All-In [49613]
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Joined: 12/10/98
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Deacs deserve respect -- and a whupping (long)
Sep 21, 2022, 12:28 PM
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Any time you face a ranked team -- especially on the road -- it's a given that they deserve respect.
That's the case with the Deacs. After all, Wake is 3-0 against -- checks notes -- VMI and Liberty with an impressive road win at -- checks notes again -- Vanderbilt.
I know, I know: Our early season schedule isn't any more impressive. But during our first three contests, some aspect of the game has been notably lacking. A sputtering offense here, a step-slow defense there, things have been slightly askew. We've haven't had a complete game yet.
That's not the case at Wake. With Sam Hartman back at quarterback, there has been no "We're not where we want to be" from the Deacs. There's no sense that, like Clemson, it's a matter of young guys learning what to do or seasoned starters shaking off injuries. They have 40 players with at least 5 years of experience.
Nope: When it comes to Wake, what we've seen is what we get. And that has to be encouraging for Clemson. Why? Let's take a look at last Saturday's Liberty game.
Now, Liberty's no slouch, but a team with aspiration of another ACC title game cannot come within an eyelash (or a 2-point conversion) of falling to the Flames. Even worse for Wake, Liberty had no trouble stuffing their little do-si-do offense, forcing the Deacs into several third-and-long situations. With Hartman and his stable of receivers, this was an annoyance against Liberty.
Against Clemson's front line, it will be a disaster. Wake can't run the ball consistently. Look at the declining rushing numbers for Wake this year (200, 150, 20) and it's clear folks have figured out what to do. Crash down on the ends, assuming that Hartman isn't running. If your D line can handle things, it frees the linebackers to play back a bit to clog the middle and stop those short passes that have been eating us alive.
Yes, they have Hartman. They have Perry and Greene. But without time to throw to them, it won't matter. Wake is averaging close to 300 yards per game through the air, but Hartman has also thrown 3 ints. I'd expect Clemson to snag a couple more. If we have Mukuba and Wiggins back, and indications are they will be, plus Xavier finally in playing shape, Wake simply isn't going to have time.
On defense -- well, Wake's no better than they were last year. Liberty rans for nearly 180 yards on them last week, and that's because the Flames has more than 250 yards passing. I'm betting Clemson will use it's new-found offensive line matchups to run Shipley and Pate to burn clock and wear down the Deacs. Remember what they did to Wake in the Valley last year? Nothing has changed.
One more note: Liberty showed that the Deacs have an issue handling receivers out of the backfield. Fake a sideline pass, then drop the ball to Shipley into the open spot created and you're off to the races.
Did I mention we haven't really seen Antonio Williams and Adam Randall on the field together yet?
Put all this together, and as long as the Tigers play the game they're capable of, we should have this.
Wake deserves respect. But more than that, as the team that snapped our streak of ACC title game appearances, they deserve a beating to remind them who we are -- and who they are.
Gee-Haw'd!
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