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YOUR BALANCE
OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!
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OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!


Jan 14, 2021, 12:41 PM

I have an opinion that might not be popular; but I believe it to be true! One "silver lining" that came out of the 5 in a row years against u of suc was the coaching staff putting more emphasis on the line of scrimmage! I thought we had the better everything in those years - with the exception of the OL and DL! DL was us or neutral during that time - wouldn't give them an advantage there.
But, they did have the more physical OL.
Bama and LSU both had explosive offenses and everyone likes the explosive plays and wide open(seemingly) WR's every play - but they had really good OL play as the secret sauce! They could run it - when everyone knew they were going to run. They did not have to rely on "tricking the defense"!
Again, my opinion only, but teams have caught up and the rules have caught up to up tempo offenses a bit. Ask Chip Kelly. At Oregon if you study his average recruiting class - particular his RB position - you don't see it littered with 4 and 5 star guys. Yet, they were destroying defenses. Going to - but not winning - championships(against Ohio State in 14). Racking up a ton of yards and losing no more than 1 game a year!
I think we enjoyed a good run with up tempo(not hyper up tempo but up tempo) with better skill players which propelled us to the top a few times.
We were able (my opinion) to get away with not having a super physical and super dominant OL because of the style of play! DL just would get worn down and we took advantage in other words. Now, teams have made the adjustment and I wonder if we are now to where we Have to upgrade OL recruiting! Tempo can still neutralize a DL if the other team isn't deep! Or if you are just more talented; but what if the other team has depth? What if they are as deep and talented as you are. And, with the way refs stop offenses from snapping it if a sub is made, they have taken some advantage of thus the neutralization of dominant DL away from sub par OL. Those guys get a chance to catch their breath and end up making plays!

This post is just a commentary on the evolution of the up tempo offense to the football heads more than anything. The HUNH allowed you to "get away with" low star OL because of how you wore down defenses. Adjustment has been made and we need to use our star power to upgrade the position. Heck, kids from Wisconsin would love to come south to play at Clemson! We have that ability now to go beyond the South East.

DL is coming along and will get better as our guys get a few years in. But, a few misses on DL recruits who were "SOLID" but not game changers has shown up. You have to win on the line of scrimmage even in this era of football!

Opinions! Again, just my thoughts as a fan on the "way outside" looking in. Not a suggestion for anybody! I trust and admire our coaches to no end.
But, this is a message board where we as fans with a common interest share our thoughts/opinions. These are a couple of the things I wonder out loud, if you will.

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Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!


Jan 14, 2021, 1:21 PM

I think physical is the key word in everything you said and I think it goes beyond the lines of scrimmage.

I think Skalski is most likely our most physical player during games. He can play with an edge about him. Many on this same board even complained that he talked too much during the ACC title game, but he said he had something to prove because ND said he wouldn't change the outcome of the game. His energy was pouring out of him because every play was personal.

We all saw what the defense looked like with him off the field this season. One player shouldn't make that much of a difference, but I think the defense lost some aggressiveness when Skalski wasn't available.

OSU took their game with us personally and I think our team couldn't match the edge and aggressiveness they were playing with. OSU lost that advantage with Bama and got smoked. They didn't even look like the same players on the field regardless of what Bama was doing. OSU lost their edge.

LSU in 2019 wasn't happy with winning. They wanted to embarrass people. Now I think they are a trash program and I am not suggesting we be like them outside of the lines, but their attitude on the field and while preparing for games got results for one season. Their culture off of the field has cost them since.

Wilkins, Ferrell, Lawson, and others were all guys who liked to not just win games but physically beat up the opponent and make sure they felt it long after the game was over. Those guys had an internal edge that never left them no matter what going on in the game or who they were playing.

I am hopeful that we have some youngsters with that edge but it seems like we have a lot of older guys that just want to do their job and win the game and be nice.

I am not saying that our guys don't play hard, but I think they could take matchups a little more personally.

I'm not saying we need guys to talk trash and run their mouths, but when OSU says the game with Clemson is like a rivalry and our guys say it's just another game in interviews, that gives some insight in to how personally we are taking another team challenging us.

Clemson with an edge destroyed Notre Dame this season. Miami woke us up and brought the edge out in our Tigers and got run off the field. We see how powerful that is.

We need more dudes on the field who want to destroy everybody again!

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Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!


Jan 14, 2021, 1:45 PM

We seem to play down to our competition sometimes. Don't have that "edge" you are talking about every game.

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Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!


Jan 14, 2021, 1:51 PM [ in reply to Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning! ]

I appreciate your comments about playing with edge. And you make some great points on Ohio St D and O who both played with an edge and kicked our Tiger a$$, and Clemson’s Power Rangers who brought it every day and every game. +1

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Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!


Jan 14, 2021, 2:24 PM

Knew you guys would come through today. This isn't popular either but I feel the David hale article had a similar perspective but made it melodramatic and then threw in social justice. Beyond that, he actually made a good point.

You see so many teams jump on that hunh offense now in the SEC, ex. Ole miss. Yeah, they'll win some games, come close but then get dominated by the big boys.

Now, as far as the edge, I feel Bama gets a bad wrap and to some extent osu for playing dirty. Occasionally you'll have one person go rouque but by and large I think it's just physical play. Playing with that edge. Which is good.

But both of you (most of the x and o guys) have nailed it in the past couple weeks when pointing out our recruiting strategy for OL and now Safety positions. Honestly, I think y'all have correctly pointed out our coaches are moving in that direction. Maybe most of our fans don't see it, but I really do believe that Dabo is building that, piece by piece.

We may think we have that type player but for whatever reason, just doesn't pan out. I wouldn't mind us using the portal if extenuating circumstances exists... I think we could have used it when we lost belk and Logan.

Wish list - compete and develop a tad better with DB's on OSU level. They seem to play with that edge and both Bama and OSU seem to teach the OL how to have that edge and not get called for holding and/or PI... Then again I could be completely off. If I am, please tell me. Tia

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Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!


Jan 14, 2021, 6:31 PM

TigersO SocMan2®Clemgalalways 2000®

Thanks for your points of views on this!

As TigersO said, "PHYSICAL" is the key. We have to get more physical or we will end up with similar results.
It's been said a thousand times before and I believe it(do you) that "the OL sets the tone for the whole team"! If the OL is soft and more finesse then the team tends to be the same way. Same way if the OL is more physical. It makes sense - because you don't want to get bullied at practice or "out technique d" at practice so you adapt and compensate. Plus, this year could our OL properly prepare our young DL for the physical play? No. In past years, I remember(do any of you remember who said it) CU OL saying they were going to beat up the DL in practice and get them ready! Then in other years, the DL said the same thing about the OL. Comments like: "if they can get physical with us, they should be able to get physical with anybody"! -C. Ferrell. "We won't take it easy on them and that's a good thing; because the harder we are on them at practice the easier the game will be for them on Saturday's"! -C. Wilkins

I paraphrased a bit; but that was almost verbatim what they said! Who was going to teach who in this past season?

Dabo has made the statement, "competitive depth and you will get exposed out here if you don't bring your A game"! Not sure we had those things this past season on the DL and OL. It may have looked "OK" but was it because our DL was so young. Remember the vets(Pinckney) were injured at the
beginning some. Bresee was young. Murphy was young. Davis was only a Soph. All our 3 best DL were young and still figuring it out.
Now they are going against a very inexperienced line in terms of playing together as a unit. 4 new starters. Nobody probably got exposed like they would have in past seasons and here is the biggest thing: *****NOBODY GOT SHARPENED BECAUSE OF IT****NO IRON SHARPENING IRON*** Just a couple groups that was BOTH figuring it out.
Nobody's fault. . . . just how it played out. But, we have to get more physical on both lines of scrimmages. And as a team "overall"! Did the team make it to Gervais Meadow this season? Some real grind - get ugly and get physical no glam. no non-sense "GRIND"! I love how Dabo does that every year! Take away all the fun..........dare I say............cute "soft" stuff and get "down and dirty"! Especially because 5 year composite Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and maybe Florida have better players! LSU and Texas A&M are right around where we are in 5 year composite for up coming season! So, we can't rely on just being better athletically. We have to get back to where we can match physicality with opponents!
Just like in those dark days of SC winning - we have equal to better skill players. But, we won't beat the top tier teams if we are not physical at the point of attack.
Another key reason I think LSU and Bama looked so much better on offense was because of their line play. We can look the same way with more physical play!

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Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!


Jan 14, 2021, 11:00 PM

Can't do mentions because of my android phone. @HillRockTiger I doubt that worked.

I definitely understand everything you laid out. We didn't have that with our receivers either going against our dbs and vice versa. Yeah, they got exposed too with tee, Renfrow, and Ross. But, we had dbs that challenged them too with aj etc.

Then we lost Foster and XT to give some physicallity and experience. As you say, had the OL gotten exposed and taken to the meadows, would that have possibly allowed one of our younger ones to open up and jump the depth chart... Like parks. I know Dabo was dissapointed that Vinson wasn't able to practice.

Looks like we're going to have a pretty normal spring and should get back to our summer conditioning. We have (at least star power) good talent coming in. I'm really hoping they can hit the books and learn the playbook in addition to having that bad taste of losing to beef up more and get those competitive juices flowing.

If foster can come back and Davis get healthy, in addition to Bresee, we'll have that good on good. I know Foster can, and I believe Brian can too both become the vocal leaders up front. Who on the OL? Bockhurst? Idk. Great question you posed, good discussion. Hopefully the others will respond over the next day or two.

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Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!


Jan 15, 2021, 12:40 AM [ in reply to Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning! ]

@HillRockTiger wow how time heals all. I have my Tmails from you saved telling me I’m dumb bc we coaches know best snd it’s ok taking 3 star talent . Now we are here full circle you saying we aren’t physical and need more depth. Anyone that knows football could see 2017, 2018, and 2019 recruiting classes as below best is the standard.

Don’t post now after sending me Tmail and giving
Me TD making my pulse what it is. Fact is we recruited ###### and missed on key players but good news is 2020, 2021, and soon to be 2022 will correct Dabos poor roster management. Best is yet to come! Even it takes a few to get here and people like @RockHillTiger are slow to comprehend! Next natty 2022!

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Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!***


Jan 15, 2021, 9:19 AM



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HillRockTiger made this post, not Rock Hill Tiger


Jan 15, 2021, 9:22 AM [ in reply to Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning! ]

So, make sure your reply is to him, not me. I do, however, agree with his assessment. We are not nearly as physical along the lines of scrimmage as we need to be.

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Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning!


Jan 15, 2021, 12:34 PM [ in reply to Re: OL/DL/Being Physical On Line = Winning! ]


@HillRockTiger wow how time heals all. I have my Tmails from you saved telling me I’m dumb bc we coaches know best snd it’s ok taking 3 star talent . Now we are here full circle you saying we aren’t physical and need more depth. Anyone that knows football could see 2017, 2018, and 2019 recruiting classes as below best is the standard.

Don’t post now after sending me Tmail and giving
Me TD making my pulse what it is. Fact is we recruited ###### and missed on key players but good news is 2020, 2021, and soon to be 2022 will correct Dabos poor roster management. Best is yet to come! Even it takes a few to get here and people like @RockHillTiger are slow to comprehend! Next natty 2022!




Care to reply to those "to me"! I don't recall doing that and that for sure isn't my style.

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Wasn't Me Partner!


Jan 15, 2021, 12:37 PM

I just went through every TMail I have ever seen or received and I have nothing to or from you! ClemsonME08 Not one time.

You for sure have me crossed up with someone else!

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One Last Thought. . . .. . .


Jan 16, 2021, 11:26 AM

I am even more convinced now after looking back and watching a few games - our OL "not coming together like we had hoped" and the Skalski lost time really hurt our defense!
You win games by prepping properly throughout the week and in the spring and fall camp and summer workouts.
Not having that super physical, mash you in the face OL hurt our DL development and New LB starters. Becoming "acquainted with that brand of football at practice" usually means you dominate an opponent who isn't. Usually, not all the time(look at us). We had enough potency everywhere else to compensate for that lack of acquaintance.

The Iron Sharpens Iron Mantra.......................in short................... just didn't take place when 1's took on 1's. That has to be re-established and it's no secret. And, it's something I have full 100% confidence will be addressed/fixed.

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