"They Were Tired" or "They Were Gassed"...

Sep 1, 2024, 12:31 PM

I saw a lot of comments about the defense yesterday suggesting they were too pooped to pop in the 2nd half.

Question...exactly when did they show empty on the fuel level?

In the first half the Clemson D was outstanding, holding #1 Georgia to two field goals. At no point was I (nor the announcers) under the impression that Clemson's D was wearing out. As a matter of fact, they looked downright chipper heading into the halftime locker room.

Ans so they had the next 25 minutes to rest and get coached up. Time for a cool drink, some stretching, and preparation for an exciting second half. Same for Jawja.

They come out and Clemson kicks off to start the third quarter. A rested Clemson D then begins to get torched. The Dawgs are in the end zone in three minutes, not some long, time consuming, gut wrenching drive.

Clemson is the team to control the ball, as they methodically march down the field, churn off six minutes, only to have Hauser kick a field goal. The Clemson D gets plenty of time to rest.

A little over three minutes later, Jawja is in the end zone again, prancing merrily down the field with little resistance. Again, they did not grind it, wearing our D out. Game, for all intents and purposes, over.

It took the Dawgs about six minutes to score two touch downs on two long but short drives. Long distances, but fast times. On the other hand, we spent six minutes to grind out three points.

My point here is that I do not believe the Clemaon D was gassed in the third quarter, when the game was put away. However, I do believe the Clemson D was unprepared to handle what Jawja threw at them in the second half. Instead of a lot of stuff up the middle, Kirby had his O outflank our D. and it was an excellent adjustment on his part. They became to us what Stonewall Jackson was to Union armies (forgive the Civil War analogy). Fast and deadly. Our edge guys were either or both slow and unprepared for the onslaught.

It reminded me of what Paul Johnson's triple option used to do to us and many other teams pre Brent Venables. Remember? We couldn't stop that thing even though we knew it was coming. Outflanked almost all the time. CBV got some fast backers and put and end to that nonsense.

What I saw yesterday was one team making the necessary adjustments and the other standing around scratching their heads, wondering what in the world is happening?

It was the coaching, or lack thereof, and the slow edge defenders that cooked Clemson yesterday. They were good at stopping anything up the middle, but horrendous on the outside, providing a blueprint for App State and future opponents.

Another question...will CDS and coach Goodwin make the necessary adjustments this week? Might be the difference between a close game and a relatively easy Tiger victory.

Concerning the Clemson offense. Pardon me, but my fingers aren't strong enough to type out all I would like to say about that ____ show.

p.s. BTW, the Clemson D might have been gassed by the fourth quarter, but not in the third, IMHO.

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