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Standout [303]
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Would CJ have been better than Etienne if ...
Mar 7, 2024, 8:49 AM
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he had played on the same teams that Etienne played on?
To put it another way, if you swapped them out (they don't have to compete with each other for playing time) who would have been more successful?
Would one be more successful on the 2006-2009 teams and the other on the 2017-2020 teams or would it be the same player who would be more successful on both?
Lastly, I wouldn't change a thing, because we ended up with 2 additional National Championships the way things unfolded!
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CU Medallion [64593]
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I don't know...
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Mar 7, 2024, 8:52 AM
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I think CJ was more injury prone and perhaps lacked the power and top end speed the ETN had/has.
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Recruit [84]
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Re: I don't know...
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Mar 7, 2024, 9:37 AM
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CJ typically took it to the house when he broke lose like ETN. Yes, he was not a banger in the middle type, but he is still the best offensive football player I have ever seen play at Clemson. Sammy, Deshaun, ETN, and Trevor are right there behind him.
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Recruit [84]
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Re: I don't know...
Mar 7, 2024, 9:42 AM
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lose=loose
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CU Medallion [64593]
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CJ was the better receiver and punt/kick returner.
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Mar 7, 2024, 9:55 AM
[ in reply to Re: I don't know... ] |
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Love me some CJ!
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110%er [6474]
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Re: I don't know...
Mar 7, 2024, 2:37 PM
[ in reply to Re: I don't know... ] |
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I think Davis was a better back than Spiller.
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CU Guru [1432]
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Re: I don't know...
Mar 7, 2024, 10:11 AM
[ in reply to I don't know... ] |
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he was also the work horse for the team.
Probably would have been less injury prone if he wasn't getting 30+ touches a game for the bulk of his college career
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Orange Blooded [3289]
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Re: I don't know...
Mar 7, 2024, 10:26 AM
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Spiller averaged just over 14 touches per game in his 54 games for the Tigers. That rushes and receptions. Where do you get him getting 30+ touches per game? His senior year was the only season he had more than 179 touches for the year.
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CU Guru [1432]
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Re: I don't know...
Mar 7, 2024, 2:35 PM
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I remember Dabo telling a story about one of his sons having a job tallying touches for CJ and could have sworn the goal number he mentioned was 30.
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Orange Blooded [2717]
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Spiller Speed > ETN Speed
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Mar 7, 2024, 11:19 AM
[ in reply to I don't know... ] |
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I think CJ was more injury prone and perhaps lacked the power and top end speed the ETN had/has.
I can agree with most of this but no way in h-e-ll did ETN have more top end speed than CJ.
CJ had probably the best football speed I've ever seen at Clemson (mid-2000s to now). When he broke free he didn't get caught. I recall a few times where ETN was caught.
ETN was explosive no doubt and I've missed it for our offense to have a horse that was a threat to take it home each time he touched the ball.
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Orange Blooded [3581]
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Re: Spiller Speed > ETN Speed
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Mar 7, 2024, 11:37 AM
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Exactly!
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CU Medallion [65604]
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Etienne had tackle breaking power. I don't think CJ ever had that, no matter
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Mar 7, 2024, 8:56 AM
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what era you put him in. If they ever got a hand on CJ, he was most likely going down. But, he was so elusive that GETTING that hand on him was far from a given! Just ask Georgia Tech!
https://youtu.be/5udRdAazZic
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All-TigerNet [11183]
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Clemson had some marginal defenses during CJs time
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Mar 7, 2024, 9:30 AM
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Compared to Venables Defenses. We couldn’t get off the field, which would limit CJ further.
The ACC championship game vs Ga Tech was a great example.
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CU Medallion [64593]
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One combined punt the whole friggin' game!***
Mar 7, 2024, 9:34 AM
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All-In [44055]
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I think Etienne benefited from a better offensive scheme
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Mar 7, 2024, 9:45 AM
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and certainly had better weapons around him (QB, WR).
I do not think CJ would have been better than Etienne though. As remarkable as CJ was in terms of athleticism, I prefer Etienne as a true running back who hit holes hard and could break through tackles. CJ tended to dance around behind the line more, and wasn't as able to get through arm tackles and absorb contact like Etienne could.
Both are incredible players who made us better, and I'm glad we had both here.
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Orange Blooded [3581]
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CJ was the better overall player, Etienne the better rb
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Mar 7, 2024, 9:53 AM
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While etienne could do some ball carrying stuff cj couldn’t, cj did FAR more as a receiver and worlds more as a returner. Cj was at least as fast if not faster and had way more shiftiness. Etienne had way more power. Cj was by far the better all around player, as evidenced by how many all purpose records he set. If you tell me my offense is a traditional run based offense gimme Etienne. If you tell me you’re using a guy outta the backfield and you actually want to return kicks (which it seems like we can’t do at all anymore) gimme CJ
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110%er [5579]
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Re: Would CJ have been better than Etienne if ...
Mar 7, 2024, 10:51 AM
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He would have out up gaudier numbers for sure.
But, his college success wouldn't have translated any differently in the NFL.
Etienne is/was a better all-purpose back and I think he'll have a better NFL career.
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Hall of Famer [22336]
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and Terry Allen is still the best RB I've ever seen tote the rock for CU.***
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Mar 7, 2024, 11:01 AM
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Legend [17805]
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and I agree***
Mar 7, 2024, 2:06 PM
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All-In [44055]
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Commissioner [901]
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Re: Would CJ have been better than Etienne if ...
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Mar 7, 2024, 11:42 AM
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Yes.
Unfortunately for CJ:
1) CJ was an elite pass receiver and kick returner from Day 1
2) The Clemson offense was more traditional during time.
3) CJ didn't have the offensive line that blocked for Etienne.
4) CJ didn't have the elite QB play that Etienne had.
5) CJ didn't have the level of supporting offensive playmakers that Etienne had. Therefore, defenses keyed on CJ even more than they did with Etienne.
I LOVED Etienne and don't want to diminish his contributions and records. He was a phenomenal player and one of the top 2 RBs in Clemson history.
Bottom Line
It would have been incredible to watch CJ talents in Clemson's offense during our CFP run.
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Orange Blooded [2511]
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Re: Would CJ have been better than Etienne if ...
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Mar 7, 2024, 11:43 AM
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Yes. He was better.
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110%er [5087]
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Re: Let Me Tell You How Dangerous Of A Concept That Is ---
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Mar 7, 2024, 11:47 AM
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If CJ and Etienne was on the same team..... Clemson would be on the Death Penalty Trial by the NCAA for the scoring bloodshed we would have been able to put on teams.
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Orange Blooded [3569]
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Re: Would CJ have been better than Etienne if ...
Mar 7, 2024, 1:54 PM
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Etienne would've been better. He dominated the best teams he played against. CJ could get contained and wasn't a guy who ran through contact like Etienne. Will say though CJ was polished right off the rip Etienne had alot of growing to do as a pass catcher and blocker his first year. So I guess 2nd year and on Etienne over CJ but if they were both freshmen CJ had the edge.
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Athletic Dir [864]
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Re: Would CJ have been better than Etienne if ...
Mar 7, 2024, 2:42 PM
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Think his success would have been comparable but different style back, for sure.
Have only seen a small handful of college offensive players in my lifetime that could take over a game like CJ could in '08.
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Legend [16158]
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Travis breaks tackles better, surrounding talent wouldn't change that for CJ***
Mar 7, 2024, 2:49 PM
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Replies: 25
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50
