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TUESDAY CLEMSON FOOTBALL NUGGETS
By: Larry Williams
A few football-related thoughts and insights on a Tuesday of Boston College week:
-- This offense has been really good at answering.
At the 1:51 mark of the second quarter last Saturday, Death Valley was about to come unglued.
N.C. State had driven 75 yards for a touchdown, and the "drive" part was up for interpretation given that 30 of those yards came from penalties -- a targeting call that banished Andrew Mukuba to the sidelines, and a sketchy pass-interference call on R.J. Mickens.
The fans were losing their minds. It was looking like N.C. State would take a lead into the locker room. It was also looking like some fans were going to jump the wall and follow the refs into their own locker room and commit some criminal infractions.
Non-football-related & off topics forum
The offense trotted onto the field and promptly scooted right down the field for an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed a minute and 20 seconds.
Of course, the most eye-opening part of it was the sensational throw and catch from DJ Uiagalelei to Will Shipley that put the ball at the 1-yard line.
But if you take a step back and look at the big picture, it was a continuation of this offense showing it can answer scores by opposing offenses.
Clemson back Will Shipley has rushed for 413 yards (6.3 AVG) and seven touchdowns in five games. (AP)
This really wasn't a big question facing the offense entering the season for two reasons:
1) The defense was supposed to be frighteningly good, thereby not creating many situations where the offense faces pressure to respond;
2) The offense was supposed to be at such a rudimentary level after last year's pronounced decline that it seemed like too much to expect this group, in the first five games, to craft a reputation for immediate, cold-blooded answers to opposing scores.
Thinking back to the opener at Georgia Tech, the offense certainly didn't light it up that game. But things were looking certifiably dicey after Georgia Tech took its first possession of the second half for a touchdown to trim the margin to 14-10.
Here's what followed:
Clemson went 63 yards on 12 plays for a field goal, followed by a three-and-out for Georgia Tech, followed by a nine-play, 74-yard drive for a touchdown that made it a two-touchdown game.
The next week against Furman, the Paladins drove for a field goal to make it 7-3 halfway through the first quarter. The offense immediately went 75 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown.
Later in the game, Furman drove for a touchdown to make it 21-9 and there was real uneasiness in the stadium. The offense quickly drove 75 yards in nine plays for a touchdown.
And of course there were numerous responses at Wake Forest:
A 51-yard drive for a field goal after Wake trimmed it to 17-14;
A 75-yard drive for a touchdown and a two-point conversion after Wake went up 28-20;
Another 75-yard touchdown drive after Wake went up 35-28;
Moving the ball into B.T. Potter's range for a field goal after Wake went up 38-35;
And then the touchdown in the first overtime after Wake reached the end zone first, followed by another touchdown in the second overtime when Uiagalelei connected with Davis Allen.
You can tell so much about what a group of players is made of in these moments after they stand on the sideline and watch the other offense deliver a blow that threatens to swing everything in the other team's favor.
The ability and resolve to immediately snatch back that momentum is such a vital trait.
Through five games, that quality is very much in this offense's toolbox.
-- That night-game atmosphere was truly special.
A mere two years ago, it was reasonable to wonder whether we'd ever get back to the full experience of Death Valley at its best.
In 2020, a lot of folks got to experience the decidedly cheaper, far less time-consuming option of watching Clemson football from the couch. Many of them for the first time in a long time.
There were predictions that a significant number of these folks would like that option and wouldn't be back when everything returned to normal, assuming everything would return to normal.
Last night on Dabo Swinney's radio call-in show, host Don Munson observed that Saturday night was the first time post-COVID that everything felt back to normal.
A shot of Death Valley last Saturday prior to kickoff between Clemson and N.C. State. (AP)
Swinney countered that Saturday even surpassed anything that came before COVID. And it was hard to argue.
The added bells and whistles to the stadium, including of course the new video boards and thumping sound system whose low end appropriately rattles your rib cage, create the feel of a rock concert.
The fans followed orders and showed up early for the grand entrance down the hill. And beyond that, the place was full immediately after halftime.
We've said this plenty of times before, but take a moment to appreciate what you have. What we saw Saturday night is the envy of almost everyone else in college football.
Amid the trend of declining attendance as fans decide the couch option is more desirable, the magnetism of a game day at Clemson is truly priceless -- from the tailgating ritual that goes back generations, to the in-stadium experience that now has even more pop, flash and punch.
People feel like they have to be there. Now more than ever.
The "now more than ever" part is the most remarkable part.
-- The penalties, whoa.
In the last two games, Clemson has totaled 19 penalties for 215 yards.
Yeah, a month ago if we told you the infractions would be that plentiful in games against Wake Forest and N.C. State you'd have chalked up two losses.
This is definitely an area Swinney is hammering behind the scenes as he seeks to add cleaner execution to the complementary football the Tigers showed Saturday.
Clemson ranks 98th nationally in penalty yards per game (66). The national leader in fewest penalty yards is Michigan (26.8), and Boston College ranks 13th (39.4).
Last year the Tigers had 50.5 penalty yards per game.
Here's the rundown on that statistic over the Swinney era:
2022: 66
2021: 50.5
2020: 48.2
2019: 45.6
2018: 44.9
2017: 43.4
2016: 58
2015: 46.3
2014: 34.6
2013: 50.1
2012: 43.2
2011: 40.1
2010: 55.2
2009: 44.9
Yeah, this needs to get cleaned up.
NOW AVAILABLE: 2022 NIKE Pegasus Shoes in stock at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
TUESDAY CLEMSON FOOTBALL NUGGETS
By: Larry Williams
A few football-related thoughts and insights on a Tuesday of Boston College week:
-- This offense has been really good at answering.
At the 1:51 mark of the second quarter last Saturday, Death Valley was about to come unglued.
N.C. State had driven 75 yards for a touchdown, and the "drive" part was up for interpretation given that 30 of those yards came from penalties -- a targeting call that banished Andrew Mukuba to the sidelines, and a sketchy pass-interference call on R.J. Mickens.
The fans were losing their minds. It was looking like N.C. State would take a lead into the locker room. It was also looking like some fans were going to jump the wall and follow the refs into their own locker room and commit some criminal infractions.
Non-football-related & off topics forum
The offense trotted onto the field and promptly scooted right down the field for an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed a minute and 20 seconds.
Of course, the most eye-opening part of it was the sensational throw and catch from DJ Uiagalelei to Will Shipley that put the ball at the 1-yard line.
But if you take a step back and look at the big picture, it was a continuation of this offense showing it can answer scores by opposing offenses.
Clemson back Will Shipley has rushed for 413 yards (6.3 AVG) and seven touchdowns in five games. (AP)
This really wasn't a big question facing the offense entering the season for two reasons:
1) The defense was supposed to be frighteningly good, thereby not creating many situations where the offense faces pressure to respond;
2) The offense was supposed to be at such a rudimentary level after last year's pronounced decline that it seemed like too much to expect this group, in the first five games, to craft a reputation for immediate, cold-blooded answers to opposing scores.
Thinking back to the opener at Georgia Tech, the offense certainly didn't light it up that game. But things were looking certifiably dicey after Georgia Tech took its first possession of the second half for a touchdown to trim the margin to 14-10.
Here's what followed:
Clemson went 63 yards on 12 plays for a field goal, followed by a three-and-out for Georgia Tech, followed by a nine-play, 74-yard drive for a touchdown that made it a two-touchdown game.
The next week against Furman, the Paladins drove for a field goal to make it 7-3 halfway through the first quarter. The offense immediately went 75 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown.
Later in the game, Furman drove for a touchdown to make it 21-9 and there was real uneasiness in the stadium. The offense quickly drove 75 yards in nine plays for a touchdown.
And of course there were numerous responses at Wake Forest:
A 51-yard drive for a field goal after Wake trimmed it to 17-14;
A 75-yard drive for a touchdown and a two-point conversion after Wake went up 28-20;
Another 75-yard touchdown drive after Wake went up 35-28;
Moving the ball into B.T. Potter's range for a field goal after Wake went up 38-35;
And then the touchdown in the first overtime after Wake reached the end zone first, followed by another touchdown in the second overtime when Uiagalelei connected with Davis Allen.
You can tell so much about what a group of players is made of in these moments after they stand on the sideline and watch the other offense deliver a blow that threatens to swing everything in the other team's favor.
The ability and resolve to immediately snatch back that momentum is such a vital trait.
Through five games, that quality is very much in this offense's toolbox.
-- That night-game atmosphere was truly special.
A mere two years ago, it was reasonable to wonder whether we'd ever get back to the full experience of Death Valley at its best.
In 2020, a lot of folks got to experience the decidedly cheaper, far less time-consuming option of watching Clemson football from the couch. Many of them for the first time in a long time.
There were predictions that a significant number of these folks would like that option and wouldn't be back when everything returned to normal, assuming everything would return to normal.
Last night on Dabo Swinney's radio call-in show, host Don Munson observed that Saturday night was the first time post-COVID that everything felt back to normal.
A shot of Death Valley last Saturday prior to kickoff between Clemson and N.C. State. (AP)
Swinney countered that Saturday even surpassed anything that came before COVID. And it was hard to argue.
The added bells and whistles to the stadium, including of course the new video boards and thumping sound system whose low end appropriately rattles your rib cage, create the feel of a rock concert.
The fans followed orders and showed up early for the grand entrance down the hill. And beyond that, the place was full immediately after halftime.
We've said this plenty of times before, but take a moment to appreciate what you have. What we saw Saturday night is the envy of almost everyone else in college football.
Amid the trend of declining attendance as fans decide the couch option is more desirable, the magnetism of a game day at Clemson is truly priceless -- from the tailgating ritual that goes back generations, to the in-stadium experience that now has even more pop, flash and punch.
People feel like they have to be there. Now more than ever.
The "now more than ever" part is the most remarkable part.
-- The penalties, whoa.
In the last two games, Clemson has totaled 19 penalties for 215 yards.
Yeah, a month ago if we told you the infractions would be that plentiful in games against Wake Forest and N.C. State you'd have chalked up two losses.
This is definitely an area Swinney is hammering behind the scenes as he seeks to add cleaner execution to the complementary football the Tigers showed Saturday.
Clemson ranks 98th nationally in penalty yards per game (66). The national leader in fewest penalty yards is Michigan (26.8), and Boston College ranks 13th (39.4).
Last year the Tigers had 50.5 penalty yards per game.
Here's the rundown on that statistic over the Swinney era:
2022: 66
2021: 50.5
2020: 48.2
2019: 45.6
2018: 44.9
2017: 43.4
2016: 58
2015: 46.3
2014: 34.6
2013: 50.1
2012: 43.2
2011: 40.1
2010: 55.2
2009: 44.9
Yeah, this needs to get cleaned up.
NOW AVAILABLE: 2022 NIKE Pegasus Shoes in stock at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
