yards. It is the first time Clemson has done that since a five-game streak of at least 240 yards in 2000. It is funny how no one is complaining about the red zone after the 5-5 performance Saturday and no one is talking about the rift between Dabo and Napier since the Maryland game.

Part of the rushing attack came from Heisman Trophy candidate C.J. Spiller who had 97 yards rushing and became the second player in school history to have a touchdown run, reception and pass in the same game. Spiller has now accounted for a touchdown five ways this year, the first Clemson player in history to do that. Spiller now has one punt return for a score, three kickoff returns for scores, four receptions for touchdowns, one touchdown pass and six rushing touchdowns. He also has a two-point conversion, so he has scored six different ways this year.

He established the Clemson single season record for all-purpose yards with 1952 for the season. The previous record was 1883 by Derrick Hamilton in 2002.

Spiller needs just 140 all-purpose yards to become just the fifth player in FBS history with 7000 all-purpose yards. He needs 164 yards rushing to break the 1,000-yard mark in rushing. He needs four touchdowns to tie the school record for touchdowns in a season.

Spiller was not the only Tiger who had a big day rushing. Andre Ellington averaged 4.4 yards per carry and Jamie Harper had his bust out game with four carries for 86 yards including a 69-yard touchdown to seal the game.

I thought Kyle Parker had perhaps his best game as he continues to improve. He made two incredible throws. In the first half he threw a frozen rope to Xavier Dye on a crossing route for a 17-yard gain and again made an excellent throw to Michal Palmer in the fourth quarter for a first down after escaping the rush. Both passes were into the wind showcased Parker’s cannon. Parker also had a couple of key runs to convert first downs.

I thought the biggest play of the game came in the second quarter. Clemson had a 17-0 lead but State came down the field and scored to cut the Tigers lead to 10 points. The Tigers were facing a third and long but Parker bought some time and found Jacoby Ford who had gotten behind the defensive backs for a 47-yard completion. A few plays later the Tigers had a 17-point lead again.

A day with 454 yards of total offense with no turnovers, no sacks and 43 points meant the offensive line played well.

Defensively, I thought it was another solid performance with the exception of penalties and the final touchdown drive. The Tigers held Russell Wilson to a 12 of 32 performance and only 183 yards. They sacked Wilson twice and allowed only 138 yards on the ground.

Clemson is now 4-0 against the top four rated passers in the ACC in terms of efficiency. The top passers are Jacory Harris of Miami, Russell Wilson of NC State, Christian Ponder of Florida State and Riley Skinner of Wake Forest.

One of the defensive keys was first down. The defense won the battle on first down and State faced bad down and distance situations throughout the game.

Saturday was another one to remember for a while. I was not impressed with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and their lack of knowledge about parking. However, I was impressed by the State fans. Their team came into the game with a 4-5 record but the place was close to full. It reaffirmed my belief that State is the only school in North Carolina that actually cares about football.

For those that did not attend the game, it was nice to see the players come in front of the fans for the Alma Mater. Clemson had a nice crowd there as well.

Virginia could not score late and beat Boston College, so the Tigers magic number remains one. Clemson has to either beat Virginia Saturday or hope Boston College loses to either North Carolina or at Maryland in order for the Tigers to win their first Atlantic Division title.

The win brought a big move in the polls (18th and 19th). It also set up a great day Saturday where Tiger fans can celebrate Military Appreciation Day, Senior Day and hopefully a division title

Dabo is now 6-1 as the head coach of the Tigers in November and Saturday’s win gives the Tigers a chance to enjoy their biggest win in November in 18 years. It will also give the doubters another chance to claim their doom and gloom and how this will be the game of the Clemson collapse. I, for one, am not buying it. This team is different.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

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 e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*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, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan.