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Paw Warrior [4700]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 5:54 AM
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In big games against teams with equal or more talent really worries me. Look at UGA, Louisville, and SC last season. Maybe I need to rewatch those games but I remember being frustrated with his play calling watching it.
I think we live and die with that. If he stays aggressive and doesn’t go in a shell the sky is the limit.
What say you?
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Asst Coach [898]
TigerPulse: 90%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 6:01 AM
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100% Agree. SMU was another game. Pedal to the medal 100%. Joe Burrow LSU aggressiveness is needed.
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Legend [6887]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 6:12 AM
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I already know...It's the collective! So to speak. No doubt , aggression is our friend!!
Go Tigers!! 🐅 💪
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Orange Beast [6471]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 6:18 AM
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Becoming conservative is a powerful strategy if you have time in your favor. Whether it’s a lead or whatever.
It’s about execution. If you can run the ball and use clock, and actually gain first downs… you should do it
If we’re up 17-7 against SCAR with 3 minutes left in Columbia this year, we better be able to methodically pick up some first downs. Because that’s how you do it.
Clemson’s offense is works optimally with fast pace, but it’s unnecessary just sometimes.
If you watch Clemson’s championship teams, they were able to do this. Because they could block. And had a running back to get downhill with speed.
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Paw Warrior [4700]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 7:10 AM
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Yeah, you’re right. I’m rewatching the SC game now. We came out with some deep passes down field to Wesco and Moore. We got down in the red zone in the 1st quarter and couldn’t convert on 4th and 1. Turnover on downs. A healthy Mafah would’ve gotten that every time.
Imagine if we kick the chip shot field goal.
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Clemson Conqueror [11193]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2003
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Dabo has gone brain dead against SC lately.***
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Aug 22, 2025, 7:24 AM
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All-Pro [720]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Dabo has gone brain dead against SC lately.***
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Aug 22, 2025, 7:54 AM
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They are coaching scared. Its like they dont believe in themselves or the players in big games with equal or better talent.im with you.go hard and straight at them not all that dink and dunk bs along with everything else
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Game Changer [1735]
TigerPulse: 61%
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Re: Dabo has gone brain dead against SC lately.***
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Aug 22, 2025, 8:41 AM
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he is the same DABO as always, just doesnt have the horses to make him look good even when he makes dumb coaching moves. The recruiting has tanked big time and you are seeing the results the last couple years.
Also no more Venables to help him or Jeff Scott to recruit for him. Jeff Scott was the national recruiter of the year more than once and Dabo is missing him big time.
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Campus Hero [13778]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2006
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Re: Dabo has gone brain dead against SC lately.***
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Aug 22, 2025, 11:59 AM
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You don't know what in the he77 you are taking about ....even for a stupid coot.
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Freshman [2]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Standout [-93]
TigerPulse: 67%
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Re: Dabo has gone brain dead against SC lately.***
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Aug 22, 2025, 5:33 PM
[ in reply to Re: Dabo has gone brain dead against SC lately.*** ] |
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They’ll call you a coot but you are spot on with this statement. Look at what they were able to do even with DJU at QB…. Just a little bit better qb play during that era and he probably wins another natty. They had way better talent and better coaching around at the time.
And while I’m on recruiting & talent we better pick up the pace with D line recruiting this next cycle. I think this 26 class will be the first one without a 5 star d line recruit in quite some time. Next year they’ll still be a good unit but after that I see significant drop off.
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110%er [3844]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 11:01 AM
[ in reply to Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling ] |
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Yep . . . need O-Line and rb groups to be really good if this team is gonna be championship caliber
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Solid Orange [1333]
TigerPulse: 94%
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I'm hoping the Hammerhead pans out in those types of situations
Aug 22, 2025, 2:49 PM
[ in reply to Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling ] |
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4th quarter, up like 24-14, 3rd and 2 with a handoff to Keith Adams for 3 yards and a 1st down. Kill the clock, make the opponent burn timeouts and win the game. Boring is perfectly fine when it works. I get nervous when the team runs on 1st and 2nd for minimal yardage and then has like 3rd and 7 doesn't get it, then a crappy punt (like 30 yards or so).
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All-TigerNet [5943]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 5:20 PM
[ in reply to Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling ] |
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The 10+ minute drive to end the 44-16 drubbing of Bama was a thing of beauty.
But we have a tendency to take our foot off the gas after an easy TD or two and always let opponents reel their way back in, at which point everything becomes forced.
Stop caring if you score 50 pts in a half! Just do it until they stop you.
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Tiger Spirit [9989]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 7:09 AM
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He seems to lose his rhythm at times during games with his play calling. The offense seems to have a lot of 3 and outs when they could put a team away.
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CU Guru [1520]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 7:24 AM
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I’m glad we put the “Dabo’s Waffle House Menu” is the real play caller, conspiracy theory, to bed!
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Orange Beast [6544]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 7:58 AM
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He's very involved. If you are naive to that I can't help ya brother. No doubt in my mind Dabo was involved with the Mafah playing injured thing and conservative play calling once we got leads. Use to work better when we had venables and our tendencies weren't so obvious over time. Maybe some of it had to do with Dabo not having confidence in the offenses ability. See the last win at SC when we ran the ball 1000 times.
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Standout [-93]
TigerPulse: 67%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 5:35 PM
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Dabo is very involved in offensive playcalling… does anyone not remember the Florida state game last year he kept screaming “just run the #### ball!” After we got a little lead? Even that game they got way too conservative too quick.
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Orange Phenom [14286]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Joined: 2003
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 7:26 AM
[ in reply to Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling ] |
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He seems to lose his rhythm at times during games with his play calling. The offense seems to have a lot of 3 and outs when they could put a team away.
Is play calling the issue or inconsistency from the players or Cade not making the correct reads or CJ playing a hurt RB or the OL getting beat at the point of attack or some combination of things?
I would speculate it’s a combo situation
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Paw Warrior [4700]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 7:32 AM
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I think you’re right. Hope the O-line is improved in run blocking.
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Mascot [22]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 7:32 AM
[ in reply to Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling ] |
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Does CJ determine which running back plays? I wonder how much autonomy he has here or does
Dabo isn’t going to say “no way we are putting Mafah in right here.” Surely the coach or the OC would have a plan on the personal decision. I hope!
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Paw Warrior [4700]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 7:38 AM
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Maybe they just didn’t trust the backups at all. Which is scary.
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Orange Phenom [14286]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 7:42 AM
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Maybe they just didn’t trust the backups at all. Which is scary.
Maybe buy Jay looked really good when given an opportunity
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Game Changer [2040]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 8:05 AM
[ in reply to Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling ] |
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All the games that are mentioned that we went conservative were late in the year (except Georgia) and PM was a shell of the running back by the Louisville game he was at the beginning and that part is coaching because if you cannot run then you cannot play conservative.
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110%er [3623]
TigerPulse: 100%
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This response makes way too much sense
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Aug 22, 2025, 9:10 AM
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Which is exactly why some of the posters will miss it.
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Paw Warrior [4700]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Tiger Spirit [9989]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 9:59 AM
[ in reply to Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling ] |
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Yes probably a combo of things. It just seems he can't find a play that catches the defense flat footed when he needs a big play.
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Paw Warrior [4741]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 7:33 AM
[ in reply to Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling ] |
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My perception is the 3 and outs occur in that middle portion of the game against the top opponents with talent on defense (once they make their adjustments). The elite coordinators make the right adjustments between possessions. It feels like we bog down headed towards halftime. However, with video replay available on the tablets diagnosing quickly should be a priority. I think you see a similar pattern in the second half. Now again this is my perception. I have no data to offer as proof, and many other explanations could be more valid.
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All-Pro [720]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 7:51 AM
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Agree 100%
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Oculus Spirit [40950]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 8:16 AM
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That's fine as long as the aggressive approach is picking up first downs and putting up points . You can have a balance of conservative and aggressive , and you take your shots when they present themselves.
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Campus Hero [13408]
TigerPulse: 94%
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Joined: 2021
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 10:56 AM
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We are unimaginative especially so in short yardage situations (3rd and short / 4th and short).
Louisville game. It was obvious that Mafah was not right by early Q3. Even though Mafah had a coup or three nice (not short yardage) runs, all were when big holes were opened between the tackles. When the holes were small, he didn’t put forth the traditional ‘More Mafah’ toughness. When bouncing it outside, he chose the sideline instead of busting it over a DB to get another 2 or 3 yards. This portended problems when choosing a run play in 3rd or 4th and short situations.
Lo and behold, we had a series in mid/late Q3 (maybe very early Q4) when in our own territory it was already four-down territory unless there was long distance to cover for a fourth down conversion. We ran the ball all four plays on that series. Mafah each play. Didn’t get it. For practical purposes, it was then game over.
That series exemplified how Clemson was using the ‘were tougher than you’ bravado as a veil to conceal a ‘we really don’t know what to do, and we’re too timid to try a quick rollout / short pass to a RB or WR’ for the conversion. To be sure, this mindset of the Clemson offense over the past two seasons has been our modus operandi. Especially when we were playing a team against which we believed we were superior.
Again, I can see how such conservative play calling in the above situations is justifiable if our RB is full-hammer and if all of our OL men are healthy. But to still run the ball when one or two of the not 100% RB or OL is the case? This reveals a lack of confidence / excessive fear of failure if something slightly more imaginative gets tried.
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All-In [11091]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Garret Riley's personality is his play calling style
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Aug 22, 2025, 8:28 AM
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Logically - zero signs have been shown that LSU will be any different than every other game he has play called.
Orange Glasses - he will buck the 2 full season trend of never getting 4 quarters of football together and we'll light it up.
Dabo and Streeter took DJU to 1 point from a 4 team CFP in 3 seasons - 2 as a starter.
Dabo and Riley - last second W in Pitt from having back to back 4+ loss regular seasons
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Game Changer [2040]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley's personality is his play calling style
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Aug 22, 2025, 8:56 AM
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I also think in the past few years Dabo has always stated in fall camp, that our team is ready to start tackling/playing other teams, instead of each other and that was his way of saying I ain't sure what kind of team we really got, but this year he has been quiet, so I think he knows he has the team to possibly be great.
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Paw Warrior [5064]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley's personality is his play calling style
Aug 22, 2025, 11:45 AM
[ in reply to Garret Riley's personality is his play calling style ] |
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DJU regressed significantly under Streeter. Not defending Riley’s playcalling tendencies, but Streeter was a disaster.
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Solid Orange [1326]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 9:00 AM
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NO BUBBLE SCREENS
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Campus Hero [13778]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 12:08 PM
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Every team in the country runs bubble screens. No play in the world works when not run correctly or no one blocks. Nothing wrong with them.
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Orange Beast [6547]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 9:27 AM
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Clemson is objectively more talented than everyone on our schedule this year, and UL and SCAR are never as talented. LSU is probably the only team on our schedule that matches up physically at every position.
That being said I get your point. I have always suspected Dabo's got a hand in the conservative play calling on offense, especially last couple of seasons.
I think this year having a defense that hopefully looks more like the units we're used to with Tom Allen leading the way Dabo takes the training wheels off of Riley's play calling.
If that's turns out to be the case....the sky is the limit.
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Game Day Hero [4552]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 9:29 AM
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Riley had had an eternity to prepare this team for LSU.
From here to Ten Buck Two everybody that has weighed in on the tigers rave about this offense
There is no excuse for him to be unable to put together a scheme to take advantage of a less than stellar revamped defense that has yet to find its identity.
If we struggle to put points on the board the hiring of Riley will deservedly be met with newfound scrutiny.
Personally , I believe we are in for a treat , unless I've been completely fooled.
And indeed if that's the case it would not be the first time.
Go Tigers !
Message was edited by: tigerlex24®
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Paw Warrior [4700]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 9:51 AM
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Man, I hope you are right.
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Ultimate Tiger [35204]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2003
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Ummm. ...i can help you.
Aug 22, 2025, 10:39 AM
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Give me all your money.
After that you won't worry about Riley.
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Heisman Winner [83123]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling- I honestly feel at times
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Aug 22, 2025, 11:02 AM
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we stop ourselves with poor play calls or sloppy execution more than the D stops us. Some peroid of SMU game as. an example. When we dont do squat on leave ourselves in third and long it is not our strong suit.
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Orange Blooded [2561]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 12:01 PM
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My frustration as a fan of football is changing what was working in favor of attempting to run out the clock. Whether is pro's or college football I can't begin to count the number of games where a team let the other team back in the game by going conservative after stretching out a big lead by being aggressive. I am a fan of keeping the pedal to the metal until all hope is lost by the other team. in a big game like this one , I don't care if we are up by 24 points at the start of the 4th quarter...the 2nd team should not be in and they should stick to what's scoring points.
This offensive strategy of running the ball when you have a decent lead will never go away. Maybe its time proven to work most of the time, but it is also proven to be the door to let the other team back in it with just a couple of big plays...like the "prevent defense" titled as such because it prevents you from winning more often than not.
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Campus Hero [13408]
TigerPulse: 94%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 12:29 PM
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This is an excellent point, IMO.
During those seasons in which our depth on defense was dubious, I liked it when we played ball control on offense.
Certainly during 2023 season, we had excellent quality depth on defense, yet our offense was ball control method … especially when the score was close (with us in the lead). Perhaps that was due to CK2 not being ready yet to be The Guy for our offense. (He is now The Guy.) However, even in 3rd / 4th and short situations (I.e,. those when the necessity of having a QB who had full knowledge of all the WR route trees wasn’t a factor), we went conservative so often that opposing D-coordinators pretty much knew what we were going to do.
Last year, our D had an obvious problem at the DE position (we had one super stud DE; the other starting DE was a DT playing out of position; our depth was quite simply not good enough for Power Five team football). Still, that huge flaw on our D should have stimulated some counter intuitive thinking. Our D was not comprehensively good enough to stop the good teams by the start of the 4th Qtr; therefore our O needed to be more aggressive so that we outscored our opponents (because, ball control or not, our DEs were going to be gassed by the start of Q4).
Thus, the argument that, 8n both 2023 and 2024, we played Box Turtle offense in short and 3rd / 4th far too often.
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Team Captain [-16]
TigerPulse: 70%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
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Aug 22, 2025, 5:54 PM
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Prepare to be disappointed. "Turtling" in big games is vintage Dabo. Expect loads of sideways passes. That way if they actually play aggressive, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
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National Champion [7305]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Frances Marion
Aug 22, 2025, 6:29 PM
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Do you still have your “I told you so post”? On there, I predicted that we would leave the LSU game complaining about the offensive play calls not looking like the air raid offense from the 2nd half of the Texas game. I hope that I am wrong and am eating crow. If my prediction is true, I have my fingers crossed that David Hood will ask Dabo who is actually calling the offensive plays.
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Game Day Hero [4552]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 6:31 PM
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You can't afford to play ball control in an attempt to run out the clock against LSU.
Because there is no such thing as a " safe lead " when playing them.
They have too much team speed and quick strike ability to make you pay.
You have to continue to mix it up and be aggressive.
Teams that too often go into " safe mode " do so because they lack playmakers.
That's no longer the case. Riley should be able to run anything in our arsenal including plays yet to be shown , keeping them on their heels.
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Ultimate Tiger [38731]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Garret Riley and conservative playcalling
Aug 22, 2025, 6:35 PM
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My jury is still out on the Garrett Riley hire. I am hoping this year we turn the corner.
Go Tigers!
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Replies: 46
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