Let the pontificating begin!!
The Good (amazingly optimistic):
• The entire teams ability to adjust at the half.
• The defenses inability to tire. Seriously, they had to have been cursing CJ and Jacoby after they ripped off those huge TD runs and sent the D back on the field after only a few breaths. And then the D would tear up the Tech offense all over.
• DeAndre McDaniel!! Period, nuff said.
• Bamberg bookends. Not really that much opportunity to make sacks but when you have them on the ends and a QB who is afraid to throw the ball, all they can do is try to pound it down the lines throats.
• Kyle Parker’s overall ability to get back in the game after a rough start in a hostile environment.
• CJ Spiller’s amazing performance as a leader. He was obviously gassed and you could see him motioning to the coaches to leave him in. That may or may not have cost a TD, but CJ is determined to lead this team through all 4 quarters.
• Dwayne Allen’s hands. Yes, that was a TE that made the grab in the end zone for the second score of the Tigers 24-0 run.
• Hey Jacoby can catch! (see last of The Bad for retort.
• No fumbles or INT’s……I don’t think
• Richard “Boom Boom” Jackson’s 53 yard FG…..holy crap, that had 10 more yards on it. (almost made up for that horrible pooch kick)
The Bad (ahhh more like it):
• Kyle Parker’s close calls. 2 missed INT’s from him trying to thread the needle and a couple of floaters to Jacoby that he luckily received.
• Parker’s obvious love affair with the sideline passes. OK, you can lead your receiver but at least make it humanly possible to catch the ball.
• Not sure wearing all purple to GT on a Thursday night was the best idea. Yeah it might have pumped the team up to the “remember last time we played GT on a Thursday night”, but GT probably remembered as well. And yes, that game still lives in infamy for the most awesome juke I have ever witnessed in person.
• The 1st half. Were they not prepared? Was it the freshman jitters for Parker? Whatever the hell it was, I hope it s over.
• Hey Jacoby was the only one catching the ball!
The outright WTF-OMG-I need to drink more to cope with this-Ugly:
• Fake FG / Punt: Seriously…..seriously!!!
• Fake FG coverage. In case you missed it….that was out of Clemson’s playbook. No seriously, the boys over at Block-C even recalled it in a GT blog post. SEEEEEEE!!!!
• CJ passing…..this isn’t UVA. Once again…..mentioned in previous blog post.
• Officiating on both sides of the ball. It was like they would make a bad call and then try to make it up with another bad call on the other side of the ball. Both teams got screwed with that group.
• Punting….honestly, we have a scholarship player who averages 31 yards? And they aren’t lofting time consuming 31 yard punts either.
In the end, I am not sure who should have won that game. Tech seemed to have a play book that Clemson figured out in the second half and rattled the QB enough to keep the game on the ground. Tech also had some lucky turns of their own with the fake FG coverage on both sides of the ball. On the other hand, Clemson just had some lucky breaks. From Jacoby’s longest TD reception of his career to CJ breaking one off for the score. I think this early game against a tough opponent will be a help rather than a hindrance. The rebound from this game will be interesting to watch but I believe that Swinney has a motivational building block to work with. I do not believe in “moral victories” but this was one inspiring game to watch as a team that looked completely outmatched, regrouped, rallied and almost won. As for GT, well…..I think that defenses down the road might have a game plan now.
Oh yeah….and the Bowdenism of the day is “we were one play from blah blah blah” just pick your play. Bad fake FG/punt, bad coverage on fake FG, holding penalty on what could have been go ahead FG positioning with Jacoby’s catch…….
I think we just watched our freshman QB jell with his team. You have to give it to GT. They were up against one of the the best D’s and managed to overcome them.
I now believe we a lot better than I thought. I really hope we get to play them again this year, but we’ll see.
Well I’ve now calmed down a little bit.
The box score lists 2 INTs. The first was on Clemson’s 4th possession. That pass was tipped up by Ashe. The 2nd was on Clemson’s 7th possession, but I don’t remember the circumstances.
It was a crazy game and it was good to see the team fight back.
- I was really glad to see Jackson make that long field goal; I thought for sure he’d be a headcase after he screwed up that pooch punt.
- It seemed like Parker lost his poise after the holding call on Clemson’s 2nd to last possession, which put them in 3rd & 21.
- On GTs last scoring drive, Nesbitt hit Thomas on 3&11 with just under two minutes left. They only showed the replay once, but I could swear that the ball wasn’t in Thomas’s hands when he hit the ground. He may have squeezed it between his calves or something, but I wasn’t sure if he had possession and I wanted a replay.
yeah, the GT / Chris Chancellor game endings are getting old already! post edited to include Jackson’s kick.
Tech’s been Bowden’d. Too nice….LOL.
I was at the game and had lost all hope very quickly, but the fight that the team had is something I haven’t seen from a Bowden squad. It was incredible being one of a few people cheering our asses off in an otherwise stunned crowd. It sucks to lose, but I can finally say I have a renewed sense of hope for the program. Go tigers!!!