Syracuse Review
There was a lot of talk about Syracuse coming into its first game in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
There was a lot of talk about the Carrier Dome's humidity.
There was talk last week about Syracuse staying in the game against Clemson by feeding off of the crowd noise.
What should have been discussed more was the now obvious difference in talent and speed between the Tigers and the Orange.
The pre-game discussion was spot on concerning the crowd noise. At times, I thought it was one of the loudest conference road games I have been to in recent years. I thought it was as loud as any venue other than Clemson I have been to in the past few seasons.
In the end Clemson was the better team, the faster team, the quicker team, the deeper team with the better quarterback and better staff. All of that resulted in a 49-14 road blowout by the Tigers.
If some teams' offense plays well for only the first 25 minutes of the game, they might be in trouble. But the Tigers have the kind of players, staff and scheme that they can cut you early and just let you bleed to death. Clemson scored 35 points in the first quarter and a half then played well on offense only when it had to.
Defensively, Clemson once again played well with the exception of a handful of big plays. Those huge gains are a concern but I feel great about the defense that dominated throughout the game.
Clemson intercepted four passes and shutdown the Syracuse passing game.
Darius Robinson
Darius Robinson
Cornerback
#8 5-10, 175
College Park, GA
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had two picks,
Bashaud Breeland
Bashaud Breeland
RS Jr. Cornerback
#17 6-0, 195
Allendale, SC
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had one on a beautiful play and
Jayron Kearse
Jayron Kearse
Fr. Safety
#20 6-4, 205
Fort Myers, FL
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ended an Orange threat with his first interception.
Vic Beasley
Vic Beasley
RS Jr. Defensive End
#3 6-3, 225
Adairsville, GA
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and
Grady Jarrett
Grady Jarrett
Jr. Defensive Tackle
#50 6-1, 290
Conyers, GA
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controlled the line of scrimmage. Beasley had two more sacks and four tackles for loss. Jarrett dominated Syracuse's All-American center candidate. In watching the replay, I noticed Chris Spielman say Jarrett is the best defensive tackle he has seen on film or in person this season.
Offensively,
Tajh Boyd
Tajh Boyd
RS Sr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
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broke his own school record of 428 yards with 455 yards passing. The Heisman candidate also had five more touchdown passes including the second longest touchdown pass in Clemson history when he hooked up with
Sammy Watkins
Sammy Watkins
Jr. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
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on a 91-yard masterpiece. Watkins reminded me of a center fielder tracking down a ball in the ally when he ran down Boyd's deep ball.
Adam Humphries
Adam Humphries
Jr. Wide Receiver
#13 5-11, 190
Spartanburg, SC
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had a career day with three catches for 118 yards and two scores. It was a career high for yards and touchdowns. He had all of it in the first quarter. Humphries also had 40 punt return yards, the most by a Tiger in over two years.
Watkins and Humphries both went over 100 yards receiving, just the fifth time in Clemson history the Tigers have had two 100-yard receivers in the same game. The Tigers did it last year against NC State.
Martavis Bryant
Martavis Bryant
Jr. Wide Receiver
#1 6-5, 200
Calhoun Falls, SC
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and Stanton Sekinger each added a touchdown reception.
The running game was balanced with a running back by committee. Rod McDowell,
Zac Brooks
Zac Brooks
So. Running Back
#24 6-1, 185
Jonesboro, AR
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and CJ Davidson had solid outings despite Syracuse's determination to stop the run at all costs.
The 35-point win on the road was not perfect. The offense had lapses and moments where they appeared to lack purpose and focus. The Tigers also threw two interceptions on tipped balls. The defense gave up a couple of huge plays and allowed over 300 yards rushing. That stat is a little misleading due to a long run on a fake punt. The first kickoff was a mess. The Tigers botched a few series and ruined great field position by not scoring more on a couple of great opportunities. But Clemson came into a difficult environment and won all three aspects of the game convincingly.
I thought the most impressive aspect of the victory was the way the Tigers took control of the game early and put the Orange away. Had that not been the case, this one had the potential the be a different contest. Syracuse's plan was to pressure Boyd into mistakes, fuel the energy in the building and feed off of the emotion. Clemson had other plans. The Tigers sent a different message and all but eliminated any energy from the home crowd.
I was impressed by this team's focus. They were able to ignore the noise this week and grab an impressive road win over an outmanned opponent in a potentially difficult environment.
The Georgia win was the biggest of the season, but the past two weeks Clemson has looked sharp in two blowout wins.
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Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
If you would like to add someone to the list please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
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Those who need our prayers include: Finn Brookover, Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Meredith Legg, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll,
Brandon Thompson
Brandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
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, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Doug Bailey and family, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Edward Easterling, Dawson Bourne, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Jim Lanier, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.
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