What I would like to see from DJU

Sep 9, 2022, 12:13 PM

As hot as everybody is to move on to the Next Big Thing, we're better off seeing DJU succeed this year and head on off to success and fortune in the NFL.

Reason #1 is simple: teams that go down to their true freshman QB soon often have no QB. Just from a sheer numbers standpoint, we're better off having a successful DJU having Klubnik available to back him up should DJU get hurt. True freshmen tend to be lighter, less physical developed - both of which apply to Klubkik and which also applied to Deshaun Watson - and are overly enthusiastic, unused to the speed and power of the college game...and they tend to put themselves out there, and get hurt. Especially if they run a lot, which Clemson QB's are required to do. You go to Klubnik, DJU probably heads to the Portal or is so shelled from a confidence standpoint he's likely not much good as a backup anyhow, and them we're exactly 1-deep with an undersized QB under center. See 2014 for how that can go.

Who do we have who can legitimately back up Klubnik, should we lose DJU again? (Please don't say "Hunter Johnson." I love the guy, but...bless.)

Also, it's just plain looks better for Clemson from a program standpoint for DJU to be successful. The more Clemson QB's who have college success and go off to the NFL, the easier it is to recruit the next one.

So I'd like to see DJU succeed. But a look at the tape tells you exactly where he's struggling, and it's with the basic stuff. I think he's in a near-constant state of panic out there. Even against Georgia Tech, you'd see, on about half to a third of the plays (which killed drive after drive) just one random goofy mistake after another. Fumbles due to poor ball security. Mishandling snaps that hit him right in the hands. Trying to run and tripping over his own feet. Missing RPO reads a high school QB should make because seemingly instead of reading and counting hats he had predetermined what he was doing...which tells you his eyes weren't seeing it, and his brain wasn't doing the math. Missing basic checkdowns, or hesitating when a guy was open until he wasn't. It went on and on, and it was often painful to watch.

It's been a bunch of little things, seemingly caused by one overriding thing, and that's bad composure. Obviously stuff went so bad for him last year it wrecked his confidence.

That isn't necessarily permanent. Plenty of guys get the yips in sports, take a deep breath, rediscover their confidence, and go on to success. DJU still has a window and an avenue to do that, and we saw with our own eyes in 2020 DJU can flat ball out when he's feeling good. We saw a completely different guy in 2021.

It'd be better for Clemson if he did. I do know I'll be rooting for him big against Furman. I hope everyone else does too. I'd prefer Cade has to wait his turn because DJU is getting it done.

Just saying. Root for the guy when he's out there. It might end up being the necessary thing, but it's rarely a good thing if we have to go to the true freshman. Winning it all with Trevor in 2018 is the exception, hardly the rule.

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That is certainly an issue, but he simply doesn’t have what it takes physically or emotionally. He’s slow. Physically and processing the game. No quickness. No elusiveness. As you said signals everything he’s going to do.

People love to talk about how many yards he threw for in those two games as a freshman. But if you go back and watch those games other than that he was terrible. He gave up multiple touchdowns because he couldn’t make a simple handoff or pitch. He’s absolutely terrible at almost every facet of the game, mentally and physically! He cannot run the option or even make a basic pitch.

He was clearly a man among boys surrounded by talent in high school. Everyone thought this kid was going to be great and he had a big head and bought into his own hype. But the reality is he has no business playing QB at this level. He simply does not have what it takes!

And despite your protests Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence did pretty #### good as true freshman quarterbacks! No. I don’t know who the back up would be but I want the best player on the field especially at quarterback and at ain’t DJ.

DJ failing does not hurt Clemson at all. In fact Clemson and Dabo look great because they are going out of their way to give this kid every opportunity possible despite the fact that everyone can see how bad he is. I heard Tom Luginbill on a podcast today talking about this exact thing.

This situation is strangely similar to the Kelly Bryant Trevor Lawrence situation. Because game four is against Wake Forest and unless DJ gets it together very soon that’s when he’s going to lose the job permanently. Because there is no way we can beat Notre Dame with DJ unless he suddenly transforms into a far better QB.

What I would like to see from DJU

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

I would like to see the same exact results as UF in 2006

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

It’s not a lack of confidence.

Re: It’s not a lack of confidence.

Where are you getting that from?

Many respects as always & appreciate your perspective Q

This is as close to a perfect post regarding our QB room as you can get

Generally agree but I think you’re leaving something out.

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

Play like a championship QB. Start throwing the long ball.***

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

He had hiccups for sure but also great throws and

I would love to see DJ succeed, but I do not think he will

Re: What I would like to see from DJU

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