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110%er [6394]
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DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 8:51 AM
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I can't remember a time where a single Clemson player has had this much pressure on their shoulders. I don't think I've ever wanted a Clemson player to succeed as badly as I want DJ to succeed this year. Not only for the teams sake, but for his own. His starting job, a playoff birth, and his NFL future are all at stake this year. Good luck to him. Go Tigers. 7 more days.
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Legend [17786]
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I would argue that Watson in 2016 and TL in 2019 had as much
Aug 29, 2022, 8:55 AM
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or even more, because of what was expected of them. But the point is valid. I truly believe that controversy DJ experienced last year will fuel him over that hump, he'll be able to settle in, and we'll be rolling
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110%er [6394]
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Re: I would argue that Watson in 2016 and TL in 2019 had as much
Aug 29, 2022, 8:59 AM
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The difference is that DW4 and TL16 didn't have a Cade Klubnik behind them. Their job was never in jeopardy if they had a bad performance. I would imagine that Cade's presence is heavy on DJ's shoulders. The margin for error is so much smaller given that he can be replaced.
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All-In [44048]
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You are assuming that Cade is ready to be the starter.
Aug 29, 2022, 9:11 AM
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I think that’s a big assumption at this point. We know that he is really talented, but that’s different than him being ready to lead the offense.
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Hall of Famer [22659]
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Re: You are assuming that Cade is ready to be the starter.
Aug 29, 2022, 9:17 AM
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Yep. This time last year it was DJ for Heisman.
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CU Guru [1508]
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Re: You are assuming that Cade is ready to be the starter.
Aug 29, 2022, 9:24 AM
[ in reply to You are assuming that Cade is ready to be the starter. ] |
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I don't think it is an assumption at all.
In all of Dabo's tenure he will tell you exactly what is what if you listen to the small comments.
Everything that has been said by Dabo and the other coaches indicate that Cade is a more than capable of taking the reigns.
I would prefer for DJ to play to his potential and us not have that bridge to cross. However, it is pretty clear what the coaches think of Cade.
and to point of the post, Cade's mentality is to come in and be his best in order to beat out DJ. Much like TL did to KB and KB could not handle it.
We will see over the next few weeks how DJ responds for his own performance and for dealing with the competitions performance.
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All-In [44048]
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We both know that Dabo is going to hype his QBs.
Aug 29, 2022, 11:52 AM
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Every year, he says that he believes in all of our quarterbacks, all are capable of running the offense, all will be needed to help us, etc.
Again, this isn't diminishing Cade or his talents one bit. I think it's obvious that the coaches love him and feel great about him being an outstanding player for us at Clemson.
But forgive me for not buying the glowing comments out of fall camp by Dabo. It's this way every year.
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110%er [6394]
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Re: You are assuming that Cade is ready to be the starter.
Aug 29, 2022, 10:56 AM
[ in reply to You are assuming that Cade is ready to be the starter. ] |
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If Cade is going to play, like the coaches have said, then he's ready to be the starter. It's the same reason why Deshaun and Trevor played when they were still the backups to Cole Stoudt and Kelly Bryant.
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All-In [44048]
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So now getting minutes as backup = ready to be the starter?
Aug 29, 2022, 11:54 AM
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Come on.
Using your logic, DJ was also ready to be the starter when he backed up Trevor since he played as the backup.
If what you say is correct, then the "best man wins the job" line is a bunch of crap. If Cade is as amazing as everyone says, and he's ready to be the starter, then why isn't he the starter?
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110%er [6394]
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Re: So now getting minutes as backup = ready to be the starter?
Aug 29, 2022, 2:04 PM
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Clearly DJ was ready to be the starter his freshman year. Did you not watch the BC and ND games? He torched them. Pretty sure he could have handled Wake Forest and the Citadel to start the year.
Deshaun and Trevor were playing in crunch time against serious opponents. Deshaun played @ UGA. Trevor played @ TAMU. It was obvious that both of them were ready. Deshaun led a TD drive on his first drive and Trevor threw a TD for his first pass, on the road, against an SEC team. You don't think they were ready to start against SC State or Furman?
As a coach, all you have is practice. Clemson doesn't play any preseason games. Performing well in practice doesn't always translate to games. Throwing a TD during a 7 on 7 drill isn't the same as throwing a TD in front of a packed stadium. KB and Cole probably looked better in practice (considering that they were both seniors), but Deshaun and Trevor simply performed better in games.
Just because someone doesn't start doesn't mean they aren't ready to be the starter. They just simply have someone better than them in front. It's clear from the coaches that the team is capable of winning with Cade as the starter. But that doesn't mean he's better than DJ (yet). Why is that difficult to grasp?
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110%er [5512]
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Re: You are assuming that Cade is ready to be the starter.
Aug 29, 2022, 11:55 AM
[ in reply to You are assuming that Cade is ready to be the starter. ] |
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It's not a big assumption at all...you just don't understand football. They have already stated that he will play, early and often.
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Legend [16257]
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Cade sounds like he is ready to be 'a' starter, according to
Aug 29, 2022, 1:09 PM
[ in reply to You are assuming that Cade is ready to be the starter. ] |
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the coaches and the media covering our camp. DJ was also ready to be 'a' starter under TL, which he showed with his great game at ND. DJ clearly didn't perform up to that level in 2021 as 'the' starter, but he's certainly shown himself to be capable. Heading into this season, DJ is clearly 'the' starter coming out of camp, with 'a' potential starter waiting in the wings, a la DW4 and TL.
hth
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110%er [7114]
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I think the main problem in 2021 was that...
Aug 29, 2022, 10:35 AM
[ in reply to Re: I would argue that Watson in 2016 and TL in 2019 had as much ] |
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DJU DIDN'T HAVE anyone behind him... so we had to watch him game after game, failing to live up to the standard of his predecessors, losing to teams that past Clemson teams would have NEVER lost to. Even though those game results certainly weren't all his fault, his glaring lack of skill comparable to other Clemson QBs led to frustration and resentment that he took the brunt of.
This year will be much different. He's now in Kelly B's shoes. Either he improves and plays inspired football at the level we're accustomed to seeing, or he gone.
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CU Guru [1932]
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Re: I think the main problem in 2021 was that...
Aug 29, 2022, 11:15 AM
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As a leader I would have expected DJ to rise up in those tough days last year. I didn't see him leading. I never thought "we'd have lost that one if not for DJ." He was the most shell shocked and lost looking guy on the field.
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Orange Blooded [3639]
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Thank you for nuking that lame excuse
Aug 29, 2022, 7:50 PM
[ in reply to I think the main problem in 2021 was that... ] |
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DJ flamed out last year with no pressure from anyone behind him. Dabo barely said anything good about him during the spring and summer, which had my antennas up before the UGA game.
It's been pretty much the same this year because all of the compliments are about DJ's intangibles improving, not his accuracy.
I'm not trying to be harsh, but the undeniable truth is DJ royally blew it last year when the job was handed to him and most of us know Cade will take over sooner than later. He is our only chance to avoid wasting a championship defense.
DJ just isn't the guy and we better hope Cade is. This year is just like 2018 except Cade isn't TL. However, our talent on defense might be better than 2018.
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CU Medallion [55411]
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Re: I would argue that Watson in 2016 and TL in 2019 had as much
Aug 29, 2022, 11:29 AM
[ in reply to Re: I would argue that Watson in 2016 and TL in 2019 had as much ] |
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These players have had good players coming up behind them their entire career, just as it had been with them coming behind the guy ahead of them, and they learned if they do what they've done that got them there, they will be fine. The only pressure on DJ, is DJ himself, and he better know how to let that go and be himself. He got recruited to Clemson for a reason, and he just needs to remember that reason, and do it!!!
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CU Medallion [65462]
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I have to agree with Comrade Trotsky. Both Watson and TL
Aug 29, 2022, 10:40 AM
[ in reply to I would argue that Watson in 2016 and TL in 2019 had as much ] |
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had already proven themselves capable of at least taking the Tigers to a National Championship Game, with Trevor already having WON one. DJU still has all the expectations that were there for him last season, but with a whole lot of negative baggage to overcome on top of those expectations.
(Of course, I had to agree with Comrade Trotsky, Russian Gulags are REALLY cold, and don't have any modern luxuries like running water and a soft bed.)
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110%er [6881]
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 8:58 AM
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I agree. Social media makes it so that folks who barely have any Clemson connection and less football knowledge can analyze and commiserate until it seems that the weght of Saturdays in the Southland is on his shoulders.
I'm so hoping he has a much improved year.
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110%er [6394]
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 9:00 AM
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If we stay healthy around him, I think he will play well.
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All-In [27186]
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 9:03 AM
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I think it's a little more than that: he needs better O Line play and ESPECIALLY needs better play from the receiving corps compared to what he had last year.
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110%er [6394]
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 9:08 AM
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I think he'll have those things if we stay healthy. McFadden, Putnam, and Parks are All-ACC caliber offensive linemen. Tate will simply be better in year 2. The jury is out on Miller, Mayes, Tucker, or Pennington. This is possibly the best TE room we've had in Dabo's tenure. But the biggest difference is that we actually have legitimate threats in the slot. Spector, Will Taylor, and Antonio Williams can all do damage in the slot. We won't only have 6'4 deep threat WRs starting this year.
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CU Guru [1250]
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Agreed
Aug 29, 2022, 9:05 AM
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I am really pulling for this young man to be successful.
P.S. Watch your back, you can never trust your fellow statist. They have a long history of turning on each other.
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 9:53 AM
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Point taken but I'd say KB had a little more in 2018. Trevor received way more accolades than Cade has. The entire off season was riddled with controversy. Not so much this year. KB was scrutinized way more than DJ has been.
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Orange Blooded [2853]
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 10:03 AM
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Point taken but I'd say KB had a little more in 2018. Trevor received way more accolades than Cade has. The entire off season was riddled with controversy. Not so much this year. KB was scrutinized way more than DJ has been.
Kind of agree. KB2 was coming back after a 12-2 season that often is lost among the National Championship seasons. The Bama loss did expose his ceiling with his arm talent and here comes TL16 with generational arm talent. Here’s hoping DJ handles the pressure better than Bryant. Both are kind of in a similar situation. If they lose the starting job during the season then they likely have to transfer to keep the NFL dream alive.
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110%er [6394]
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 11:17 AM
[ in reply to Re: DJ Uiagalelei ] |
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The difference is that nobody had high expectations of KB. As fans, we knew who he was. We knew KB didn't have great arm talent. We knew KB wasn't going to beat anyone with his arm. We knew KB had no shot in the NFL as a QB.
We all saw what DJ was as a freshman, so we naturally assume that he can be that again. DJ was a 5 star, #1 overall QB coming out of high school. DJ has freakish arm talent. DJ's pressure also comes from how high his ceiling is. KB didn't have a high ceiling.
KB was a 3 star, and played like it. DJ was a 5 star, playing like a 3 star last year. A former 3 star QB losing their job to the highest rated high school QB in decades can be expected. A third year DJ losing his job to a true freshman shouldn't happen.
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110%er [5482]
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 10:03 AM
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The success of our season rests solely on the QB play. All of the pundits/commentators who know DJ are in a wait and see mode. I suspect Las Vegas is also. The question is which DJ will show up?
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What really blows my mind is how many "fans" seem to have
Aug 29, 2022, 10:07 AM
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a real dislike for this young man because he struggled last year, and have written him off, and are already salivating over the next big hope at QB. I want to win as bad as anybody, and the best man should play, always, but think DJ can get back on track this year and have a great year. I'm pulling for him. If not, then next man up.
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110%er [5482]
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Re: What really blows my mind is how many "fans" seem to have
Aug 29, 2022, 10:59 AM
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I dont know if it is dislike so much as it is a prove to me you are who you were supposed to be thing. So maybe miss-trust not dislike. For me i havent seen any DW or TL in him. But theysay it is there so i hope it comes out.
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CU Medallion [58415]
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Re: What really blows my mind is how many "fans" seem to have
Aug 29, 2022, 11:40 AM
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I get that - the mistrust is deserved, and he's got to prove it. What I'm talking about is something different, that goes beyond mistrust. Some people talk about him like a dog, and are done with him after last year, overlooking everything else that was bad around him, and don't seem willing to give him another chance.
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110%er [5482]
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Re: What really blows my mind is how many "fans" seem to have
Aug 29, 2022, 11:48 AM
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Heck we should want him to succeed. ??????
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110%er [6394]
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Re: What really blows my mind is how many "fans" seem to have
Aug 29, 2022, 11:11 AM
[ in reply to What really blows my mind is how many "fans" seem to have ] |
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Yeah, that's so weird. DJ was dealt a terrible hand at the start of last season. Our offensive line was completely overwhelmed, we had zero running game, and our WRs played poorly against UGA. Then the injuries mounted up throughout the season and we never had any continuity. I don't understand all the hate. DJ didn't play well, but we were awful around him.
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Orange Blooded [4058]
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berth***
Aug 29, 2022, 11:24 AM
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All-In [44048]
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Re: berth***
Aug 29, 2022, 12:07 PM
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110%er [5395]
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 12:12 PM
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Yes. DJ has pressure on him and I am pulling for him to be successful. DJ knew what he was signing up for when he accepted the scholarship. He has handled himself with class and has represented Clemson well off of the field. He was given a very long leash last year because there was no one to replace him. Not true this year. He has a very short leash and needs to perform. Dabo had to pull a QB who had the team in the playoff in a prior season. That same QB would have probably had the team in the playoff last year. DJ has his future in his hands. The rest is up to him.
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110%er [9949]
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Re: DJ Uiagalelei
Aug 29, 2022, 1:01 PM
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Good luck DJU!
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