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TNET: ACC loaded with experienced QBs in 2021, but teams need to step up
Jun 10, 2021, 8:00 AM
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Hall of Famer [20538]
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Re: TNET: ACC loaded with experienced QBs in 2021, but teams need to step up
Jun 10, 2021, 8:45 AM
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I saw Miami's Manny Diaz on ESPN talking about how well D'Eriq King's ACL rehab is going but I'm dubious.
Do you really tear your ACL in late December, rehab, and then go beat Alabama at the beginning of September?
Otherwise I might circle Miami to possibly pull a shocker. They're really strong in the trenches and Alabama is losing a ton of offensive firepower and replacing a QB; if you're going to get them, early on in the season would be the time.
But yeah. The ACC needs some game beyond us. As ever.
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All-Pro [654]
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Don't know about BEATING Alabama, but
Jun 10, 2021, 9:47 AM
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He may still be COMPETITIVE against Alabama, and through their schedule.
IF we don't play UNC in the ACC title game, it might be Miami instead. I'd love to see both of those QB's be great again this year, if only for the sake of the league itself. Pitt's QB I think will be the surprise hit, albeit that may depend on their record.
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Letterman [284]
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Re: TNET: ACC loaded with experienced QBs in 2021, but teams need to step up
Jun 10, 2021, 9:10 AM
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The problem I see is that for the teams that may actually step up Clemson isn’t playing any of them.
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All-Pro [654]
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We might play some of them
Jun 10, 2021, 9:50 AM
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We can't play Notre Dame, I'll give you that, and we certainly can't play BOTH Miami and UNC regardless of their record at the end of the season.
But we do play two legitimately talented and exciting QB's against BC at home and at Pitt. Should be good fun to watch at least, & it should help with the perception of the ACC, particularly if these QB's make a lot of exciting/explosive plays during the season to keep them in the highlight reels. I'm hopeful, obviously!
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All-Pro [654]
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Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 9:29 AM
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Notre Dame counts? I kinda get that, but we CAN'T play them this year, correct? I mean, not unless they make the playoff (which seems like a tall order this season in particular)?
I agree with David----this defense was tremendous last year & let the nation in some crucial stats, now we're returning most of the highest-producing members of that unit from last year AND adding in legitimately talented new guys (or new starters), plus against a significantly less competitive schedule by comparison.
BC's QB Jurkovec was sometimes a lot of fun, but I don't expect him to be much of a threat or really all that interesting to most simply because of the nature of the rest of the roster.
Pitt I still think will be the biggest surprise. I don't expect them to be competitive against Clemson, but I'll likely take the points on this one.
Sam Howell is legit. I can't wait to see what he does this year & in the future. I don't know if we should expect UNC to be better than 8-4 again this year, so we may face Miami again instead, which isn't bad, but I'll be watching all these QB's this year & will be thrilled to see any of them excel & keep the league in the front pages.
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Orange Blooded [4679]
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Re: Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 1:22 PM
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I’m curious why you can’t expect UNC to be better than 8-4? Trust me , as a Tar Heel we learn to temper our expectations in football so I get it. But 8-4 this year will be a disappointment for us. I’m not saying you’re wrong, just asking about your thoughts.
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All-Pro [654]
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Re: Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 1:53 PM
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Solid question.
Last year UNC ended up 8-4 including a pretty gnarly loss to an uncompetitive FSU. A close one, like the UV game, but they FELT better than 8-4, if that makes any sense. I like UNC, and I'm surprised they ended up 8-4 last year because of their natural talent, particularly at several skill positions.
This year, UNC has some new holes to fill, a little bit of a trickier schedule, and loss of some of those key guys like Surratt (a personal fave). It's not whether I think they can be 8-4 or better, but whether or not it should be expected as Clemson's toughest in-league (potential) opponent in the ACC title game.
I certainly didn't mean to belittle UNC or anything like that, only that as a Clemson fan IF we get to finally face the Tarheels in December I hope they are better than 8-4 simply for our own opportunity; make no mistake, UNC in December will likely be the most competitive team after the Georgia game to open the season. Bottom line, UNC isn't officially on the schedule, so more to the point of your question, to "expect" them to have a better ranking by then may be a little bit of wishful thinking; frankly I'd love if they're undefeated, and that would be an amazing season including wins over ND & Miami (who we also don't have on the schedule).
The article, for example, is about the ACC & the strength of its QB's. Sam Howell is a legitimate QB threat & a likely first-round NFL draft pick next year. It feels like y'all lost some significant weapons, but I admittedly may be focusing more on the losses (notable Surratt, albeit that's personal).
If you don't mind, can you fill me in on some of the changes & optimism up there for 2021 & what your expectations are, or even a potential ceiling? I haven't heard much, but admittedly I haven't looked, either.
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Orange Blooded [4679]
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Re: Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 2:06 PM
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I certainly did not take your statement as anything negative. I was just sincerely asking for your thoughts and you did just that. You are correct in that the offense has lost some great players. The question marks come in trying to fill those playmaker spots. But I think we’re ok especially since the defense should be drastically improved.
You asked about our expectations and optimism. Well, I actually called 8-4 last year prior to the season. The optimist side of me says 10-2 this year , the realist says 9-3. I think the ceiling is 1 conference loss and a loss to Clemson in the ACC championship, then a really nice bowl again. That would be a mind numbing achievement in 3 years. Let’s face it, just 3 years ago we were a laughing stock so we are still pinching ourselves to think we might actually have a football team now.
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Letterman [282]
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Re: Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 2:45 PM
[ in reply to Re: Notre Dame? ] |
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UNC will finish significantly better than 8-4 this season. Thus, Clemson will be able to face a quality, highly rated opponent in the ACCCG.
Last year, the team threw away some winnable games. Teams have to learn how to walk before they can run and much of UNC's roster had a history of losing lots of games. Mack's building a strong football culture in CH. Our new talent is incredible - just below Clemson's level and this season we're recruiting against OSU/Clemson/UGA for ALL our recruits.
The losses will hurt on offense - particularly the two rbs and D. Brown. But, we have talent behind them. Otherwise, the entire OL, TE, QB and quality receivers return. The only loss on defense is Surratt and as we saw in the Orange Bowl, UNC has Assante and others who can take his place. By the time UNC gets to December, its 2020 and 2021 talent will be fully integrated into the 2/3 deep roster.
Miami will be strong as well and UNC plays ND in South Bend. On the Atlantic, I hate to say it, but I think the Wolfpack may be the 2nd best team - solid, not great.
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All-Pro [654]
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Re: Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 3:19 PM
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Good stuff, from both of you.
I'm hopeful, and I think you're right---I didn't remember UNC was returning THAT much, but it's certainly reason for optimism. That matchup with Miami should be interesting to say the least. Notre Dame won't be easy, but that could potentially be a big win early.
I think a lot of us think it's a toss-up between UNC & Miami to face Clemson in the ACC title game, but the more I think about it the less likely I think it is Miami ends up in that spot. Personally, I hope it's UNC. I always liked Coach Brown, for what it's worth. Plus, you know what they say about a rising tide.
Best of luck to y'all this season; wish we played in the regular season, too!
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Orange Blooded [4679]
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Re: Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 3:46 PM
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Best of luck to you too. I’ve lived in the Pendleton area for 33 years and have 2 granddaughters at Clemson right now so I can say good luck and mean it. However, I did walk in the house an hour ago and she was wearing a Clemson shirt. I said what are you doing to me? She said I got grand babies, deal with it. Lol.
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Orange Blooded [4679]
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Re: Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 3:46 PM
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Wife was wearing the shirt. Left that out.
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All-Pro [654]
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Re: Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 5:55 PM
[ in reply to Re: Notre Dame? ] |
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Love it.
If UNC & Clemson become rivals, man, that would be something, wouldn't it?
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Orange Blooded [4679]
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Re: Notre Dame?
Jun 10, 2021, 6:37 PM
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Yes. It would. I really think the culture for football in Capel Hill is changing. The fact that many of us are talking football in June is evidence to that. We always thought of football as preseason entertainment. Lol
We have a ways to go to give Clemson a serious challenge. I don’t know how far we can go but we are definitely on the rise.
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MVP [541]
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Re: TNET: ACC loaded with experienced QBs in 2021, but teams need to step up
Jun 10, 2021, 12:56 PM
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We absolutely need that but I don't see a win for the ACC, other than us, in the whole list of early season games. Maybe the lower tier like Pitt-TN or NCSU-Miss State? It would be great to get a one-loss Miami or UNC in the ACC Champs but that may be a stretch.
Not to get ahead - UGA will be a huge game for us and our OL has to be light years ahead of last year in GAME 1 or we will be 0-1 for the first time in a while and with the remaining schedule, we'll be fighting for the number 4 spot the rest of the year.
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All-Pro [654]
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Re: TNET: ACC loaded with experienced QBs in 2021, but teams need to step up
Jun 10, 2021, 3:21 PM
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I actually do think Pitt stands a great chance against the SEC team that's beaten Alabama more than any other, and NC State I thought was simply uncompetitive but I keep hearing they're possibly going to be a legitimate contender, particularly against Mississippi State.
Two ACC wins over SEC teams is something to hang your hat on any time it happens, but you're right, we'll likely be fighting for 3rd or 4th rather than 1st or 2nd going into the playoff itself, but that's definitely good enough, if that's the case.
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