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YOUR BALANCE
DJ observations
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DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 12:24 PM

DJ is very different from Boyd, Watson, and Trevor.

He’s not as athletic, he is slower, and he doesn’t have innate pocket skills. Several of those sacks Saturday were on him either because he hung onto the ball too long or did not instinctively step up into the pocket.

That very first sack was on him. He had a clean pocket yet he tried to roll out and ran right into the tackler.

I think he performs well when not facing an elite team. But against the Georgia’s, Ohio states, and Alabama‘s I have concerns he’s not going to be good enough.

Honestly, I thought I was watching Kelly Bryant Saturday night. That’s why he reminded me of.

And we have got to get the OL issues resolved. The last two recruiting cycles plus the 2022 class are full of four and five star OL recruits. If this problem is not resolved by next season then it’s time for Dabo to make some staff changes. Because next season will be three consecutive recruiting classes with all four and five star recruits. A lack of talent will no longer be an excuse.

And our playcalling has clearly gotten very stale and unimaginative. And why have we abandoned the up-tempo offense? Running an up-tempo offense would help solve some of our issues as well as keeping an elite defense on their heels and prevent them from substituting fresh players.

Getting back to DJ for a minute, he doesn’t seem comfortable running the RPO, which has been our office for years. He clearly is clueless when it comes to running the option and understanding that he needs to commit and convince the defense that he is going to run the ball and be willing to wait to the last second before pitching the ball to the running back and taking a hit. He was terrible running the RPO Saturday night.

Many times when our receivers were covered he easily could’ve gotten 10 yards had he ran upfield but he kept trying to force a bad pass or take a sack.

He didn’t look anything like the same DJ we saw last season. And God he looked slow! Like he was running in mud or something. Too much weight?

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 12:28 PM

This board including myself said the same thing about Boyd in big games and that the spotlight was too bright in those games. Fast forward, who is on the coaching staff at Clemson now? A good OC can coach and play call to those strengths or weaknesses.

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Boyd’s main issue was accuracy.


Sep 8, 2021, 12:32 PM

That’s why he didn’t make it in the NFL. At Clemson and he was throwing to DHop and Sammy.

It seemed like DJ and especially Ross were not on the same page Saturday night. Ross was visibly upset on multiple passes where he was open and DJ didn’t come close to throwing an accurate pass. And on some of those passes DJ was not under a lot of pressure. Georgia had him rattled.

Go watch some of the tape on Cade Klubnik. He looks like a more agile Trevor Lawrence. That kid is going to be good!

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Re: Boyd’s main issue was accuracy.


Sep 8, 2021, 12:40 PM

I agree but I don't think Tahj is the best coach at the level that Clemson is at. The pocket didn't close anymore than it did last year at any time. The QB didn't make the progressions and get out of the pocket when he needed to and the play-calling was horrendous. We don't have a true slot received because a true slot receiver would have feasted if given the opportunity with proper slant and cross routes. Half of the sacks were on him. We will see if he grows from it or lets it define him.

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Re: Boyd’s main issue was accuracy.


Sep 8, 2021, 12:54 PM [ in reply to Boyd’s main issue was accuracy. ]

DJ and Ross have had what, 2 full weeks to get in sinc for the Georgia game. I would not expect them to have any chemistry yet and it showed in the first half. But I did not understand him continuing to throw it his way when Ngata and he were obviously the better combo. Maybe it was out of respect for his elders but that crap don't work in Big Boy football.

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Re: Boyd’s main issue was accuracy.


Sep 8, 2021, 1:15 PM [ in reply to Boyd’s main issue was accuracy. ]

A more agile Trevor Lawrence? Look I was so happy when Ty Simpson comminuted to BAMA. I didn’t want him and I was just as thrilled when we secured Cade… but Trevor is GENERATIONAL! I would say Cade is a poor mans trevor and that’s great in College football.

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Re: Boyd’s main issue was accuracy.


Sep 8, 2021, 2:24 PM

Boyds main issue was never accuracy.

Boyds main issue was that after one sack, he was scared shitless of getting hit again and would subsequently throw garbage passes under pressure. That much is well-known.

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You might want to check that LSU game... He was a monster.***


Sep 8, 2021, 3:42 PM



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Re: Boyd’s main issue was accuracy.


Sep 8, 2021, 1:45 PM [ in reply to Boyd’s main issue was accuracy. ]

Ross ran some bad routes and he was soft/slow because of an ankle injury in practice.

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Nope. Boyd's biggest issue was not going through his progressions


Sep 8, 2021, 1:51 PM [ in reply to Boyd’s main issue was accuracy. ]

He was fairly accurate. Threw the prettiest deep ball ever at CU

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For relaxing times, make it Suntory time


Re: Nope. Boyd's biggest issue was not going through his progressions


Sep 8, 2021, 2:11 PM

Early in the game he had the tendency to overthrow receivers. By a lot.
Too much adrenaline until he settled down.

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"Anybody that says Coach Brownell is the best coach to come through Clemson is going to start an argument." -JP Hall


Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 12:31 PM

I can’t help but look back at the winning drive in the spring game. Do you remember that.

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LMAO Spring game? AKA a controlled scrimmage!


Sep 8, 2021, 12:36 PM

DJ looked impressive against Notre Dame, but look what we did to Notre Dame in the ACCCG. They were not elite last year. Yes. They made the playoffs. But they had no business being there. Theygot beat down like a red headed step child.

I’m not saying DJ sucks. But I don’t think he’s going to be what we thought he was. And he’s not good at running the RPO.

A lot of people have serious issues being objective and critical when it comes to Dabo and Clemson.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 12:33 PM

I agree in with all your observations. I believe offensively the coaching staff was spoiled with Watson and Lawrence who both needed very little development. DJ will need to be developed to be an elite QB. He is good enough to win the ACC but not good enough to compete against top tier teams.. So far he has beaten Boston College after needing a massive come back. He has two loses .. to ND and Georgia. Not looking good so far.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 1:48 PM

“Not looking good so far”????

I thought he rocked that NY brim pretty well!!

Huggy Bear on Starsky and Hutch couldn’t have done much better.

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He played AWESOME against ND last year


Sep 8, 2021, 2:15 PM [ in reply to Re: DJ observations ]

that loss was NOT on him. Also, he played well against BC. There are 80 plus players on footbal rosters, dude.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 12:34 PM

Agree with everything but he reminded me of a dyslexic Kelly Bryant, could not throw it but would try and force the run or run to soon. I've mention it i other post but DJ runs scared and wont use that 255lb Bojangle body to deliver the blow. A couple hits on Georgia smaller linebackers and safety's and they would have not wanted to hit him anymore and it would have opened up so much more. I believe he is pretty tough dude but he is did not show it in the Georgia game.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 12:37 PM

LOL .... you start off by saying that DJ not as athletic, slower ....... and then you compare him to Kelly Bryant, who was one of the more athletic QB's we have ever had.

A couple of your observations may have been correct, but not because you know anything about football.

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Actually you are incorrect.


Sep 8, 2021, 12:43 PM

Kelly Bryant had some pretty good speed once he got to moving down field. But he lacked quickness and acceleration.

Go watch the replay of his games. He does not have quickness. He got sacked a lot because he could not sidestep defenders like Watson and Trevor.

Athleticism comes in different forms. He would’ve made a good TE because he has straight line speed size and strength. But he lacks agility.

Why do you think he got replaced by a true freshman?

Again, go watch his game film. He often got sacked by lineman at schools that did not have great lineman. It took him a while to build up that speed. Again, lack of agility is the best way to describe it.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 12:42 PM

If the off.cord continues to live and die on the sideline passes that the defender can use the sideline as basically a 2nd DB , then this will be one of the least productive offensive years we’ve had.

Saturday night screamed for TE across the middle and RB screens on 3rd and 8-10 yds. Why does Clemson still not have a TE? Notre Dame flat out ate FSU’s lunch with the TE on Sunday.

The whole game plan Saturday just confused the heck out of many. The 1st and goal on the 6 was the oddest play calling of the whole night

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Agree 100%.


Sep 8, 2021, 12:45 PM

.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 1:12 PM [ in reply to Re: DJ observations ]

and the only success GA had against us through the air was to their TE (19)

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Unfair to label a guy after 1 game...Revisit mid-year.***


Sep 8, 2021, 12:42 PM



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1 game plus 13 last year.


Sep 8, 2021, 12:50 PM

He started two games last year and I’m pretty sure he played in the second half of every regular season game plus the ACCCG.

We have last season, especially the Notre Dame game, to compare him to. The guy was being hyped as a favorite for the Heisman Trophy. Not from what he did in high school, but what he did last season. Saturday night he looked like he needed to be back in high school.

And I understand Georgia has a great defense. But there are lots of other little things that he did very very badly. Again, when not pressured he was not accurate. Didn’t want to take a hit running the option which he ran poorly. Did not step up into the pocket causing some of the sacks. Held onto the ball way too long causing some of the sacs. Not running when he had wide open field ahead of him.

He simply is nowhere near instinctively where Watson and Trevor were as freshman. DJ is going to need a lot of development.

And he also looked incredibly slow compared to last year. I think that was pretty obvious to everyone that was paying attention.

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It took you seeing it 14 times before you realized it…


Sep 8, 2021, 1:22 PM

was an issue and needed to be addressed?

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"I've played multiple sports and would bet any amount that I'm still more athletic than you at this present time...."


Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 12:44 PM

Re :0 touchdown passes 1 interception.
How is that for an observation.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 12:55 PM

Don't quit your day job.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 1:12 PM

I AM RETIRED!

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Need a few more games


Sep 8, 2021, 1:00 PM

DJ has some obvious weaknesses that were clearly exposed. He is NOT athletic or elusive, does not read the field well, his pocket presence is below average and he can flat out choke like a dog with the best of 'em when the pressure is really on.

I still say give him a few more games before deciding what his ceiling is. His pocket awareness can improve. He can develop the fortitude to handle difficult circumstances better (i.e, learn not to choke).

What concerns me the most is not reading the field. Locking on to receivers is very hard for guys to unlearn and I believe this will remain a problem defenses can take advantage of.

I also fully expect him to lose weight and come in at least 10 lbs lighter next year.

Let's take it one game at a time and enjoy the journey. Forget about the CFP (which might actually be a blessing) and just observe how the team improves over the course of the season.

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One more thing


Sep 8, 2021, 1:05 PM

Comparing DJ to Kelly Bryant is just insane, for many reasons.

For one thing: Do you realize how much you contradicted yourself by saying DJ looked slow, like he was running in mud? KB was a better runner than thrower (he also had a weak arm).

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Going from losing badly in the CFP…


Sep 8, 2021, 3:32 PM [ in reply to Need a few more games ]

to not making it at all. A blessing.

Yeah… amen. ??

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 1:10 PM

DJ will be fine. He's an elite talent that will figure things out. The more he plays at this level the better he will become. And guess what, the better job the coaches put him into positions to be successful the better he will be. I told people over the summer it was going to be really tough against GA because without a serviceable back up, our coaches would be scared to run DJ. But that is exactly what he needed to do to have any chance to be successful against GA. Hang in there, DJ is a good kid and will be just fine.

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I can't argue with any of this.


Sep 8, 2021, 1:14 PM

Spot on.

I wouldn't have compared him to Kelly Bryant, but I understand the point you are trying to make.

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"All those 'Fire Brownell' guys can kiss it." -Joseph Girard III

"Everybody needs to know that Coach Brownell is arguably the best coach to come through Clemson." -PJ Hall


Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 1:15 PM

DJ is not at all like Kelly Bryant. Kelly COULD run the ball. The problem was his passing.... mediocre.

But, I agree with you regarding the option, or lack thereof. Kirk Herbstreit even pointed it out during the game. DJ was simply pitching the ball to a running back, who was then by himself and dead meat. Hope I'm wrong, but it looks like DJ simply isn't quick enough to get to the outside for the option (RPO) to work. Let's just say Paul Johnson never would have recruited DJ.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 1:28 PM

I’m not going to crucify DJ based off of one bad game. Let’s face it. We have to ride or die with DJ this season. Let’s get behind the kid and support him. I think we all know DJ is capable of way more than he showed on Saturday. SC state can’t come at a better time. Let’s get that offense moving and create some rhythm and consistency.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 2:01 PM

Watching DJ play Saturday, I kept thinking that maybe the coaches (or a coach) put it in his head during practice 'boy DJ, I sure hope you don't get hurt, cuz that will cause us all kinds of trouble...) and he just became overly cautious about his play. It may have been inadvertent, but may DJ picked up on it. He had been told by the coaches not to risk injury last year, if you remember. I don't know. Maybe I am making excuses. He did seem to have two lead feet though.

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 2:40 PM

Finally someone speaks about the elephant in the room and its DJ however not all on him the coaching staff is to blame

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Re: DJ observations


Sep 8, 2021, 3:12 PM

I have much more faith in DJ than Coach Elliott, but both will have to bring it for Clemson to turn the Offense around.

No one will mistake Coach E for Lane Kiffin or Mike Leach. He has simply drawn up routine plays for years and handed them to Bach (DW4) and Beethoven (TL16). No pre-game creativity. No in-game adaptability.

Pulling hard for DJ. Great kid. Great family. Go Tigers!

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