haven't done the maths yet...

Oct 25, 2015, 3:29 AM

...but when the NCAA updates its statistics, Clemson could well be #3 or #4 in the country in total D tomorrow.

We allowed all of 145 or so yards to Miami, which significantly lowers our season average of 280, which was good for the #10 D in the country, in total D. Boston College at #1 (just 196ypg) and Michigan at #2 (210ypg) are probably out of sight, at least for the moment, but teams #10 through #5 were separated by less than twelve yards per game. Clemson certainly made that up against Miami.

That leaves Duke at #4, averaging 252 yards per game, and NC State, at 240. NC State took a BIT of a hit, allowing 333 yards to Wake, but Duke gave up over 450 in its quadruple overtime win over Virginia Tech. When the stats come out, Clemson will have (likely) overtaken Duke, or very close.

NC State will probably stay ahead...for the week. Clemson can alter that math personally next week, so the Wolfpack will have to earn that #3 overall defensive rating by beating Clemson. That stuff tends to come out in the wash. Especially when you consider the miserable (and FCS-level) offenses that the Wolfpack have played.

The long and short of it is, as good as Clemson's defense was last season, through seven games it's been within an inch as good...even after losing nine starters off last year's D. That's...impressive.

Clemson's offense adds over 600 total yards against Miami too, which should bump it up - statistically - from the overall #35 ranking it had...truthfully, though, it's hard to tell exactly how good Clemson's offense is because it's played so many backups and bench guys from the third quarter on this year. Dabo doesn't just keep blasting away to run up scores. The other thing that's complicating that analysis is that we've seen Clemson beat teams decisively with both the run and the pass...last week, Clemson threw for over 420 yards, this week Clemson ran for 416. We've seen Clemson beat people over the head with Wayne Gallman, rip them with the read-option with Deshaun Watson, pick people apart with the short pass, or just go over their heads deep, like we did last week against BC. This offense truly is "pick your poison". Combine that with a defense that is very much looking the part of a Top-5 unit and it's not surprising the statistical metrics at S&P+ have Clemson ranked #1 in the nation, even if the voters and talking heads are still debating if Clemson is truly worthy of being a playoff team.

The best team in the country? Maybe. But Clemson is certainly the most balanced, and the stats back that up. Which is all the more interesting when you consider that Dabo is maybe the fastest hook in college football when it comes to yanking starters and playing backups when the game is in hand.

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but whatever.

great post as always sir. always enjoy the analysis. got you on speed dial...

if I might I'd add another point though, and that is the question as to just how much our schedule, or utter weakness thereof, plays in the stats. that's because no matter how good the Tigers looked in the first 3 quarters against Notre Dame, they were quite literally over-matched in the 4th quarter on both sides of the ball and only a couple of magically timed turnovers by the Domers saved the game. well that and Carlos Watkins of course.

Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen a more putrid group of ACC teams as this year, and it gets worse every week. To think that Duke, who lost at home to a now obviously run-of-the-mill Northwestern team, and UNCheat, who lost to by-gawd USuCk-with-the-Old, old, very old Ball Coach, are serious contenders in the Coastal bracket is mind-boggling. Then to watch FSU sheatt-can one of our toughest foes in Louisville, then turn around and lose to Ga Tech, after making the mistake of letting the Bees hang around all game long, is simply too much for the logic meter to reasonably handle. well that and the unsettling but distinct notion that a good can of cat food could challenge for the title in the ACC this year.

I hope we make the play-offs because I want to see us play two quality teams on a national scale, the post-BCS college football equivalent of a double-date with two Swedish nurses. I want to see us try to add to the Big Daddy list of Bowl victims of LSU, Oklahoma, and the Buckeyes. I want to see us step out of the shadow of FSlose, separate ourselves from the rest of Swoffie's hot pile of zhit, and get that 1983, always nationally-relevant feeling back.

well that and I'm tired of the sycophantic gluttony of mindless hype, as we've got enough smoke being blown up our arses right now to give Smokey the Bear a good coronary or two even, stats or no stats.

haven't done the maths yet...

^^^very nice piece of work***

Re: haven't done the maths yet...

Re: haven't done the maths yet...

thx Q

Re: haven't done the maths yet...

I am sure there's going to be some rag reaction to this

Re: I am sure there's going to be some rag reaction to this

aahh, the good ol' days when I was branded a pumper,

Re: I am sure there's going to be some rag reaction to this***

Not sure the point of your post, but I

OK, you don't share in my opinion, which is fair,

Re: haven't done the maths yet...

Just using your numbers, we will be at 260 ypg, and

Great read. FYI...we are #4.

Thanks again for your efforts. I always look forward to

NC State has feasted on terrible competition

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