Assessing Thursday's debacle
Posted 12:24 a.m., October 10, 2008
The worst part of this defeat?
It HAS to be that Clemson unloaded its offensive playbook and got seven points.
Seven points.
Hard to believe, isn't it?
Seven points from the crew that comprises Cullen Harper, James Davis, C.J. Spiller, Aaron Kelly and Jacoby Ford.
To be fair, Spiller sat after suffering a leg injury halfway through the second quarter.
But it's not like the offense was roaring up and down the field with him in the game.
The tantalizing question for the Tigers' offensive coaches right now is, where in the world do they go from here?
To their credit, they tried plenty tonight (or last night -- whatever). I think there should be plenty of second-guessing about the plays they called when they did -- fake punt on fourth-and-1? Zero imagination on the opening drive? -- but at least offensive coordinator Rob Spence came out of his shell and ordered more downfield throws, not to mention bringing back the dropback play-action passing game.
Injuries have played a role this season, and they certainly did tonight -- particularly on the offensive line. But there is just something not right about the way this offense is executing right now, and about the body language we're seeing from some guys who are supposed to be leaders.
Clemson's offense, boasting a bevy of dazzling skill players, has now scored seven points in its past six quarters.
Clemson totaled 198 yards of offense, including 21 yards rushing on 23 carries. A 70-yard touchdown drive late in the third quarter wasn't enough after Wake Forest kicked a field goal and then reached the end zone on a 15-play, 78-yard drive that received a huge boost from a third-and-24 conversion.
"We tried everything," said Tommy Bowden, whose team plays host to Georgia Tech next week. "We just couldn't develop anything, any continuity. We sure tried everything we had."
Both Bowden and offensive coordinator Rob Spence said injuries played a role, but the Tigers' offense still looked inept over prolonged stretches.
After four possessions, the Tigers had minus-11 yards of total offense. When Clemson finally notched a first down at the 6:55 mark of the first half, the orange-clad contingent rose and delivered a sarcastic standing ovation.
"I don't understand right now, OK?" Spence said. "I don't know. It's something we've got to keep working on."
-- With 10:33 left in the fourth quarter, the Tigers defense, which had a stellar goal-line stand in the opening quarter, had held Wake Forest to just 238 yards of total offense and zero touchdowns.
But the Tigers could do little to stop the Deacons on their 15 play, 78-yard
game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner was six of nine for 68 yards during
the drive, including the game-winning 7-yard TD toss to D.J. Boldin.
Skinner was especially effective on third down, completing 3 of 3 passes for
44 yards, including a 28-yard strike to Boldin on a 3rd-and-24 play for the
Wake Forest 8.
“That third-down play killed us,” said Clemson cornerback Chris Chancellor. “They just made a play and we didn’t. We should never let an offense drive the length of the field on us. That shouldn’t happen.”
Bowden didn’t think the Tigers defense was worn down at that point in the game.
“They converted that 3rd-and-24 and obviously that was a huge play in the
game,” he said. “I don’t think we got worn down. I’ll have to look at
the tape to see if there’s anybody not playing hard. I thought the defense
played pretty hard all game. The defense played good enough for us to win.”
-- The Wake Forest defense proved to be a pretty physical bunch.
Clemson lost the services of four offensive starters during the game and wide receiver Jacoby Ford was taken off the field twice against the Deacons Thursday night.
The Tigers were forced to play most of the game without running back C.J.
Spiller (hamstring) and wide receiver Tyler Grisham (foot) and both starting offensive guards Cory Lambert (ankle) and Mason Cloy (ankle).
“Not sure how bad C.J. is hurt,” Bowden said. “We’ll find out more all those
players (Friday).”
Ford was helped off the field twice in the second half, the last time in the
fourth quarter and did not return for the Tigers final offensive possession.
The defense didn’t escape injury free as Crezdon Butler and Michael Hamlin
both were injured in the fourth quarter.
-- Bowden dipped into his bag of trick against the Deacons with a questionable fake punt in the second quarter.
Facing a 4th-and-1 at the Wake Forest 47-yard line, the Tigers offense
initially looked like they would stay on the field and try to pick up the
first down.
After several seconds, Bowden called a time out to discuss his options.
After a lengthy TV timeout, the Tigers punt unit trotted out onto the field.
But instead of punting, the ball snapped directly to blocking back Michael
Hamlin. The Deacons were not fooled on the play as defensive end Anthony
Davis stuffed Hamlin for no gain.
LW
Comments
Posted by ohyea on October 10 at 8:56 a.m.
Any idea how many players Wake Forest had injured? We seem to have at least two a game.
Posted by frankthetank on October 10 at 9:27 a.m.
How about burning 2 timeouts on first drive of 2nd half?
Spence should have been locked out of the coaching box after halftime.
Posted by sptiger on October 10 at 11:42 a.m.
Larry -
any rumored press conferences or behind the scenes stuff going on that you've heard of this morning? Anything that normally would not happen but is due to the sinking ship that TB is captaining right now? Internet message boards and inside sources make outrageous claims and you're about the only person close to the program who I feel provides honest and forthright material.
Thanks in advance.
Wishing things were going better.
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