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All-In [27296]
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Interesting thought .....
May 23, 2022, 5:05 PM
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Only one player in the history of Clemson Football has averaged more yards per carry than the great ETN. That guy was LJD, Do you think we missed him last year??? I truly believe If he had hung in there and kept working the Tigers would have made the playoffs again. Agree.?..
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Orange Blooded [2309]
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Re: Interesting thought .....
May 23, 2022, 5:15 PM
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No, a lot of his yards were trash time yards.
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110%er [9633]
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No - LJD was a very good back - I don't think he could throw
May 23, 2022, 5:19 PM
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the ball for DJ though...
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All-In [27296]
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Re: No - LJD was a very good back - I don't think he could throw
May 23, 2022, 5:22 PM
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Very true. The point being... with him in the backfield less would have been required of DJ! Dixon will have a good year at West Virginia.
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110%er [9633]
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I think he will too. Pulling for him. Seriously, he's not
May 23, 2022, 5:24 PM
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head and shoulders above Shipley by any means - so his presence wouldn't have made a significant difference...
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All-In [27296]
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Re: I think he will too. Pulling for him. Seriously, he's not
May 23, 2022, 5:30 PM
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You are spot on. If he had stayed with the team and allowed Shipley to get the snaps he needed to improve the later injury to Shipley would not have become a major blow to the offense. Dixon was developing into a better receiver also and he could have made life a ‘little easier’ for DJ. He certainly needed help there,
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All-In [40024]
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Could be landblasted for this but I think we beat Georgia if
May 23, 2022, 5:28 PM
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He was there and had his head in the game. But not sure his head would have been.
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Orange Blooded [2622]
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Re: Could be landblasted for this but I think we beat Georgia if
May 23, 2022, 5:36 PM
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This.
As much as a bunch of people want to bash him (and some of that is probably warranted based on what players have alluded to in some articles last year), DJ seemed calmer with LJD in and I think it's because he felt like he could trust what LJD saw too as a backup opinion for defensive looks.
Would it change much last year if LJD would have been more focused instead of being a (alleged) distraction?
IMO not so much but it certainly wouldn't have hurt for DJs development in some ways.
Regardless, water under the bridge now and I'm pretty happy with the boys that got to grow up as a result heading into this year
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All-In [27296]
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Re: Could be landblasted for this but I think we beat Georgia if
May 23, 2022, 5:52 PM
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There is no question in my mind that what you say is exactly right. Anyone who understands football saw what a difference ETNs presence in the backfield made with TL. I’m sure the coaches had prepared Dixon to assume this role to take pressure off the QB. His early departure was almost a disaster but Dabo and company did a great job. Shipley’s injury really had a great affect on the season and our team still won ten games. I’m not sure another team could have pulled that off! The football staff at Clemson is headand shoulders above almost every team in the country and they will show it again this year. Beginning with the big game in Atlanta against a team who always plays well against the Tigers and have won a LOT of games in the series that goes back to the Heisman days. Support this team. They deserve it.
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Rock Defender [52]
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Re: Could be landblasted for this but I think we beat Georgia if
May 23, 2022, 6:08 PM
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He cursed out Dabo and Spiller when told he wasn’t the starter game one. That’s why he got benched most of the UGA game. If the coaches saw he shouldn’t start, I trust their reasons for it… don’t think the season is much (or any different) if he just takes his benching instead of starting and never reacts like he did and plays when called upon.
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Hall of Famer [21930]
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CU Medallion [63632]
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Sorry, I can't go there with you on that one. While LJD
May 23, 2022, 6:08 PM
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would most likely have had a good season, IF he turned out to be the featured back (which was not a given by any means, I believe that is why he left), he would not have eclipsed what Shipley and company did by a wide margin.
We had more than enough of a running threat to keep defenses honest. As the season unfolded, defenses realized they could actually cheat up and STOP the run, because our passing game was so abysmal.
Given the reality of our QB play last year, keeping the 10 game wins streak alive was a HUGE accomplishment. It still is, what it was. Butt, now THIS season, we have every reason to be optimistic of a "return to form" as it were.
It'll either be with much improved play from DJ, or better play from the new kid on the block, CK. Dabo will not allow the season to go down the tubes by sticking with DJ if he stumbles out of the gate. He was pretty much FORCED to do so last year. More options available this time around.
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Orange Blooded [2452]
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Re: Sorry, I can't go there with you on that one. While LJD
May 23, 2022, 6:29 PM
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I don't know if the season would have been different in the end, but I guarantee you LJD was regretting his decision when Shipley went down. He is not even the starter at WVU.
I get it.. he was hurt not starting vs UGA, but I don't think it would have affected his carries over the season and we could have used him.
But... he did what he thinks is best, put in his time and got his education. I wish him the best of luck.
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