Clemson/Florida State Prediction
Now that I'm done being sick over last week's debacle, it's time to look ahead. The Fighting Tigers take on the Seminoles of Free Shoes U - - eh, Florida State University tomorrow night at 7:30. Sorry. Freudian slip there.
The Bowden Bowl, as the media dubbed it, has gotten more interesting as of late. Clemson finally managed to put one over on FSU in 2003, ending 11 years of futility by winning 26-10 (which started a season-ending spree of wins and, supposedly, saved Tommy Bowden's job). Last year, we pounded them 35-14 in what I think was our best all-around game that year. Sandwiched between those two thrilling victories is a 41-22 shellacking at their hands in 2004. And if it weren't for Justin Miller on special teams, that one wouldn't have even been close.
I'll freely admit that Florida State is not the mythical juggernaut it once was. No longer do the Seminoles strike fear into the hearts of ACC bottom-dwellers or the middle of the pack. For crying out loud, Troy took them to the brink last week before falling 24-17! TROY! FSU has gone from being the resident bully of the conference to a team anyone can beat if they play their best. As Tommy put it, once upon a time you had to play your best and then pray for FSU to screw up monumentally in order to have a hope. But that's not the case any longer.
That being said ... it's still Florida State. Bobby Bowden is still head coach. And its at Doak Campbell Stadium. Which hasn't been kind to us since 1989, one of our last big victories in the Danny Ford era. The Seminoles still command respect. We're walking wounded and have gone from BCS dark horse to yesterday's trash in a week. But that's okay. Clemson is Clark Kent in the spotlight. Back us into a corner, and we'll change into Superman.
Now it's time to fly.
Obviously defense is my main concern. Boston College exposed our weakness at OLB with Anthony Waters on crutches, and our front seven failed to get any pressure on their QB even though he was hobbled by a bad ankle. Bottom line: we must pressure Drew Weatherford early and often. The Seminoles have no run game to speak of. So the key will be to play man coverage and force Drew to beat us with his arm just like we did Chris Rix three years ago. We cannot let him get settled into a rhythm or we'll be eating his receivers' dust all night. Tackling has got to be sharper. Arm tackling and bouncing-off-the-target will not cut it. We ALL need to approach it the way Duane Coleman did last week. FSU's offensive line is solid, but not as good as Boston College. Can't have our guys being blown off the ball again. Continue to make their ground game nonexistent. Bottle up Lorenzo Booker.
Secondary has to tighten up. Losing Michael Hamlin hurts badly. So the pressure is on Sergio and the others to step to the plate and make smart decisions. The jump ball worries me because of our lack of experience.
Offense. As long as we keep on doing what we've been doing and stick to the gameplan, we should be in good shape. Use the run to set up the pass, but mix it up when needed. Switch out Davis, Reggie, and Spiller, but let the hot hand take it. If FSU's showing it can't stop Reggie, by all means keep him in there. Run nickle-back sets a lot to confuse FSU. Give Will time to pick out his targets. No more dropped balls. I'm looking at you, Chansi.
Special teams. I hope our kickoff coverage got a sharp learning this past week. Two things. 1) Don't, under any circumstances, kick it to their most dangerous returner (most likely Booker). Okay, Jad? 2) Line up Coleman or Reggie in front of our kickoff man to give him a lead blocker. This also helps prevent the likelihood of letting the ball roll deep inside the 10. But we've got to quit being tentative on kickoffs and start banging through the holes.
In spite of last week, I like our chances. FSU's linebackers (Buster Davis) are pretty fast, and their receivers can key on the ball, but not if we force Drew to make bad decisions. The talent gap that was once glaringly obvious (anyone remember 54-7 in Tallahassee six years ago? I do.) has closed. We can play with the Seminoles, and by most counts, we should win. Doing so on their home turf will make it all the more satisfying, and should go a long way toward pointing our season back on course. Besides, I'll go nuts if I have to listen to the War Chant all night.
This one's for you, Anna Kate. Since I know you'll be braving Doak with your family :)
My prediction?
Clemson 28
Florida State 24
GO TIGERS!!!
The Bowden Bowl, as the media dubbed it, has gotten more interesting as of late. Clemson finally managed to put one over on FSU in 2003, ending 11 years of futility by winning 26-10 (which started a season-ending spree of wins and, supposedly, saved Tommy Bowden's job). Last year, we pounded them 35-14 in what I think was our best all-around game that year. Sandwiched between those two thrilling victories is a 41-22 shellacking at their hands in 2004. And if it weren't for Justin Miller on special teams, that one wouldn't have even been close.
I'll freely admit that Florida State is not the mythical juggernaut it once was. No longer do the Seminoles strike fear into the hearts of ACC bottom-dwellers or the middle of the pack. For crying out loud, Troy took them to the brink last week before falling 24-17! TROY! FSU has gone from being the resident bully of the conference to a team anyone can beat if they play their best. As Tommy put it, once upon a time you had to play your best and then pray for FSU to screw up monumentally in order to have a hope. But that's not the case any longer.
That being said ... it's still Florida State. Bobby Bowden is still head coach. And its at Doak Campbell Stadium. Which hasn't been kind to us since 1989, one of our last big victories in the Danny Ford era. The Seminoles still command respect. We're walking wounded and have gone from BCS dark horse to yesterday's trash in a week. But that's okay. Clemson is Clark Kent in the spotlight. Back us into a corner, and we'll change into Superman.
Now it's time to fly.
Obviously defense is my main concern. Boston College exposed our weakness at OLB with Anthony Waters on crutches, and our front seven failed to get any pressure on their QB even though he was hobbled by a bad ankle. Bottom line: we must pressure Drew Weatherford early and often. The Seminoles have no run game to speak of. So the key will be to play man coverage and force Drew to beat us with his arm just like we did Chris Rix three years ago. We cannot let him get settled into a rhythm or we'll be eating his receivers' dust all night. Tackling has got to be sharper. Arm tackling and bouncing-off-the-target will not cut it. We ALL need to approach it the way Duane Coleman did last week. FSU's offensive line is solid, but not as good as Boston College. Can't have our guys being blown off the ball again. Continue to make their ground game nonexistent. Bottle up Lorenzo Booker.
Secondary has to tighten up. Losing Michael Hamlin hurts badly. So the pressure is on Sergio and the others to step to the plate and make smart decisions. The jump ball worries me because of our lack of experience.
Offense. As long as we keep on doing what we've been doing and stick to the gameplan, we should be in good shape. Use the run to set up the pass, but mix it up when needed. Switch out Davis, Reggie, and Spiller, but let the hot hand take it. If FSU's showing it can't stop Reggie, by all means keep him in there. Run nickle-back sets a lot to confuse FSU. Give Will time to pick out his targets. No more dropped balls. I'm looking at you, Chansi.
Special teams. I hope our kickoff coverage got a sharp learning this past week. Two things. 1) Don't, under any circumstances, kick it to their most dangerous returner (most likely Booker). Okay, Jad? 2) Line up Coleman or Reggie in front of our kickoff man to give him a lead blocker. This also helps prevent the likelihood of letting the ball roll deep inside the 10. But we've got to quit being tentative on kickoffs and start banging through the holes.
In spite of last week, I like our chances. FSU's linebackers (Buster Davis) are pretty fast, and their receivers can key on the ball, but not if we force Drew to make bad decisions. The talent gap that was once glaringly obvious (anyone remember 54-7 in Tallahassee six years ago? I do.) has closed. We can play with the Seminoles, and by most counts, we should win. Doing so on their home turf will make it all the more satisfying, and should go a long way toward pointing our season back on course. Besides, I'll go nuts if I have to listen to the War Chant all night.
This one's for you, Anna Kate. Since I know you'll be braving Doak with your family :)
My prediction?
Clemson 28
Florida State 24
GO TIGERS!!!
posted by david @ 4:11 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home