Early thoughts on Clemson

[ClemsonFan89]

Tua's sack was on a busted play if I remember, ball went to the opposite side of the RB, not sure who was wrong. That's the only negative play that I remember.

I agree with the logic that you cant go by the georgia game. Tua was hurting pretty bad that game. He is an outstanding QB and his deep ball spooks me. JH is a good QB as well so I hate using him like this but the fact you could see such a huge swing in the game when he came out shows how bad Tua was off that day. As a Clemson fan I am worried about our O line again this year. I believe Clemson can give a good game if they play their best but I do believe that Bama has the edge in this game. I can promise you Saban isn't underestimating TL and will be bringing pressure right out of the gate. He will also keep his safeties back and dare us to run the ball. The O line will be the game changer. We will know pretty quick if we can hang with them.

 

[CrimsonForce]

I honestly think the games honestly comes down to this - can we stop those back shoulder throws and jump balls to Higgins and Ross? We could not stop Mike Williams from catching back shoulder and 50/50 balls in 2017 or we would have won. Our coaches have to be prepared for the back shoulder pass because that's Clemson's bread and butter on 3rd and long and in the red area and has been for years. It's not all on the secondary as the defensive line can impact those plays but the back shoulders passes are typically out very quickly and generally work against man to man coverage which we use frequently..

 

[B1GTide]

I honestly think the games honestly comes down to this - can we stop those back shoulder throws and jump balls to Higgins and Ross? We could not stop Mike Williams from catching back shoulder and 50/50 balls in 2017 or we would have won. Our coaches have to be prepared for the back shoulder pass because that's Clemson's bread and butter on 3rd and long and in the red area and has been for years. It's not all on the secondary as the defensive line can impact those plays but the back shoulders passes are typically out very quickly and generally work against man to man coverage which we use frequently..

If you had Tua at QB in 2017, you win by 20+.

 

[TideFan in AU]

They're also a better team now than they were when they played Notre Dame, and you're kinda ignoring the fact that Lawrence got knocked out by Syracuse in the first half with a concussion.



Georgia couldn't even beat LSU by 2 TDs.

They instead lost to them by 3.





the good thing is that, well, we will see.

UGA and Clemson had 2 common opponents, GT and USCe. The games with GT were a wash (almost identical scores) but UGA dominated USCe and Clemson beat them in a shootout while giving up 35 points and 510 yards passing.

UGA is a young team, and they got better as the season went along too, just like Clemson did. In fact, their loss to LSU woke them up a lot like our loss to OM did in 2015.

No one can say for sure if Clemson is better than UGA, but UGA losing in Death Valley doesn't really prove it one way or another. Lawrence has never faced a secondary anywhere close to the level of talent of LSU's secondary in his young career.

All that said, I think UGA and Clemson would be a dog fight, which also tells me Clemson is fully capable of playing us very closely and are capable of beating us. We are going to have to be focused and play really well to beat them.

 

[92tide]

If you had Tua at QB in 2017, you win by 20+.

if we had an acting oc that was more exciting than a department store mannequin, we would have won, just not by as much

 

[CrimsonForce]

If you had Tua at QB in 2017, you win by 20+.

Absolutely, but I think we all agree that the Alabama defense this year is a small step back from last year. Then take into account the Trevor Lawrence is a pretty big upgrade from Kelly Bryant and I think the game comes down to a few plays. I don't think Clemson will run on us so we have to be prepared to stop the back shoulder throws..

 

[trenda]

Well, the fake punt was a great call

And resulted in a 2 TD turnaround . . . (to help you out, when you see something posted in blue font here, it's sarcasm)

Those that watched the game understand that the game was actually tied when they tried the fake punt. The fact that we outscored GA 21-7 in the second half just had to be all due to bad play calls on Georgia's part, right?????

 

[jashleyren2]

Personally, I believe Clemson's path to competing with Alabama will be similar to how we started against OU: keep Bama's offense off the field. They will follow the gameplan that UGA had, which is to complete the easy passes, and use the edges to run. No point in trying to run up the middle on Alabama. Many have tried, for years, and all have failed. But, that speed to the outside is a nemesis for us. And then, complete those short to intermediate passes. They won't challenge our safety and corner positions a lot early. I say, spread the defense across the field, and only put 1 guy back to handle those deep routes, to begin with. IF we can get out to a lead, then you can adjust.

But they are going to follow what UGA did to a tee. And, unlike OU, they CAN and WILL put pressure on our QB position. I mix that up on them with some Jalen playing some snaps from shotgun. We showed some stuff early against OU that can beat ANYONE, and really, no one can defend.

 

[TideFan in AU]

I agree with the logic that you cant go by the georgia game. Tua was hurting pretty bad that game. He is an outstanding QB and his deep ball spooks me. JH is a good QB as well so I hate using him like this but the fact you could see such a huge swing in the game when he came out shows how bad Tua was off that day. As a Clemson fan I am worried about our O line again this year. I believe Clemson can give a good game if they play their best but I do believe that Bama has the edge in this game. I can promise you Saban isn't underestimating TL and will be bringing pressure right out of the gate. He will also keep his safeties back and dare us to run the ball. The O line will be the game changer. We will know pretty quick if we can hang with them.

Good post. My fear with Clemson is that if they can stall out our offense and keep the game close throughout, you guys can continue to run the ball, and you run it very well. That's what happened with UGA. If Bama can start fast and get a big lead to where Clemson has to start pretty much exclusively throwing the ball, I like our chances. As good as Lawrence is, the plan will try to make Clemson one dimensional and put all the pressure on him on the biggest stage of his career. If the game stays close throughout, it could be a toss up I think.

 

[TideEngineer08]

I agree with the logic that you cant go by the georgia game. Tua was hurting pretty bad that game. He is an outstanding QB and his deep ball spooks me. JH is a good QB as well so I hate using him like this but the fact you could see such a huge swing in the game when he came out shows how bad Tua was off that day. As a Clemson fan I am worried about our O line again this year. I believe Clemson can give a good game if they play their best but I do believe that Bama has the edge in this game. I can promise you Saban isn't underestimating TL and will be bringing pressure right out of the gate. He will also keep his safeties back and dare us to run the ball. The O line will be the game changer. We will know pretty quick if we can hang with them.

Tua was coming around before his second ankle injury knocked him out of the game. On his last 9 passes he had gone 6-9 for 109 yards and a TD. I think we ultimately still win if Tua goes the distance, but Jalen certainly was on fire from the mo,ent he entered the game.

 

[B1GTide]

Personally, I believe Clemson's path to competing with Alabama will be similar to how we started against OU: keep Bama's offense off the field. They will follow the gameplan that UGA had, which is to complete the easy passes, and use the edges to run. No point in trying to run up the middle on Alabama. Many have tried, for years, and all have failed. But, that speed to the outside is a nemesis for us. And then, complete those short to intermediate passes. They won't challenge our safety and corner positions a lot early. I say, spread the defense across the field, and only put 1 guy back to handle those deep routes, to begin with. IF we can get out to a lead, then you can adjust.

But they are going to follow what UGA did to a tee. And, unlike OU, they CAN and WILL put pressure on our QB position. I mix that up on them with some Jalen playing some snaps from shotgun. We showed some stuff early against OU that can beat ANYONE, and really, no one can defend.

GA has speed RBs who can push the edge. Clemson has Fournette type RBs, built to run between the tackles. IMO, that really helps Alabama.

 

[jashleyren2]

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).

Yeah, it's a bit over-presumptious to call him the best ever. He is good. When healthy, he's lethal. I do think Clemson is solid in all years, better than last year even. But, the common denominator is having to play Alabama for a 4th straight year. We have just never seen such a dominant team, even considering Alabama's long history. Clemson IS the best team Alabama will have faced this year. 100%. UGA is very close as well, but I would think Clemson would beat UGA by a very slim margin in a head to head.

There is a reason both teams are 14-0. They are the best two teams throughout college football, and 30% of the NFL

 

[37bamagreats55]

I predict a low scoring (relatively speaking) dog fight.


Clemson's D is legit. While we've seen teams similar this year, they are every bit as good as some of those teams. Their "O" is very solid with a lot of weapons. I do think it helps that while Lawrence can scramble when he has to, it's not something he does a ton of. Pressure from our defensive line will be critical to victory.


I'm predicting Bama 24 - Clemson 20


Roll Tide

 

[jashleyren2]

GA has speed RBs who can push the edge. Clemson has Fournette type RBs, built to run between the tackles. IMO, that really helps Alabama.

Great point. I mentioned that I think Clemson will attack the edges, because that's what UGA did to great success. But Clemson RB's are not what UGA has. Still, I think their gameplan on offense and defense will be to mimick what UGA did. UGA is the best team Alabama has faced until next Monday. In a head to head, I think Clemson would beat them, by a nail.

 

[CrimsonForce]

GA has speed RBs who can push the edge. Clemson has Fournette type RBs, built to run between the tackles. IMO, that really helps Alabama.

Travis Etienne is 5-11, 200 lbs and runs a 4.40 40 yard dash. I'm not sure about the RBs behind him but Etienne is a burner and he's their starter. 190 carries on the year for 1,573 yards and 22 TDs. Average YPC of 8.3 yards. I would definitely call him a speed back..

 

[B1GTide]

Travis Etienne is 5-11, 200 lbs and runs a 4.40 40 yard dash. I'm not sure about the RBs behind him but Etienne is a burner and he's their starter. 190 carries on the year for 1,573 yards and 22 TDs. Average YPC of 8.3 yards. I would definitely call him a speed back..

He is not the type of RB who gives Alabama problems, but I'm not telling you that you can't or shouldn't worry abut him.

ETA - The GA guys who have killed Alabama were not straight line speed fast. They were guys who made you miss. Example is Sony Michel. He gave Alabama fits last year and is doing the same in the NFL this year. But he ran a 4.54 40 in the combine.

Also, Michel is a beast as a receiver out of the backfield - Etienne has 11 total receptions on the year.

 

[JDTide]

GA has speed RBs who can push the edge. Clemson has Fournette type RBs, built to run between the tackles. IMO, that really helps Alabama.

Whether Etiene is a speed RB or between the tackles RB, he is the RB in Clemson's offense. Etienne has three times as many touches as the next RB (Dixon). And Dixon has fewer touches than Bama's Brian Robinson. Texas A&M held Etienne to 58 yards. My point is that if eliminating the run and forcing Lawrence to carry the load is the strategy, the focus will be on Etienne and not a stable full of running backs.

 

[CrimsonForce]

He is not the type of RB who gives Alabama problems, but I'm not telling you that you can't or shouldn't worry abut him.

TBH, there really isn't a style of RB who gives Alabama problems. It's all about the LOS battle. In the game you referenced with Fournette; if Henry and Fournette switched teams for the game the stats would have been flipped. Fournette wasn't the problem in that game it was that we whipped LSU at the LOS.

If Clemson creates a seam for Etienne or Moses / Wilson make a wrong read and fill the wrong gap then Etienne can take it to the house. I agree that it will take mental error or missed assignment for that to happen but Etienne is a dangerous back. Definitely would categorize him as a speed back more so than a power back. Maybe I haven't watched enough Clemson but that's my impression of him. You could be right though..

 

[bamacpa]

Etienne broke long TD runs on seemingly every Clemson highlight I saw this year. Our LBs need to be in the right gaps, which has been an issue at times.


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[BamaInBham]

Clemson's DL is a little deeper than Bama's.

Clemson's OL does not compare to UGA's. It is not a strong unit. Bama's OL is very good.

Clemson's WR's are good but Bama's receiving corps, including TE and RBs, is the best in college football.

Bama's secondary is good not great but better than Clemson's.

Tua is better than a very good TL.

Anything can happen and Clemson can certainly win, especially if a QB gets hot, but Bama has the better team except for the aforementioned depth on the DL; but that is overcome by a better OL.