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Post by dougefresh on May 27, 2021 15:17:57 GMT -5
Yeah, Dabo made some comments last year about only having 6 good OL guys and 2 of them have left. Their OL and RB are the 2 weaknesses. The sophomore class was the best OL recruiting class in Clemson’s history. He said they felt good about 8-10 on OL this year. With COVID they didn’t get spring practice to develop. Last year they got a lot of experience, got a spring practice, and a year in the S&C program. They feel extremely good about the OL with 5 star Leigh on the way was well. The OL is not a concern from anything I’ve heard or read. RB is gonna be a drop off but Pace apparently looked great in spring. Dixon is a veteran and then you have two really talented freshmen that Spiller said could be the next thunder and lightning in a year or two. RB room is deeper but Etienne is one of the greatest RB, if not the greatest, to play at Clemson so of course you expect production to drop but let’s be honest, Etienne generally only had 10-15 carries a game because Clemson rotates a lot and had a lot of blow outs over his career so they’ll be fine at RB as well. Shipley is apparently picking things up fast and I see him being utilized because of his speed and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s been compared to Christian McCaffrey as far has his unique skills sets. His lacrosse background helped him develop that shiftiness that’s a bitch to tackle in open field. Excited about him I read the 6 good OL guys thing a few weeks go. If I come across it again I'll post it. Etienne is the biggest loss followed by the WRs. It's crazy that losing Lawrence isn't number one. What does Clemson need out of the RB? between the tackles? blocking? I think Uiagalelei can get plenty of yards himself.
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Post by CFF on May 27, 2021 16:31:54 GMT -5
If you think about it logically bringing Derion onboard doesn't really have a major downside. If he can't be a good team member you dismiss him from the team, if he fails out of school he is a 3-4 month rental as well. Why not take a chance on him with the viewpoint that he can provide more benefit than hurt at this point. It could be bad if he is poison in the locker room. Other than that, I agree with your statement.
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Post by nmerritt11 on May 27, 2021 17:01:56 GMT -5
If you think about it logically bringing Derion onboard doesn't really have a major downside. If he can't be a good team member you dismiss him from the team, if he fails out of school he is a 3-4 month rental as well. Why not take a chance on him with the viewpoint that he can provide more benefit than hurt at this point. It could be bad if he is poison in the locker room. Other than that, I agree with your statement. Pass Pro is big in Clemson’s offense and that’s why Dixon will likely be the main guy at least early. And 6 was last year I’m almost positive. Clemson was really happy with OL in spring. Much happier than last year. Much more talented even if young. They replaced their entire OL last season outside of Carman. This year they lost 2 but center is an upgrade. McFadden will move to LT and he graded higher than any OL and Parks who was tremendous behind Carman will hold down RT. Bockhorst and Putnam will need to take another step forward at guard. TE returns everyone as well. The back ups are solid this year whereas last of Clemson had an injury they were screwed and by the end of the year the OL and DL were fatigued and it showed. OL because of depth and DL because of injuries DL returns everyone and adds Foster and XT back. Trenches will be much much improved.
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Post by nmerritt11 on May 27, 2021 17:03:23 GMT -5
If you think about it logically bringing Derion onboard doesn't really have a major downside. If he can't be a good team member you dismiss him from the team, if he fails out of school he is a 3-4 month rental as well. Why not take a chance on him with the viewpoint that he can provide more benefit than hurt at this point. It could be bad if he is poison in the locker room. Other than that, I agree with your statement. I don’t think he will be a poison in locker room. He was not a bad teammate just undisciplined and lacked work ethic at times. He is a likeable young man honestly
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Post by dougefresh on May 28, 2021 19:04:15 GMT -5
It looked like OSU owned the trenches against Clemson in the playoffs. Do you think that is fixed? I really like Clemson's DL, but they got stoned by the Buckeyes.
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Post by nmerritt11 on May 30, 2021 9:44:05 GMT -5
It looked like OSU owned the trenches against Clemson in the playoffs. Do you think that is fixed? I really like Clemson's DL, but they got stoned by the Buckeyes. Clemson was decimated with injuries on the DL...you could see it by year end. They like a 2-3 man rotation at every position. Last year They were essentially without their two projected starters at DE in XT and Foster. Then on DL Pinckney, Williams, Capehart, Orhorhoro were all out majority of the year. Davis missed several games as well. And LB depth was almost all freshmen behind starters. This year they get all those guys back a year older. I think this DL is going to be nasty. On OL it will all depend on how the young talent progress’. Definitely a question as far as depth is concerned but the talent is there. Best OL room as far as talent Dabo has ever had. We will see how they perform. Caldwell is a really good OL coach so I am confident. Last year was the first year Clemson really dealt with injury bug. I mean almost every DL was out. And their top 3 outside WR missed most of the year and weren’t available in playoffs. Powell was a career back up who almost transferred and would have had Ross not got injured. It paid off and he got drafted but he wasn’t a top 5 WR headed into season. Clemson gets all those guys back. It really is incredible they made playoffs last year with the injuries they sustained. Secondary dealt with them too. Zanders played all year with a torn labrum and it showed. That was the worst playoff team Clemson has fielded. To me, this roster is the most talented Dabo has field as far as two deep. But talent and performance are two different things. I do know that coaches feel this was the best spring they’ve had in a while and this team has a chip. Will that play out? To be seen but this team is really talented and the defense is incredibly veteran. And DJU has more weapons on offense than TL or DW4 had. And every starting receiver will be 6’3 plus and all TE 6’4 plus. The size advantage will be something to watch Looks like UGA is about to get Gilbert which will make the loss of Pickens a lot easier to take because he’s a nightmare to account for. He has elite level potential and gives Daniels a mismatch safety blanket and Clemson’s safeties are a ?
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Post by dougefresh on May 30, 2021 12:15:03 GMT -5
Yeah, a lot of rumors about Gilbert right now. UGA already has two good ones though, so I don't know how he will fit in. Sure, he will get snaps, but so will the other two. Plus, he probably won't play this year. I don't know what's up with him, but there are enough rumors about academic problems to make me think there is something there.
Supposedly Kendrick is about to transfer too. He just needs to get the charges dropped. He will have the bigger impact because we need an experienced CB in the worst way. I love the young guys we have but their inexperience will get them owned against Clemson.
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Post by dougefresh on May 30, 2021 12:15:36 GMT -5
What about Justyn Ross?
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Post by bigdawgs on May 30, 2021 12:28:38 GMT -5
Looks like Kirbs is trying to steal the Portal Master title from Mullen. Crazy times in CFB.
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Post by dougefresh on May 30, 2021 18:09:13 GMT -5
It's not tampering if you talk to their HS coach....
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Post by nmerritt11 on May 30, 2021 18:22:45 GMT -5
Ross has been practicing full pads with no contact. He goes for what is hopefully his final clearance next week or week after. Cant remember the date but he is expected to be a go and they moved him into the slot which is just gonna create nightmares
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Post by dougefresh on Jun 1, 2021 15:53:31 GMT -5
Kendrick and Gilbert committed today. Gilbert says he will be playing WR....
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Post by nmerritt11 on Jun 1, 2021 16:01:08 GMT -5
Kendrick and Gilbert committed today. Gilbert says he will be playing WR.... Yeah Smart said he’d be an “athlete” I look for them to attempt use him like Florida did Pitts and create mismatches. Great get for UGA. Kendrick has potential but I personally think I want Clemson to attack him all night.
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Post by dougefresh on Jun 1, 2021 18:39:03 GMT -5
One of the Rivals reporters is saying Gilbert is already academically qualified, but Kendrick has some things to finish.
Coming out of spring practice UGA had zero experience at CB and Pickens was out, and now Smart has added Kendrick and Tykee Smith at CB and Gilbert at WR. Not bad. Not bad.
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Post by NCBulldawg on Jun 1, 2021 21:16:11 GMT -5
One of the Rivals reporters is saying Gilbert is already academically qualified, but Kendrick has some things to finish. Coming out of spring practice UGA had zero experience at CB and Pickens was out, and now Smart has added Kendrick and Tykee Smith at CB and Gilbert at WR. Not bad. Not bad. Exactly. Was going to post similarly, but you are all over it, Dug-e-FREsh!
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Post by dougefresh on Jun 2, 2021 8:35:57 GMT -5
It's important to educate Merritt.
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Post by dougefresh on Jun 2, 2021 8:37:31 GMT -5
Here is a little something about Gilbert
"In fact, Gilbert’s 53 targets at LSU last year (6.6 per game) would have tied Pickens for the most by a Georgia player in 2020. Gilbert was also very active on third down, reeling in 11 catches for 107 yards, seven for first downs and one for a touchdown. That’s more third-down receptions than Pitts had last year for Florida, and similar to the impact that Pickens has had on third downs and in the red zone.
One more eyebrow-raising nugget: Those 11 receptions that Gilbert had on third down last year were more than Georgia tight ends’ combined targets on third down (10).
Gilbert caught 35 passes in eight games, which was 11 more receptions than all Georgia tight ends combined in 2020."
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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 2, 2021 8:59:01 GMT -5
Georgia has had some excellent tight ends in the Richt and Smart eras. But Georgia has more often than not, elected to not throw the ball to them. Last time a Georgia tight end really stood out was in the Florida game in 2018 when Isaac Nauta lit up the Gators. Since then, they have resembled the "lonesome end" without the results of the original.
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Post by athens on Jun 2, 2021 9:04:45 GMT -5
Georgia has had some excellent tight ends in the Richt and Smart eras. But Georgia has more often than not, elected to not throw the ball to them. Last time a Georgia tight end really stood out was in the Florida game in 2018 when Isaac Nauta lit up the Gators. Since then, they have resembled the "lonesome end" without the results of the original. Which is probably why they told him he'd be playing receiver
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jun 2, 2021 11:58:36 GMT -5
Tiger Bait.
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Post by nmerritt11 on Jun 3, 2021 7:55:45 GMT -5
One of the Rivals reporters is saying Gilbert is already academically qualified, but Kendrick has some things to finish. Coming out of spring practice UGA had zero experience at CB and Pickens was out, and now Smart has added Kendrick and Tykee Smith at CB and Gilbert at WR. Not bad. Not bad. Kendrick has some things to finish and you know gun and drug charges
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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 3, 2021 8:02:41 GMT -5
Well, I hope Georgia fans can start being this thrilled in January. Frankly, I have heard enough from my fellow Dawg fans. It is time to put up or shut up. No excuses right now to make serious playoff challenge. Schedule outside of Clemson and Florida is weak.
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Post by dougefresh on Jun 3, 2021 8:06:05 GMT -5
One of the Rivals reporters is saying Gilbert is already academically qualified, but Kendrick has some things to finish. Coming out of spring practice UGA had zero experience at CB and Pickens was out, and now Smart has added Kendrick and Tykee Smith at CB and Gilbert at WR. Not bad. Not bad. Kendrick has some things to finish and you know gun and drug charges Well, I meant in addition to those pesky criminal charges.
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Post by nmerritt11 on Jun 3, 2021 10:30:18 GMT -5
Kendrick has some things to finish and you know gun and drug charges Well, I meant in addition to those pesky criminal charges. Fits right in down in Athens! It will be interesting to see how they are used week 1...they have summer for mat drills, learning playbook, schemes and terminology and then fall camp to retain and install. Kendrick never fully grasped the playbook and often times his athleticism made up for it but against elite passing teams he was a liability. He was lost against OSU and I fully expect Clemson to go after him Gilberts transition shouldn’t be as hard as I’m sure the route tree isn’t going to be too difficult. Don’t really know enough about WVU safety but he’s coming from Big 12 which is a passing league so he may help the most week 1
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Post by dougefresh on Jun 3, 2021 15:00:06 GMT -5
Tykee Smith was a freshman all american and then a 3rd string all american last year. Plus his position coach at WV is now the coaching DBs at UGA. He should end up at Star, and it's a good fit for him. I think he is more likely to succeed than Kendrick.
Kendrick is very likely to start against Clemson, but he has some serious freshman talent pushing for playing time after Clemson. I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up being passed over by the end of the season. Of course he could come in and light it up, but that's what he will have to do to keep the job. I saw a tweet that broke down his stats, and basically he is a 1st round draft choice against average teams, but got owned against good teams. OSU focused on him.
UGA will struggle if they have to go to dime a lot, and let's be honest, Clemson is going to try and get them in dime a lot.
Gilbert should be an easy fit. In my dreams UGA trots out him and Washington at the sametime and shifts/motions in and out of 2 TE sets. It will be tough for teams to have the right personnel in there when they don't know if UGA is going to spread them out or go man ball. Like I said, it's more of a dream.
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Post by 75tranzam on Jun 3, 2021 19:04:23 GMT -5
Well, I meant in addition to those pesky criminal charges. It will be interesting to see how they are used week 1...they have summer for mat drills, learning playbook, schemes and terminology and then fall camp to retain and install. Kendrick never fully grasped the playbook and often times his athleticism made up for it but against elite passing teams he was a liability. He was lost against OSU and I fully expect Clemson to go after him All those problems and still made the All-ACC first team. Says a lot about the ACC doesn’t it...he wasn’t the only person lost against tOSU and certainly wasn’t the reason for the drubbing Clemson took.
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Post by CFF on Jun 3, 2021 19:47:06 GMT -5
It will be interesting to see how they are used week 1...they have summer for mat drills, learning playbook, schemes and terminology and then fall camp to retain and install. Kendrick never fully grasped the playbook and often times his athleticism made up for it but against elite passing teams he was a liability. He was lost against OSU and I fully expect Clemson to go after him All those problems and still made the All-ACC first team. Says a lot about the ACC doesn’t it...he wasn’t the only person lost against tOSU and certainly wasn’t the reason for the drubbing Clemson took. There are several teams that would have taken an equal or worse drubbing in that game. tOSU was on on that night.
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Post by dougefresh on Jun 4, 2021 5:52:51 GMT -5
UGA also added Brandon Turnage from Bama. He was a 4 star CB out of MS in the 2019 class. He has only played in a couple of games, so not much intel on him. My guess is he was buried on the depth chart. In fairness there is likely a lot of talent at Bam, so he could be productive at UGA.
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Post by nmerritt11 on Jun 4, 2021 8:13:26 GMT -5
It will be interesting to see how they are used week 1...they have summer for mat drills, learning playbook, schemes and terminology and then fall camp to retain and install. Kendrick never fully grasped the playbook and often times his athleticism made up for it but against elite passing teams he was a liability. He was lost against OSU and I fully expect Clemson to go after him All those problems and still made the All-ACC first team. Says a lot about the ACC doesn’t it...he wasn’t the only person lost against tOSU and certainly wasn’t the reason for the drubbing Clemson took. While I don’t disagree OSU was going right after him and avoiding Booth. Listen, Kendrick has all the talent in the world and has only played corner for 2 years. His upside is tremendous but his work ethic and on field discipline to play within the system is questionable. The first team All-ACC was shocking because he was not the best corner on Clemson’s roster. He stayed in Dabo’s doghouse as well which is why he was ultimately shown the door...if he comes in with right attitude he could be a big get for UGA. Clemson fans aren’t too upset he’s gone. That’s my main point
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Post by dougefresh on Jun 4, 2021 8:43:42 GMT -5
Clemson will miss him though. He was a contributor and the next guy up won't be as good in the opening game.
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