Furmanoid wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 12:28 pm
I’ve rooted for them since the Red Parker times. I think you’re right that people don’t fully appreciate how crazy it is that Clemson is even in the top 10 every year let alone the top 4 after so many years when just beating Carolina was good enough. This year they were completely over rated and it was obvious from the first game. Their D line was freshmen and sophomores and just not strong enough. Venables had to try to hide it. The o line was just terrible. They had a top notch running back but had to use him as a receiver all year because they can’t run block. This was a rebuild year and they shouldn’t have been in the playoffs.
OSU had a game plan and practiced for all of Clemson's weaknesses. I watched the game again yesterday.
1. Clemson is over rated and do not play the caliber of teams needed to prepare them for a bigger opponent. Playing Notre Dame twice was their only real match up.
2. Fields is a quick and smart QB, Clemson has not had to defend that.
3. OSU knows that Clemson can adjust defense and steal signs (Venables is a master at this)
Their solution was to huddle on half the snaps and throw off any type of reads
I counted 4 times that the ball was set and Fields made an adjustment. Then Clemson would look to the sideline for a play call - Then Fields snapped, making the D-Line have a delayed response, every time a big play.