Solid write up. I disagree on the 4th down call in the first half. Kicking for points was the right call especially knowing that Des was calling the play. Iāve basically lost all faith in his ability to call a smart game.
I just donāt think there was ever a situation where getting 3 on the board was beating Clemson. If you pin them at the 3 so be it to start the next drive. Those kind of gambles I like when trying to pull the major upset.
I get the logic. Theres something to be said for the mental aspect getting the points ans keeping it tied I believe can help build the confidence of a team that struggles in that department.
Im also sure theres a hangover affect from goinf for it last week ans miasing it. I know it changed my view.
Im all for agression but i think there were other opportunities Id like to see that applied.
In any other circumstance I completely agree with you, but as Dragon alluded to I donāt see how you can have faith in Des to make the right playcall to convert there. Heās proven time and time again he just doesnāt know what heās doing in the red zone.
Clemsonsās offense (specifically Klubnik) was awful early, so agreed we should have been more aggressive there. Kicking is right in normal circumstances but when youāre a 3 score dog, gotta take chances early.
Yeah thatās pretty much where Iām coming from here. And I wonder how the game wouldāve turned had Jackson and Clary been able to goā¦ Clemson still wouldāve worn them down but I was actually more encouraged coming away from that.
And yeah itās all situational. Last week, I wouldāve much rather they kicked it when they went for it. Difference was they had a fair shot at winning that game and couldāve used the points. In this one, if you put faith in AC to make a play and he pulls it off team confidence wouldāve been through the roof.
My hope is this loss will pay dividends next week and beyond. Itās the kind of loss that can be really productive from a film room/coaching perspective. We can (and frankly should) beat Carolina
Oh 100%. Also, line is Hoos -5 this week. Iām interested to see where they go from here. While UNC is probably the last time theyāll be favored this year I think thereās opportunity for more wins. But they canāt beat themselves or outsmart themselves.
Carolina is a must win, thatās pretty evident but you lose that one and the season is really at risk of spiraling.
Just projecting the rest of the scheduleā¦ UNC should win. Iāve gone back and forth on SMU this year. Started at no chance then watched them play twice and thought weād beat them, now Iām not very confident in it. Pitt and ND both kinda the same, one maybe more likely than the other. And 0 faith in anything relating to the last game on the schedule. Thereās still a chance at 7 wins but Iām not overly confident in that anymore.
I was in a situation like this omce as a coach and the way I looked at it and most coaches will is 1 week at a time take the names off the schedule. You have 5 weeks 5 games and need 2 wins. Show up each day and punch it cause it will pay off.
UNC is the obvious first and best opportunity. I think the Hoos take care of business there. Given how the team has played i think they steal that second win somewhere along the way.
I agree with this. My bigger curiosity is can they get to 7
Depends on how they get to 6 but i think its possible.
They arent going to face another Clemson again. ND is humming so probably the longest odds. Everyone is at least a team they can hang with for some length.
Game went about as I expected. Only annoyances were the handful of major pass coverage breakdowns and McDonald having some surpisingly large struggles a few times.
At least we cost a bunch of Clemson bettors some money.
Am puzzled by the lack of PT for Dre Walker, who I thought had a solid first year. Jam Jackson I donāt dislike as much as others in the fanbase but heās not really #1 corner material, and Shine/Smith have been decent albeit unspectacular. Would like to see Walker get some more opportunities.
Heās hurt.
I see that now, somehow missed it.
Shine / smith have been way better than Jackson. Thereās a reason theyāre targeted less than Jackson.
Seems Jackson is the guy every team targets and attacks. Run and Pass
At the same time Jackson is generally covering the #1 WR from opposing teams. Again I donāt think heās necessarily been good or the ideal player for that role, but heās also drawing the toughest matchups every game.