JessN: CLEMSON PREVIEW: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

I’ll take that score...... hopefully my heart lasts through the game

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Clemson is closer to 2016 season.

Problem for them is that Alabama is 2018 season Alabama.

My thinking is 38-27, give or take.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

I think the 24-34 point range is correct scoring for both teams, but I think it will be closer, 31-28 Bama.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

I feel like we are pretty evenly matched but here's where I think we push ahead and win:

Tua
Our receivers/including Jacobs
CNS

I've often wondered why Jess doesn't include coaching in these but I guess it would always be in Bama's favor and upset the even eight categories.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

This is unarguably the best Alabama offense in history. The numbers don't lie, and that's with playing aTm and LSU and Georgia and OU (well, maybe shouldn't have mentioned them). I know that Clemson is good. I know that. No one can deny how good they are, but if the best offense in Bama history can't win this game then I don't know what to say. I think they will.

rtr

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

How do you think Clemson would do in the SEC West? People said UCF couldn’t play an SEC schedule. Could Clemson? Seems Bama’s schedule has them better prepared/battled tested for this game and the resilience will pay off late in the game.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Saban4Ever said:

Me too--it's the weirdest thing, unless Saban is playing mind games. Either that or Terrell hurt himself again and nobody is saying anything about it. Seems linebacker injuries just won't stop.

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I have often wondered if the reduced size of D-Linemen and reduced size of LB's, all in effort to be faster and just quicker on defense has led to more injuries for this group? I don't believe much of our injuries at that position have been true contact injuries, rather, injuries from over-strain and over-use. So, that would negate my question about size. All that said, we lost Donte Hightower to a contact injury in 2009, I believe it was, and he was of more traditional LB size, so, who knows?

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

VirginiaTide57 said:

How do you think Clemson would do in the SEC West? People said UCF couldn’t play an SEC schedule. Could Clemson? Seems Bama’s schedule has them better prepared/battled tested for this game and the resilience will pay off late in the game.

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This year's Clemson team would probably be one loss in the West, and that would have been to Alabama. They would have beaten all others, and did beat the one team from the West they did play. They have also played Auburn in recent years, in addition to Alabama, and have been pretty good doing so. They would pound to death EVERYONE in the east, except maybe UGA, and all that depends on is which UGA team shows up to play them. They beat USCe with ease most every year. Forget all the points they gave up to them this year; that was all about Deebo Samuel.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

" If Alabama can keep Tagovailoa relatively unmolested...".
A lot of truth in this "if". I don't see any way for Clemson to stop Bama's offense, but to go full throttle after Tua. I think the OL giving Tua just a little time is crucial.

Nice write up Jess!

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

bamacon said:

Guys Surtain was “picked on” because of strategy and I’m sticking to it. The more I think about it it’s clear. Bama was in a defacto prevent defense. Look at how long it took OK to move the ball. They had 1 and only 1 real breakdown for the long TD pass but otherwise it’s keep the WR in front of you and live with dink and dunk. That was a quick strike offense that is used to scoring in less than 2 minutes. Why else would the coaches NOT change where they had him line up? Why else would you not give him safety help? Surtain did his job and not guarantee you that it will be a wholly different strategy for Monday.


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Surtain had a few issues with Lamb but there were at least 2-3 of those receptions that Lamb had an obvious push off including the TD. The fade to the 2 early on, Surtain just never picked up the ball. I think he will recover fine this week. We just need to make sure we don't give them the easy long balls. Against ND at least 3 of their scores were over the top or break away by the RB and not long 10 play drives. If we keep TUA clean and healthy, we win 10-14 points.


Thanks Jess for a good write up. I always look forward to your analysis, especially the big games. thanks again.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

gtgilbert said:

Even with that, had our DBs caught balls they would normally have caught we would have had at least 2 TOs and OU would have had 10 or more fewer points.

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This is a GREAT point. I noticed 3 on the replay that were sooooo close to being picked. All three I believe would later result in points. It’s also one reason I wanted CNS to score at the end. I realize he doesn’t care but it would have been a totally different lens had the final been 18 points instead of 11.



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Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Exceptionally good, exceeding your own high standard, Jess.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

IDK, I just think people are giving Clemson way too much credit for what was a mostly weak schedule. I just have this feeling that Bama is going to shock a lot of people with their dominance. I think the defense that gave up 500+ yards to USCe is going to have a hard time slowing down this Bama offense. Maybe it's just my crimson glasses but, that's how I feel.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Don't forget about our dynamic offense. One of college football's best ever when functioning 100%.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Ledsteplin said:

" If Alabama can keep Tagovailoa relatively unmolested...".
A lot of truth in this "if". I don't see any way for Clemson to stop Bama's offense, but to go full throttle after Tua. I think the OL giving Tua just a little time is crucial.

Nice write up Jess!

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I'm sure Clemson realizes we will try to attack through the air more than running into their meat-grinding DL, and fairly sure that we realize this too, though I'd still expect at least 15-20 combined carries from us. I hope we go out of our way to preserve Tua. I'm sure we'll see several quick slants, but they may be best served to roll him out and reestablish the pocket, pass more out of max-protect two TE/three wide sets, etc. I can just see Wilkins pounding him on a five-step drop during a developing route.

I also hope this game more than any other will push the staff to "take the restrictor plate off". We've seen flashes of brilliance all year long, but we've not been in a position to see a full game of it that he wasn't injured in. It feels like fans know that he has 500 just as well as 300 yards in him, but it would be nice to make a real run at seeing it happen, especially if the ultimate prize is riding on it.

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Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Thank you, Jess a great preview! We need to "affect" the QB as CNS says. He's obviously very talented but I don't think he's been hit a lot this year. We also need to shut Justyn Ross down just because. Renfroe is 35 years old now so hopefully he won't be a factor! RTR!

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Boy... I sure hope you're right!

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Jess, I haven’t commented all year but your overall breakdown is dramatically different than most pundits. First, there is nobody in the country outside of you apparently that believes Clemson’s RB’s are equal to much less better than Bama’s. I have no clue where that comes from as it’s not warranted under any conclusions. Second, Both lines Clemson’s vs. Bama’s O is a push at best for Clemson and vice versa there is no answer anywhere for QW! Bama’s receivers are so far ahead of likely any receiving unit in the nation it’s not even a contest, especially when you take into account Clemson’s DB’s. Clemson does have an intangible that makes them dangerous but without the real threat of a rushing QB that is a huge equalizer that benefits Bama.

Anyway, I like your score but how we get there with your breakdown doesn’t equate but I’ll take it! RDT!


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Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

Alanbama27 said:

Jess, I haven’t commented all year but your overall breakdown is dramatically different than most pundits. First, there is nobody in the country outside of you apparently that believes Clemson’s RB’s are equal to much less better than Bama’s. I have no clue where that comes from as it’s not warranted under any conclusions. Second, Both lines Clemson’s vs. Bama’s O is a push at best for Clemson and vice versa there is no answer anywhere for QW! Bama’s receivers are so far ahead of likely any receiving unit in the nation it’s not even a contest, especially when you take into account Clemson’s DB’s. Clemson does have an intangible that makes them dangerous but without the real threat of a rushing QB that is a huge equalizer that benefits Bama.

Anyway, I like your score but how we get there with your breakdown doesn’t equate but I’ll take it! RDT!


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Patently untrue. I've seen several pundits state the same.

Re: Clemson preview: Is this Tiger team more Clemson ’16 or Clemson ’17?

NationalTitles17 said:

Patently untrue. I've seen several pundits state the same.

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As have I. And, to be clear, their stats are incredible. But I think that Alabama can shut them down. That's all that matters.