CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Elliott says Tech's
Shipley and Uiagalelei did hit some yards on the ground.

Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Tony Elliott hopes his offense takes away confidence after a second-half touchdown that allowed No. 6 Clemson to escape Death Valley with a weird 14-8 victory Saturday. Will Shipley says the offense is a play or two away from being really good. DJ Uiagalelei feels like the offense is ready to break out. For the majority of Saturday’s game, it didn’t feel that way.

Clemson had just 284 total yards – 127 yards in the first and 157 yards on the second half – but was also limited to just eight drives (a normal game might see somewhere between 12 and 14). Elliott said the lack of chances hurt offensive flow, Georgia Tech’s defensive “structure” didn’t allow for deep throws, and mistakes cost the offense the chance to finish drives.

“Really, really proud of our guys because we prepared for who we thought they were going to be, and they came out in a structure that was completely different than what we've seen. We've only seen that do that one other time,” Elliott said. “I thought the guys did a good job of settling in, especially in the second half, in doing what we needed to do. Structurally, they weren't going to give us the big play. They were going to make us be patient. But we are still leaving too many points on the field. You look at the situations, we felt like we were playing an option team because of the number of possessions. We only had eight possessions and put together some good drives but didn't finish them. Down there in the red zone we had a fumble and we got stopped on a fourth down. No sacks, so there are some positives to build off of, but there is going to be some things we can learn and grow from.”

Clemson’s offense has scored just 17 points in eight quarters against FBS foes, and I asked Elliott if the issue was the offensive line, quarterback play, wide receivers, or play calling.

“I think it's the turnovers and critical mistakes and not coming up with plays. We had a play there in the first half where we had receivers coming open, and we triggered it just a little bit quick on third down,” Elliott said. “And then we had a situation there in the second half where we get a ball to (Justyn) Ross and he doesn't come down with it. So it's a combination of a lot of things. But this game, it was the structure of what they were doing. They said we are going to give you a three-man front, drop eight in coverage and not give you anything over the top. We are going to see if you can be patient. So our whole game plan had to change once we saw they came out in a structure that was different than we were anticipating.”

The Tigers forced a turnover on downs with just 13 seconds remaining in the game but were backed up in their own end zone. Uiagalelei was not under center but instead was in the shotgun, and Elliott said it’s the same thing Clemson has always done.

“Coach (Swinney) talked about in that situation that we wanted to draw them offsides. We haven't been much of an under-center team in the past, so we are going to do what we did,” Elliott said. “We hand the ball off and there is a fumble. If we just get out of the endzone and there is no fumble then the game is over. Also, too, do you take a slow safety there and then kick it off with just a few seconds left. So we tried to draw them offsides that first and got the delay of game and then we came back and tried to do what we do.”

Elliott said he is proud of his team and he hopes they gain some confidence after the win, but he also knows there are plenty of things to clean up. He was then asked why the offense didn’t take more shots down the field.

“We took a couple of shots, but at the same time we were just trying to stay efficient and effective. If you take a shot maybe you get a PI,” he said. “But at the same time, they were squatting hard and changing some of the coverage reads at the line of scrimmage. It was a lot of cat and mouse. Hats off to Georgia Tech, they had a good plan and stuck with their plan. It was different than what we were expecting going into the game and it took us a little while to get adjusted.”

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spacer TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
TigerNet News®
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firebarker
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Dinosaur fan
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
Mk2
spacer Pretty sure it's up to him to adjust on the fly
owensb01®
spacer Go easy. He only had a 2 hour halftime to fix it.***
Obed®
spacer Re: Go easy. He only had a 2 hour halftime to fix it.***
BirminghamTiger®
spacer Re: Go easy. He only had a 2 hour halftime to fix it.***
the_heckler
spacer Re: Go easy. He only had a 2 hour halftime to fix it.***
Tim52
spacer Point taken & given back… :-/***
iTiger®
spacer Re: Pretty sure it's up to him to adjust on the fly
jbkelley23
spacer Re: Pretty sure it's up to him to adjust on the fly
mamagtiger
spacer Are you really here to discuss things or
Knuck®
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85tiger2012®
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Fierogtv6
spacer So far, he’s not nearly as good as Kelly Bee…
Row86
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Tigerlife2005
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opt®
spacer if he can survive being pummeled while getting
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allorangeallthetime52®
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jbkelley23
spacer Jeff Scott says...
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want to win
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mamagtiger
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wewillROCKyou
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Wild Hogg®
spacer #########.... What you need to do is fix it Tony....***
ClemsonMike830
spacer We are Clemson. Impose our will. Have an identity.***
Clemson13
spacer this is tommy bowden calling saban levels of bad
tgrfan42069
spacer I’m other words “I didn’t have a plan B”
RU4GOD2
spacer Re: I’m other words “I didn’t have a plan B”
BirminghamTiger®
spacer NOW
Watcher®
spacer Re: NOW
BelleHallTiger
spacer Re: NOW
BelleHallTiger
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
SouthernTiger09
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
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tigermandc
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J Mehoff
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
boomer50
spacer This is the worst offense ive seen at Clemson in 10 years
tgrpride7
spacer Sick of the ###### excuses
Razorpaws
spacer NIU put up 21, & Kennesaw St put up 17 on GT in Atlanta.
Razzmatazz
spacer Oh Lord-here we go again!
Watcher®
spacer Re: Oh Lord-here we go again!
carolinachef
spacer Re: Oh Lord-here we go again!
mamagtiger
spacer Tony Elliott’s play calling has been bad for years
IamNut
spacer Re: Tony Elliott’s play calling has been bad for years
JusCausTiger77
spacer Re: Oh Lord-here we go again!
BigPurdy
spacer Dude-roll out in the end zone
Watcher®
spacer Re: Dude-roll out in the end zone
TigerLinks®
spacer Thie only reason I can think of is because a holding call in
Spud
spacer Re: Dude-roll out in the end zone
DanaGee
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kaiser®
spacer How I read these comments
thollin
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Jerrys1955
spacer TE is surprised that Tech played defense?
Bluffton OrangeMan
spacer Is Grisham also over his head as Receivers Coach?
tigerfan40
spacer Re: Is Grisham also over his head as Receivers Coach?
Wild Hogg®
spacer Pretty sure our "structure" was a surprise to them as well
jbrock11
spacer Re: Pretty sure our "structure" was a surprise to them as well
Clemgalalways®
spacer Seems like we could adjust to the scheme and make some
Lakedude®
spacer Re: Seems like we could adjust to the scheme and make some
Wild Hogg®
spacer I understood it when TP was hurt, but not now.
Lakedude®
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
JusCausTiger77
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Wild Hogg®
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PellsYell®
spacer Most had spring and all had fall camp. QB had all last year
SOLOS®
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
Bigredofbelton
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
85tiger2012®
spacer "They didn't run the D we prepped for... It was a trick."***
SOLOS®
spacer Re: "They didn't run the D we prepped for... It was a trick."***
Bigredofbelton
spacer Re: "They didn't run the D we prepped for... It was a trick."***
Wild Hogg®
spacer Coach, it’s way past time to attack instead of
colberttiger®
spacer Re: Coach, it’s way past time to attack instead of
Rhymedog56®
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007stealth
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
grandsonoftherock
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
westerntigerfan
spacer Hmm, just a play or two away from being really good. Now
76er®
spacer Re: Hmm, just a play or two away from being really good. Now
u2mfl
spacer NIU & Kennesaw St has better players than Clemson?***
Razzmatazz
spacer Re: Hmm, just a play or two away from being really good. Now
usarmyshreve®
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
cofctigerincola
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
Wild Hogg®
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
Mk2
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
Wild Hogg®
spacer No prob. At this rate we won't have to beat a playoff team***
Razzmatazz
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
Wild Hogg®
spacer Both Northern Illinois and Kenesaw FREAKING State put up
CM Shack®
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youngtiger
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
tigermandc
spacer Re: TNET: Elliott says Tech's "structure" was a surprise, limited deep throws
usarmyshreve®
spacer So why not try quick routes underneath them then?***
CharlestonTom®