Reviewing 2021 to Get Back to Kicking ### in 2022

Jan 21, 2022, 9:45 AM

After testing positive for COVID again last week, I was able to step back from my busy life and break down film from the season. I re-watched every game except for Wake Forest because my girl filled up the DVR recording a Real Housewives of Atlanta marathon. I sent a request to the athletic department to see if they could send me a copy or if I could come in to watch it and take notes at the Reeves Complex. If anything changes after watching that game, I’ll come back and update accordingly.

A recurring theme on offense was our opponents trying to dissuade DJ from throwing the relief pre-snap based on the corner maintaining outside leverage on the number one outside wide receiver. But this alone should not be enough to prevent Clemson from exercising this option to protect the run game. The bigger issue was lack of toughness. Some say it was lack of execution by the offensive line, but I think it was plain old toughness and grit.

When I was in sixth grade, a kid named Billy kicked my ### sideways on the second day of school. I missed the first day because my mom got the dates wrong, so I still blame her. Had I been there the first day, I probably wouldn’t have stood out as an easy target that day. Anyways, Billy was a Southpaw and used all sorts of unorthodox fighting techniques. He was easily 20 pounds lighter and two inches shorter than me, but that mattered none as he landed left hooks and kicks to the groin at will. If the Tiger o-line would stop worrying about hand placement, leverage and keeping feet on the ground and just focus on beating their opponents the way Billy beat me that day, I thing the Tigers would have won every game.

As for the other side of the ball, anyone who understands football would agree with me that the defense outshined the offense every week. Throughout the season, Clemson’s defenders did well with basic run game fundamentals. The defensive line took on double teams and created piles to keep linebackers clean. The linebackers were good at avoiding blocks and triggering downhill. And the corners, particularly to the boundary, did well in run support.

Clemson’s defense has created an identity around guys like Boulware, Skalski and Spector. If I had to bet, our linebackers and defensive linemen aren’t playing on the slide in the Reeves Football Complex. They also aren’t napping in the bunk beds, watching movies in the theater, or playing ping pong. Sure, they might slip in a game of Big Buck HD from time to time to blow off some steam, but I guarantee they prefer crushing beer cans against their foreheads and chasing sorority girls over lounging around in comfortable oversized couches.

I don’t know what the answer is, but I certainly hope the new staff understands the issue. I think we will know the outcome of next season after the first game. Mark my words… if an opposing DE leaves the game on crutches and our offensive line has at least two personal fouls, I think the sky’s the limit.

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

Reviewing 2021 to Get Back to Kicking ### in 2022

Re: Reviewing 2021 to Get Back to Kicking ### in 2022

Re: Reviewing 2021 to Get Back to Kicking ### in 2022

TigerBoard POTD