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TNET: Thomas Austin looking for functional depth, but also looking at transfer portal
Apr 29, 2022, 8:00 AM
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All-TigerNet [10469]
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Re: TNET: Thomas Austin looking for functional depth, but also looking at transfer portal
Apr 29, 2022, 8:36 AM
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I notice that he didn’t even mention Leigh.
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All-In [48330]
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Re: TNET: Thomas Austin looking for functional depth, but also looking at transfer portal
Apr 29, 2022, 8:44 AM
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That really stuck out to me. Was hoping he'd be an instant impact guy with his rating.
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All-TigerNet [10469]
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Re: TNET: Thomas Austin looking for functional depth, but also looking at transfer portal
Apr 29, 2022, 8:57 AM
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He didn’t mention Pennington either, but that’s probably because he’s still recovering from injury. By all accounts, they were counting on Pennington to play last year.
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110%er [6394]
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Re: TNET: Thomas Austin looking for functional depth, but also looking at transfer portal
Apr 29, 2022, 11:57 AM
[ in reply to Re: TNET: Thomas Austin looking for functional depth, but also looking at transfer portal ] |
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Don't read too much into that. Leigh is going to be really good.
Leigh is an OT and we have McFadden and Parks starting. Our OT duo is one of the best in the nation.
He mostly focused on the IOL, which Leigh isn't playing. He focused on the IOL because that is clearly our weakest link on the offense.
Then he talked about the two spring enrollees because everyone wants to know how the new guys are doing.
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CU Medallion [65467]
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O-Line is a puzzlement to me. For years, we did not seem to
Apr 29, 2022, 8:53 AM
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RECRUIT those positions on an elite level, but on the field, we held our own, even winning two Nattys. Now, in the last three years or so, we HAVE recruited some supposedly blue chippers at those positions. And yet, O-Line seems to be viewed as the weakest link now, more than ever.
Where's the disconnect? How do highly rated recruits come in, and then just get LOST on the depth chart? And, if they are getting lost, with the talent level they supposedly possess, then why are the players ahead of them on said depth chart struggling so much on the field? Those two situations do not seem to reconcile with each other.
???
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110%er [5099]
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Re: O-Line is a puzzlement to me. For years, we did not seem to
Apr 29, 2022, 9:30 AM
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Good question. I'm putting my hope on the new O line coach. New blood and new energy will hopefully turn things around.
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CU Medallion [55419]
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Re: O-Line is a puzzlement to me. For years, we did not seem to
Apr 29, 2022, 11:45 AM
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We knew and saw Thomas Austin as a player at Clemson, and I don't think there was a player that out worked him, or out smarted him on the entire team during his time at/with Clemson FB. I'm calling it right here today, give Thomas Austin 4-5 years as our O Line coach, and he will be one of the most sought after O line coaches in the country.
As a hard worker, plus being really smart, along with the time that Thomas spent as an O lineman at Clemson, and with the time he has worked with the O line at other schools, plus coming back to Clemson and filling a position as an off the field assistant to Robbie Caldwell.
Dabo has made sure, and has done an incredible job at making sure that Thomas was well groomed for taking over the position at Clemson that Robbie Caldwell has held on to since a little after Dabo becoming the HC at Clemson. Now that Robbie has stepped down as the O line coach at Clemson, a well groomed Thomas Austin steps in, and it want take long before his experience, and the years of his grooming to be the O line coach at Clemson starts to show positive results, and it won't be long before HC's from all over the country will be making attempts to hire Thomas Austin away from Clemson, that I personally don't believe that will happen any time soon. But,
If the NIL and the transfer portal ruins college FB as we knew it, I feel almost sure that our Clemson will be one of the small colleges in a very small town that will be one of the power 5 FB schools that won't be able to keep up the Joneses, and our FB program will fall out of contention of being a power house FB program. If and when that may happen, I believe that our Thomas Austin will land on his feet at one of the best, richest FB programs where the players are being paid a lot more than the coaches, just as they are in the NFL, and that will mean that the rich has finally done what they intended to do when they realized how big college FB had gotten across the our country, and over seas. they saw a huge market if they could professionalizing college sports, and they did. The way that college players are being paid now, that was to only open the door to the way they will be paid in the next few years after scrubbing out the smaller schools in the smaller town across the country. After they clean that up, the wallets will open, and they will be paid close to the same bases as it's done with pro sports!!!
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CU Guru [1754]
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Re: O-Line is a puzzlement to me. For years, we did not seem to
Apr 29, 2022, 9:31 AM
[ in reply to O-Line is a puzzlement to me. For years, we did not seem to ] |
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RECRUIT those positions on an elite level, but on the field, we held our own, even winning two Nattys. Now, in the last three years or so, we HAVE recruited some supposedly blue chippers at those positions. And yet, O-Line seems to be viewed as the weakest link now, more than ever.
Where's the disconnect? How do highly rated recruits come in, and then just get LOST on the depth chart? And, if they are getting lost, with the talent level they supposedly possess, then why are the players ahead of them on said depth chart struggling so much on the field? Those two situations do not seem to reconcile with each other.
???
THIS. Exactly. Guillermo and Hyatt are about the only two that stand out in my mind. Now we bring in actual 4 and 5 star linemen and ??
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110%er [6681]
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Oops, meant to give you a thumbs up. No "it" factor at
Apr 29, 2022, 9:44 AM
[ in reply to O-Line is a puzzlement to me. For years, we did not seem to ] |
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coach? No great dynamic personality like we have with Eason? I still think MacLain would be an amazing hire? However, I hope Austin proves me wrong?
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CU Medallion [55419]
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Re: O-Line is a puzzlement to me. For years, we did not seem to
Apr 29, 2022, 10:27 AM
[ in reply to O-Line is a puzzlement to me. For years, we did not seem to ] |
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You can not replace experience with hard work nor talent, both are really good to have with experience, but experience in most cases is a must have, especially when it comes to positions along the offensive line. I would rather have a 2 star with 4 years of experience, over a 4-5 star freshman, and in most cases even over a true Sophomore. You just can't beat Experience, especially along the offensive line bc, not much has a chance of working without an experienced O line. Of all positions on the field that will show inexperience the most, it's the O Line more than any other positions on the field!!!
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110%er [7131]
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re: O-Line is puzzlement: O-Line recruits - hard to evaluate
Apr 29, 2022, 11:00 AM
[ in reply to O-Line is a puzzlement to me. For years, we did not seem to ] |
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For ever and ever, the hardest position for coaches to evaluate has been O-line recruits.
Clemson is no different than the other schools. (And it's not a R.Caldwell or T.Austin 'problem.')
The difference is that Clemson has a smaller 'O-Line room' than most other colleges. That is a HC decision. We don't 'miss' any more often than the other schools ... heck I'd wager that our success rate is better than the typical other school.
For that matter, I believe that we have done better (in general) with developing 3* players into stars: Jordan McFadden - 3*, Tremayne Anchrum - 3*, Tyler Shatley -3* (came over from defense), Gage Cervenka -3* (came over from defense). Years back, Roman Fry was another 3* recruit who played really well for us at OG.
We have missed on some 4* recruits, and may end up missing on some 5* recruits (hope not!), but again, our 'hit rate' on 4* and 5* is pretty good ... like it is with most other schools that are fortunate enough to sign those players.
But it's a probability game overall, and with a smaller O-Line room we MUST be better at evaluations and developent than the other schools. When we miss, our misses hurt us disproportionately.
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CU Medallion [55419]
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Re: re: O-Line is puzzlement: O-Line recruits - hard to evaluate
Apr 29, 2022, 12:03 PM
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It really shouldn't be that way, but I think that changing away from giving all the walk on players scholarships after their freshman season. The NIL will end college sports as we known it since it's beginning, and for now, I can't see how Clemson sports will transform to the way of the NIL, and the rich pushing for college sports being a training farm for pro sports. It will happen, and the evidence are there for all to see, and it's in the NIL. So I don't believe stopping the scholarships from a big O walk on room has time to make a difference bc, without very drastic changes of the NIL destitution to make it to where all schools are on equal footing as the bigger schools in the bigger cities, our Clemson will not make the cut anymore of being a true power 5 school, and that is the facts that I truly believe will happen. As it stands with the NIL is working today, tomorrow, and the next months, without change, Clemson has a very sharp knife at it's throat that could cut our heads off of college sports, and soon, it will happen. Not in years, but in short months!!!
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110%er [6394]
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Re: TNET: Thomas Austin looking for functional depth, but also looking at transfer portal
Apr 29, 2022, 12:06 PM
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McFadden, Parks, and Putnam can play at an elite level.
Tate and Pennington (from coaches) likely start at both guard positions. I would love to see us bring in a veteran guy from the portal to allow Tate and Pennington more time to develop. I'm glad to see the staff actively looking for someone.
Assuming we don't land one though...
LT: McFadden - Leigh - Sadler LG: Tate or Pennington - Williams - Tucker OC: Putnam - Howard or Linthicum RG: Mayes or Pennington - Williams -Tucker RT: Parks - Mayes - Miller
The interior is definitely worrisome.
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All-In [48330]
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Re: TNET: Thomas Austin looking for functional depth, but also looking at transfer portal
Apr 29, 2022, 2:16 PM
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Yes it is worrisome. Was kinda hoping maybe Leigh could pick up a guard position. Yes, understand he's a OT, just wishful thinking I guess... Because we aren't using the portal. Too late. We should have started in December putting out iol portal offers even before we knew Ray was going to not play.
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Legend [17610]
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Thomas Austin looking for functional depth and at portal
Apr 29, 2022, 7:42 PM
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Moving OT to OG should not be a problem. Mayes is doing it this year - and should have last year IMHO. Many NFL linemen are doing it. McFadden will change to OG next year if he wants a shot at NFL. It's recruiting and development issue at OL. There's been little of either. 2016 and 2018 championship teams won with defense and skill players. Hopefully, Austin can dial it up with OL as the man states ...
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CU Guru [1100]
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Re: TNET: I'm telling you
Apr 29, 2022, 12:22 PM
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to send these guys to dance class and learn how to jitterbug. Footwork is as important as strength and power. If you are slow footed defensive linemen and defensive ends will embarrass you.
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110%er [5395]
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Portal Deadline
Apr 29, 2022, 1:46 PM
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Unless the portal fairy performs a miracle, Clemson will not get a center before 5/1. Still have my fingers crossed.
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