Clemson analysis -- Bama had to play the perfect game
- Thread starter Bama1985
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The biggest thing they should be able to take from the NC game is they hung with us in the trenches. Most games are won at the LOS and that's the way we are used to winning games. To their credit, in this game, they were up to the task.
Now, the big question is could they play our SEC schedule and do this all season and still do it in the end of the season??? I'd say probably not, but the good news for them is they don't have to since they are in the ACC.
We know we didn't play our best game. It seems they played closer to their ultimate potential in this game and it still wasn't enough, but there are plenty of positives that they can take from this game.
They are just being typical fans and looking at it in the most positive way they can see it.
Now, the big question is could they play our SEC schedule and do this all season and still do it in the end of the season??? I'd say probably not, but the good news for them is they don't have to since they are in the ACC.
We know we didn't play our best game. It seems they played closer to their ultimate potential in this game and it still wasn't enough, but there are plenty of positives that they can take from this game.
They are just being typical fans and looking at it in the most positive way they can see it.
I watched a very familiar game of once again an outstanding dual pass, run qb, destroyed our defense with speed, and enough time to pick our secondary consistently. no fault to the secondary when we play man to man and their backs to the offense depending on front seven defense to take care of business. they featured a two back backfield with excellent talent to confuse. there were gaping slants available to Watson. he took his time and got over 5 yards each time. amazing. thank goodness our offense, special teams was up to the task. the most complete offensive, special teams game this year. I expect Clemson to be nr. one 2016, returning almost the whole team, and being in the acc. Alabama may lose 2 or 3 games next year, unless, the improve the off line immensely, find a rb, and a qb.
My analysis - Clemson was a lot better than anyone thought, but Alabama won the game anyway. Football is a great sport made even better when the best teams get to play one another for all the marbles at the end of a season like this year. Nitpicking either team's performance only spoils that magic for me.
We played a perfect game and allowed 40 points?
If you want some laughs, read the thread about hotels for their game against the barn. It will make you appreciate their fans.
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If you want some laughs, read the thread about hotels for their game against the barn. It will make you appreciate their fans.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Also, just as Stewart turned for the short pass, Howard made like he was getting ready to block--then broke upfield. I've been screaming all season that faking the short pass would be an easy TD.
Howard's second TD was a corner post--the same pattern that Coop torched Auburn with the year before. A head fake to the outside, then break inside. It's just unfair that a TE could execute it so well. The CB stumbled a bit trying to come out of his backpedal and that was all she wrote.
I look at it this way--Clemson neutralized Ridley. Apart from the one long run, they contained Henry. They kept our defense off balance. And in that situation--with arguably our three greatest strengths neutralized, other players stepped up--Howard with the game of his life, Drake with the play of his life.
agreed.
but i do have to say, apart from the long run, henry still had 100+ yards and 2 tds, so contain may not be the best word to use
A lot of folks said the same thing about Ohio State last year. They had enough talent to demolish every one in their path...including Clemson...but repeating is not as easy or as likely as it often seems.
Yah, anyone suggesting Bama is going to lose three games is either a tiger (pick one) in disguise or, at best, a casual fan. Bama has lost three games ONCE in the last eight seasons - I don't expect to see that happen again any time soon...
I agree - playing a weaker schedule only means that we really don't know how good (or bad) that team might be. A weak schedule is not proof that a team is weak or lucky to be undefeated. Sometimes really talented teams play in weak conferences. I think that Clemson would have done very well in any conference this year. My only caveat is their depth. They would have needed injury luck to survive an SEC schedule undefeated. Their starters were as good as any, but not their backup players. Still, some teams make it through the SEC without injuries, so it is possible.
I actually think our 2nd TD throw to Howard was a "weird" alignment for executing a four verticals call. We were in a shotgun trips to the field side with the tailback lined up beside Coker to the weak side. Late, right before the snap, Drake motioned over to the strong side (the same side as Howard on the offense's left in this instance). All four of the WRs+TE went up field vertically while Drake ran an aggressive wheel route up the boundary's sideline. The addition of Drake going vertical off a wheel route, got the defense in a situation where their cover-1 robber look was creased. They go with Howard, that throw is probably going to Drake instead. What happened, all the coverage jumped on Drake which I have to assume was because the late formation shift caused the hand offs in responsibility to not be declared.
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I'm sorry for stating the obvious, but if Bama had played anywhere close to a perfect game then Clemson might be reevaluating their entire football program at this time. Bama's execution at times in some areas was abysmal, but sheer will and determination (along with a boatload of talented players and coaching) helped to overcome those deficiencies. That's not a knock on anyone, but saying they played a perfect game and had to in order to win is almost an insult. No, they just had to get back up and overcome their mistakes and did a far better job at that than Clemson did.
I thought the same thing. Ask Michigan State and LSU what a perfect game by Alabama feels like.
With the obvious exception of Special Teams, I actually thought Clemson played dang near perfect ball...especially Watson. On a couple of his TD passes, we actually had good coverage. He just placed the ball perfectly. No way to defend that. All you can do is tip your hat.
Jake does an EXCELLENT job of looking off the receiver on this play. He stares down Stewart on the short route, all the while creating time for OJ to burn the corner up the sideline. I was hoping Herbie would point that out during the game because he was so critical of Jake staring down receivers early in the season.
Count me as thinking they tried to slight us by saying "we had to play the perfect game" to beat them. Like has been mentioned if we did play our "perfect game" they would have been stomped. I thought we were kind of flat all night honestly, and didn't play with the intensity we had against Michigan State.
