Early thoughts on Clemson

[crimsonaudio]

After watching ND pressure Lawrence all afternoon yesterday, I expect Bama will be in the backfield all night long...

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Clemson is very good. But I think we might matchup with them really well this year.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Teams line up pretty even.. both teams secondary are the "weakest" (relatively speaking, neither is bad) part, and both surprisingly struggle on special teams.

6 pt spread seems aboutright, mainly due to your qb with a bit more experience.

I agree, to a point. However, I feel our secondary is stronger than you think. Surtain (#2) had not had to deal with overt OPI before without a whistle and he's tall and rangy, but slight. FWIW, the OU boards were alive with praise for your ACC officials and their allowing both DPI and OPI, AKA "letting them play." IDK if this is typical of ACC refs or not, but, if it is, you may see a different result, if push-offs are whistled...

Edit: Surtain is a true freshman, and a star in the making...

 

[TigerTown]

I'd also say our corners are better than folks think, and the safeties are more willing to fill holes than Oklahoma let you last night.

No idea on what you are talking about on officials or what sooner fans think.

 

[Power Eye]

So a few responses... if Bama is better at wr we are talking 1a and 1b. If Tua is the greatest qb ever (and may be) it will be proven by winning next Monday, he isn't yet. Clemson is significantly better than last year, not sure where someone can think otherwise (not just at qb, across the board).

I don’t think anyone believes Clemson isn’t anything short of a very good team, and I do think they are better offensively this year. Having said that, I just have no idea as to how they stack-up to Georgia or Oklahoma because they haven’t played anyone in that stratosphere. And I think even the most ardent Clemson fan would have to admit that, though perhaps not publicly.

 

[deliveryman35]

Clemson will be the best and most balanced team that we have faced all year imo, though Georgia is very good. Lawrence is a massive upgrade from Kelly Bryant but being a drop-back passer still, I think, creates a much more favorable matchup for us. He will be under relentless pressure all night. Still, to win, I think we will need better play from a certain DB and another certain LB. I’m confident that the coaching staff and the players involved can rise to the occasion and make that happen.

 

[NationalTitles18]

So a few responses... if Bama is better at wr we are talking 1a and 1b. If Tua is the greatest qb ever (and may be) it will be proven by winning next Monday, he isn't yet. Clemson is significantly better than last year, not sure where someone can think otherwise (not just at qb, across the board).

I could well be proven wrong. Clemson last year underperformed for the talent on hand. They are marginally better as a team this year even though they have a major upgrade (though young) at QB.

I actually think Clemson this year is on par with 2015/2016 and keep in mind they were good enough last year to make it to the playoff where they did have trouble moving the ball.

So marginally better is not bad. But Alabama made significant strides offensively over last year in comparison.

I don't mean any of that to disparage Clemson, who will be in the running with Georgia for the best team we've played all year. Clemson is a complete team. I look for them to be a better team next year and they may be even better than I perceive them to be this year - which is as a team that can beat Alabama if Bama is not playing to potential for 60 minutes, Clemson plays lights out, Clemson catches a few breaks, or some combination thereof.

I'll reiterate: Clemson can beat Alabama and Clemson is somewhat better than last year.

I contend that their improvement is not on par with Alabama's improvement, though I could be wrong.

We shall see.

I expect an exciting game.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I'd also say our corners are better than folks think, and the safeties are more willing to fill holes than Oklahoma let you last night.

No idea on what you are talking about on officials or what sooner fans think.

Then, you need to view the game again. All but one of Lamb's (their #2), receptions was upon an OPI, an overt, open shove on Surtain to get him out of the way. It had a significant impact on the score. I'll try to be simple. The officials were ACC. The Sooner fans were saying they wished that they had ACC officials (ignoring OPI, and, really DPI) all the time. The officials were lousy and it had a major effect on our pass defense, making it look weaker than it is with decent officiating. You don't have to agree, but do you understand me now? It was very frustrating last night, that and the lack of holding calls on choke-holds...

 

[BamaRulez]

I agree

 

[day-day]

I thought this said Earl’s thoughts initially. Contacts were cloudy.

LOL! We all get our own "Thoughts on Clemson" threads. I haven't started mine yet.:smile:

 

[BamaRulez]

If we can hold OU to 34, we can hold Clemson to 24. And I have no doubt that we can score 30+ on their defense. I think the line is a little low. It will be a tough game but I think Bama wins by 10.

I agree

 

[B1GTide]

Clemson's defense is essentially the same as last year, with the same strengths and weaknesses. Alabama's defense is not as good as last year, but is a whole lot better than the stats indicate. IMO, if Miller is out, the defensive edge belongs to Clemson, but is slight.

The offensive edge is not really an edge but a huge advantage, and it belongs to Alabama. Not because Clemson is not very good, but because of the match-up. Clemson is exactly the type of offense that Alabama shuts down.

I could see Alabama scoring anywhere from 28-42 points in this game, depending on a whole lot of factors, but with 28 points being the floor. I simply cannot see Clemson scoring 28 points on Alabama.

 

[Texas_tide]

....
Clemson will be a comparable game to Texas A&M or LSU.

Sutain better get his mind right.

Someone needs to cover Renfrow.

Keaton Anderson don’t need to cost us any yards.

Get Waddle the ball.

 

[TrueCrimson7]

To me it comes down to WR Justyn Ross and QB Trevor Lawrence. If we can shut down their connection, we win. If we can't, we will be in for a long game.

 

[TigerTown]

Then, you need to view the game again. All but one of Lamb's (their #2), receptions was upon an OPI, an overt, open shove on Surtain to get him out of the way. It had a significant impact on the score. I'll try to be simple. The officials were ACC. The Sooner fans were saying they wished that they had ACC officials (ignoring OPI, and, really DPI) all the time. The officials were lousy and it had a major effect on our pass defense, making it look weaker than it is with decent officiating. You don't have to agree, but do you understand me now? It was very frustrating last night, that and the lack of holding calls on choke-holds...

Ok...so you are saying the acc refs were letting Oklahoma db clutch and grab to help Oklahoma win so Clemson wouldn't have to play bama? If you can allege that, cool to say the sec refs in our game were doing the same? I mean a lot of obvious calls were missed for nd (some overturned by replay as so obvious couldn't ignore).. but on our first series last night the nd fb was holding our wr arm..and many other examples. I wouldn't say the sec refs were trying to be help you all, but as you say the possibility is there I suppose.

As for Clemson being better, it all comes down to opinion and while I would agree the defense is just a bit better, the offense at every position is way ahead of last year, not even close.

 

[NationalTitles18]

Ok...so you are saying the acc refs were letting Oklahoma db clutch and grab to help Oklahoma win so Clemson wouldn't have to play bama? If you can allege that, cool to say the sec refs in our game were doing the same? I mean a lot of obvious calls were missed for nd (some overturned by replay as so obvious couldn't ignore).. but on our first series last night the nd fb was holding our wr arm..and many other examples. I wouldn't say the sec refs were trying to be help you all but as you say the possibility is there.

As for Clemson being better, it all comes down to opinion and while I would agree the defense is just a bit better, the offense at every position is way ahead of last year, not even close.

What he's saying is that ACC officials tend not to make those calls that are called by some other leagues (not to put words in Earle's/Tide-HSV's mouth)

Clemson's offense is better, no doubt.

I'm not sure I'm getting through on the Alabama offense's improvement in comparison to Clemson's improvement. Alabama's offense shattered school records (and maybe a few others, like passing efficiency) while playing the backups for anywhere from 1-2+ quarters a game until November and still was the #2 scoring offense entering yesterday's games. The improvement has been clearly measurable and stark.

 

[TigerTown]

Clemson also has been playing reserves early on in games, very early in games. Again, bama is rightfully the favorite. Not sure I'm buying acc refs being different/beneficial to Oklahoma anymore than sec toward Clemson but no one is going to prove anything there so I guess hold that narrative if you want.

Should be a great game.

 

[Al A Bama]

....
Clemson will be a comparable game to Texas A&M or LSU.

Sutain better get his mind right.

Someone needs to cover Renfrow.

Keaton Anderson don’t need to cost us any yards.

Get Waddle the ball.

Make sure the player above is covered! I'm sick of this OLD man making catches against Alabama. Is he retiring after this year?

I don't think we have to worry about the escapability of this QB compared to Kyler Murray, but he can lean on you and gain 5 yards with that 6'7" height. He is an outstanding passer, but #92 and #99 need to place him on his backside a lot.

Okay, I stopped worrying about Oklahoma last night with 4+ minutes left in the 4th quarter. Does anyone think Coach Lincoln Riley would have kept his team from scoring at the end, if the shoe had been on the other foot?

Now, I am WORRIED about Clemson's DEFENSE and that QB, Wr's, RB's, and their OL.

The Alabama shirt I was wearing last night is 14 - 0 this season. So, I will be wearing it again next Monday night!!!!!!!

Here's hoping and praying that #47 is 100% for next Monday night!

 

[NationalTitles18]

Clemson also has been playing reserves early on in games, very early in games. Again, bama is rightfully the favorite. Not sure I'm buying acc refs being different/beneficial to Oklahoma anymore than sec toward Clemson but no one is going to prove anything there so I guess hold that narrative if you want.

Should be a great game.

Again, you are missing the larger point that Earle was making.

The main contention is that ACC refs tend to call the game loosely and "let them play", not that they were deliberately trying to help one team or another.

If Clemson is used to this type of play but the officials call a tighter game, how will that effect Clemson?

We criticize SEC refs for missing calls but they more often than not get the blatant calls right, unlike the ACC refs last night. If that's any indication of how they have called all year in the ACC then refs from a different league may force Clemson to play differently in certain aspects.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Ok...so you are saying the acc refs were letting Oklahoma db clutch and grab to help Oklahoma win so Clemson wouldn't have to play bama? If you can allege that, cool to say the sec refs in our game were doing the same? I mean a lot of obvious calls were missed for nd (some overturned by replay as so obvious couldn't ignore).. but on our first series last night the nd fb was holding our wr arm..and many other examples. I wouldn't say the sec refs were trying to be help you all, but as you say the possibility is there I suppose.

As for Clemson being better, it all comes down to opinion and while I would agree the defense is just a bit better, the offense at every position is way ahead of last year, not even close.

Oh Good Lord! Where did you get that. I can't see inside anyone's mind. What I was saying that I, like many others, including fans from other conferences, noticed that the officials for this game's culture seemed to be not to call either DPI or OPI. OU took advantage of it, as they should have. Many of their fans have said, for this reason, that they preferred this crew to B12 officials, which they feel over-officiate DPI and OPI. Our receivers and DBs were definitely not prepared for the way the game was called and it showed. I have no idea who the crew will be for the finals, probably either B10 or Pac-10. I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories, so I'd guess it's just habit and custom differences. I don't suspect any occult motive. You were the one who brought that up...