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Letterman [165]
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A crucial time in the Duke game that nobody
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Nov 2, 2025, 3:14 PM
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Is talking about was when we had the ball around mid field with less than 6 minutes in the game and we run for 5 yards on first down and then throw 2 incomplete passes. Why ?
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TigerNet HOFer [124265]
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If the plan was to throw 2 incomplete passes, then someone should be questioned.***
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Nov 2, 2025, 3:16 PM
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Top TigerNet [31003]
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Re: A crucial time in the Duke game that nobody
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Nov 2, 2025, 3:17 PM
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We thought we could complete the pass. It's not that odd, especially since we were throwing on them.
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Campus Hero [13408]
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Re: A crucial time in the Duke game that nobody
Nov 2, 2025, 5:19 PM
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Yes.
Even though we had good success throughout the day vs Duke, overall (taking our entire season’s run game in perspective), we have not been any sure-thing running the ball especially when the game situation makes it obvious that ball control + burning clock are our objectives at a given point in the game.
Rather than run between the tackles on 2nd and 5 (when that would an especially likely down / distance / game clock choice) would be met with Duke doing a run-blitz. In that case (and if we were to call a between-the-tackles run play), every one of our O-linemen would have to soundly beat the man that they were assigned to block; our TEs would have to at least bother an incoming LB or safety, and our RB would need to hit the right spot in the between-the-tackles area that had the best crease for a successful run play.
A run play of less than four yards, given our season-long unreliability at running the ball, would have been the minimum requirement for us to again call a run play on (what would have been either 3rd and very short) the 3rd down play.
Like you, I can see why we tried the pass play in the 2nd and 5. As for running on 3rd down and 5, our coaching staff has neither the confidence nor the guts to face the potential criticism if the run failed on the 3rd and 5 situation.
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Game Changer [2072]
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Re: A crucial time in the Duke game that nobody
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Nov 2, 2025, 3:20 PM
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We had success throwigg by the ball also. I didn’t mind the aggressiveness. If we ran 3 times up the middle and got stuffed, everyone would have bitched also.
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Campus Hero [13408]
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Re: A crucial time in the Duke game that nobody
Nov 2, 2025, 5:28 PM
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Agreed.
My real concern is that I perceive Clemson’s coaches as subconsciously worrying about getting roundly criticized … again … for a failed (I.e., 3 yards or less gain) on second down. During tight spots in the game (this year), I suspect that our coaches have lost confidence in themselves; this makes them especially desperate to get 1st downs before having to face a 3rd and anything-longer-than-very-short-yardage situation.
Who knows what really goes on in someone else’s mind? It just seems that here in 2025, Clemson FB has been a choke-machine. Sooner or later, the accumulation of ‘choking evidence’ is likely to impact the way our coaches make their decisions.
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Tiger Titan [48449]
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Re: A crucial time in the Duke game that nobody
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Nov 2, 2025, 3:39 PM
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I would have loved to have kept it more on the ground. Davidson and Randall had a great day. Excited to see more of Davidson. Wearing number 9 brings higher expectations!! J/K but #9’s have been good to us in the past.
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TigerNet Elite [70826]
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Re: A crucial time in the Duke game that nobody
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Nov 2, 2025, 3:45 PM
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I mentioned it BB and promptly got thumbs down for it. Riley called a good game. We didn't exactly throw all over Duke.
While I don't question passing it, I question the read he made. I re-watched the game this morning. Cade threw 3 passes of 15-20 yards all day that he completed. All in the first half. Yes, I'm sure people will point out cades passing numbers... stats don't tell all. Nearly every pass he threw was run extensive passes. Again, good call on Riley and Cade for realizing Duke was giving up 10 to 15 yards on the check down. Duke, and diaz admitted it, they couldn't stop the screens and mostly because they haven't got the talent. Duke's D had busts all day too.
I digress. But to your point, in hindsight, we should have run the tunnel screen or the 3 yard quick slant like we had all day.
That said, if we wanted to go for the kill shot, send Williams or our te down the seam. Cade has a tendency to overthrow the boundary pass, but even moreso on a bum foot. I'm sure Riley would love to have those two back.
But as you know, offense didn't hurt us. Except maybe the goalline plays when we kicked a fg.
BBBB Fan
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Campus Hero [13408]
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Re: A crucial time in the Duke game that nobody
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Nov 2, 2025, 5:30 PM
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Great analysis and commentary!
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