Live Updates: #15 South Carolina at #12 Clemson
- Thread starter Caleb Alexander
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This is the first halftime tie in the series in 32 years. I'll have some halftime thoughts shortly. Quick look around the country: Vandy and TN are now tied at 17. Feels like the Vols have settled in a bit. Michigan leads Ohio State 10-3 with about 2 min before half (don't know if OSU could actually get knocked out at this point, but does it hurt Indiana's SOS even more?)
Halftime thoughts: 1. You've done a decent job run blocking thus far with 107 first half rushing yards, though 51 of them came on Sellers scrambles. The pass protection has been terrible in any obvious situations. You'll need to keep calling some PA or off-script passes earlier in the rotation if you hope to make some big plays through the air, but of course that then leaves you open for 3rd and longs that put you back in a bad situation, bit of a catch-22 there. I'll be interested if they try to do a bit more of the "diamond" formation or bring in a H-back sort of look to add an extra blocker there. You should still have the numbers on the back-end when they blitz, which has been about 95% of the time on 3rd and long.
2. Defensively you're holding up fine. The majority of Clemson's success has just been some exceptional ball skills from their WRs, and almost exclusively against Collier (who I think is as solid as they come mentally, and has put himself in position, just wonder if Swain's athleticism isn't the better fit if they are going to keep throwing jump balls). The thing that has surprised me is South Carolina's inability to create much pass rush. Clemson gave up 9 sacks in their last two ACC contests combined, but the Gamecocks have hardly threatened so far today. You need to get Klubnik to make some bad decisions, which he nearly did the one time you got to him on the final drive before the half, and I have a hard time seeing South Carolina winning this game without at least a couple of sacks and perhaps a turnover.
3. Shoutout to Kai Kroeger. 4 punts. Averaging 48 yards per punt. Had dropped 3/4 inside the 20, and also has a 58 yard punt today. His ability to flip the field is a big part of why Clemson hasn't been more successful offensively despite putting up 228 first half yards.
1a. I do think you need to consider making a change at RT. I think Henry is availing himself well in run blocking and he's obviously a veteran, but I just think he's getting out-athleted on the edge and you have Tree and Josiah who might be able to take that first step a bit quicker in whatever order you want to put them at each tackle spot. Maybe Henry steps up in the 2nd half and this seems like a silly note, but it's my armchair OC opinion.
We say it every single week, but first drive of the second half is going to be crucial. Feels like you need to get a stop just to stay in the thick of things. You're not playing well enough offensively to just count on going point for point with them right now.
I'm also not convinced you can win this without forcing a turnover. We said -1 was the absolute limit you could beat in the turnover battle to have a chance here, and I still think that's true. Can you win this if turnovers are even in the second half, though?
That's just a lapse in judgement. Mafah on the sideline, Klubnik is the best runner out there, and he has a wide open draw play for about 15 yards
Should be 1st and 10 from the Gamecock 25 after the break. Need to buckle down and hold them to three here.
Mafah back out there. Left shoulder injury according to the broadcast, but he's going to try to gut it out
I know I said on the podcast the other day that you could probably cover Klubnik's with your base defense, but if you're in man-to-man on the back end you need to spy him. Zone, sure whatever, but that's twice now he's cleared out the LBs in pass coverage and taken off
Gamecocks take over on their own 25 and badly need a spark. Feels like all Clemson at the moment
Good call in that situation there. Sellers finds Jared brown on a wheel route along the sideline for 22 yards and 1st down over midfield
Bad angle here, yes. Anyway, get a stop here or it feels like it's probably curtains.
Good to see you! We have one every week on the Insider's Forum for premium subscribersElectricalCock89 said:
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