Looking Back – Game 12

Thoughts mostly collected while waiting for Clemson to get the ball in the 3rd quarter of Saturday’s game (and a few post game thoughts, too).

• As anticipated, Clemson was stifled by South Carolina’s ball control offense and inability of the defense to get off the field on third down.
•  27% of Clemson’s plays from scrimmage came on 1 drive.
• Clemson’s possessions consisted of 3, 16, 2, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3, 5, 5, 3, and 3 play “drives”.
• I love Jaron Brown, he’s one of my favorite players and he made a couple of nice catches.  Not sure why he seemed to be a focal point of the passing game from the first drive.
• Not sure what to say about the defensive backfield that hasn’t already been said.  Lack of talent and injuries is not a good combination.  To add insult to injury, the few times the coverage was good a flag flew.
• The kickoff and punt game (not just the coverage) need to improve markedly in 2013.
• Tig Willard was all over the place early.
• Clemson never appeared in sync, especially Tajh Boyd.   Boyd’s first pass of the game sailed over the head of Sammy Watkins.  On the second drive Boyd threw one too tall for Hopkins that got him upended.
• The running game appeared surprisingly strong.  Why it wasn’t used more in the first half, considering Boyd’s issues above, is mystifying.
• Twice Clemson got the ball with a 14-10 lead in the second quarter and reached at least midfield.  I thought the Boyd interception by Devonte Hollomon on a pass thrown up for grabs could have been a game changer.  If the Tigers score there they go up 17-10 or 21-10 at the half.  Different game at that point.
• This was not a shining moment for Chad Morris.  Like the rest of the free world, wondering why one of the most inventive OCs in college football dials up a quarterback keeper on 3rd and 9 from the South Carolina 45 early in the 2nd quarter and then punts the ball away.  So Rob Spence-like.