Killer Instinct |
Killer Instinct
Clemson has enjoyed an unbelievable amount of success on the football field over the past few seasons, and there has been very little to complain about. One of my very few complaints is the Tigers have often lacked a killer instinct and the ability to put teams away. In several games in the past two seasons, the Tigers could have avoided some drama. Instead, they have had to recover a few onside kicks and bat down some Hail Mary passes. The Tigers have dominated some opponents, and you have to give the opponents credit for coming back in some cases, but the following are examples of how Clemson could have avoided late game decisions: 2015 Louisville Clemson goes up two scores, 20-10 with 9:57 to go but allows a 100-yard kickoff return to cut the lead to 20-17. The offense had the ball twice in the final nine minutes but couldn't put the game away and had to rely on the defense to endure a failed Hail Mary attempt. Notre Dame Clemson goes up 21-3 in the first minute of the third quarter and recovers a fumbled kickoff return on the next play. The Tigers took over at the Irish 35 but missed a chance to go up three scores on the next three drives. As a result, Clemson had to hold off an Irish two-point conversion in the final seconds to win 24-22. NC State Clemson took a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter but allowed 14 fourth quarter points to make the game interesting. The offense did score nine fourth quarter points for the 56-41 win. Syracuse The Tigers raced out to a 14-0 lead but allowed Syracuse back in the game several times including a 14-14 tie. After leading 31-17 late in the third quarter, Clemson let the Orange climb to within a score twice in the fourth quarter before winning by ten. South Carolina Clemson had a 21-3 lead in the third quarter against the arch rival and another 28-10 lead late in the period. Clemson allowed 29 second half points, and the game got tight as the Gamecocks pulled to within three points in the final period. The Tigers did pull away for a five-point victory in Columbia. North Carolina The Tigers lead 35-16 late in the third stanza of the ACC title game but gave up 21 points in the final 17 minutes and had to endure an on-sides kick to preserve the victory and the ACC title. 2016 Auburn Clemson held a 19-6 lead after a missed extra point could have put the Tigers up by 14 points. Clemson led by 13 with less than five minutes to go on the Plains but gave up a touchdown as Auburn cut the lead. Clemson could have put the game away but failed on fourth down and had to defend two Auburn Hail Mary attempts to win 19-13. Troy The Tigers had Troy down 27-10 with less than ten minutes remaining but gave up two scores and had to recover an onside kick to beat Troy by six. Georgia Tech It may be hard to make a case for a 26-7 win as being as an example of lacking a killer instinct, but Clemson led 23-0 at the half and had several opportunities to bury Tech in the second half. Instead, Tech gained some momentum and played respectfully in the second stanza. NC State Clemson led NC State 17-10 entering the fourth quarter but gave up a 14 play, 75-yard drive that knotted the game at 14. Clemson's offense could not score, and the Tigers had to have a missed 33-yard field goal to put the game in overtime where the Tigers won 24-17. FSU The Tigers jumped out to a 14-0 lead in Tallahassee and had the ball in FSU territory twice with a chance to go up three scores. Instead, the Seminoles clawed their way back into the game, and Clemson had to have two sacks to put the game away and win 37-34. Pittsburgh Clemson had multiple chances to put away the Panthers including twice in the fourth quarter. An interception in the end zone with an eight-point lead might have sealed the game. Failed third and fourth down short yardage conversions gave Pitt the chance it needed and the Panthers escaped with a 43-42 upset of the second-ranked Tigers. Despite the close calls, Clemson has played for one national title and is currently in the top four for this year's playoff. Winning close games beats losing, but I would love to see more of a killer instinct develop. Prayer List The prayer list is a medium for our community to recognize those that are in need. 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 remove a person off the list. Those who need our prayers include: 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, 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, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki Sullins, Peter Laboy, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon Kirkland and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Jackson Lindsey, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Mr. Gillespie, Bobbi Nicholson, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, Patrick DeStefano, Robert Summerville, Michelle Richey, Julie Moore, Ashley Fitch, Drew Moyer, Kevin Anderson, Lyn Price, John Robert Smith, Allison Williams, Nicholas Wickiser, Hammond Family, Elaine G. Duvall, Addison Grace, Bennie Cunningham, Kevin Orcutt, Alan Finley, Keith Wells, Steve Byrd, Jessica Hernandez, Wayne Mullins, Rita Alexander, Tony Osterman, family and friends of Gary Cooper, Derk Denton, Tim Vacek, Mike Vacek, Jerry Brown, Phil Compton, Alma Jean Sullivan, Lindsey Motley, Riley Cook, Dwayne Wood, Eileen Thomas, Larry Nimmons and Family, Chrissy Adams, Annie Gregory, Amy Black, Will Black, Sam Smith, Dixon Family, James Skalski, Joe Lazorik, Frances Bell and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
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