First off I want to apologize for the delay in this publication. Due to family matters I was unable to attend the spring game and didn’t even get around to watching it until this weekend; and that was simply the first, merely observational viewing.
I want to take a moment to let the STS community know that two weeks ago we lost one of our most loyal readers in my grandfather, the late Rev. Bob Clyburn of Aiken, SC.
He enjoyed a well-read and unbelievably intellectual mind, and being a keen Clemson sports fan, sharpened it on the free content STS provides.
So begins the longest stretch in our offseason journey. The springtime football oasis, mercifully tangible and not merely a mirage, allowed us to stock up on our most precious resource (footbaw and recruiting nuggets) before another four months spent wandering through the desolate, golf and baseball-infested, sweltering sports desert known as summer.
Yet the offseason seems to pass far faster when you’re the reigning national champions (with a second title in three years I declare the sample size large enough to deem this assertion statistically factual, fight me stats nerds). These are the glory years, and we would be foolish to simply count down until August 29th without taking a moment to remind every one of our rivals the reality in which they must live:
15-0, Best Ever. Still surreal.
A few notes on the following film review:
Only the 1st half is prudent to the 2-deep, and it’s all we’ll review here.
There are few exotic formations, disguises, or calls; this review is concerned more with players flashing or showing development than my typical drooling over fire zone blitzes.
I list the formations in the tables below out of habit more than anything else, in almost every standard down you’ll see 11 shotgun vs 4-3 (this is the case in-season as well), but to help paint the picture for those not following along with the broadcast, I decided not to remove the formation column.
I would pay a stupid amount of money for Dabo to grab a mic and commentate every game like he did for this broadcast. I’ll settle for a coach’s headset; take my money IPTAY.
Don’t ever be the creep who tweets at recruits, no matter how heartfelt your message, or else I’ll personally relegate you to Ohio State or Tennessee fanhood.
Too long; didn’t read recap: it’s difficult to glean much from a mere half of one spring scrimmage, but the offense should be elite outside of tight end and center. There’s a void behind Braden Galloway (even if he’s not suspended he’s still a developmental project), and Pollard/Cervenka each struggled with snaps. It was equally tough to properly assess the defensive line without its two presumed starters, but Tyler Davis showed flashes along with with Xavier Kelly. Given the lack of bodies split between two teams, there’s no reason to panic in the front 7 just yet; run defense was solid. There will be a drop off, but elite pieces remain for Brent Venables.
Orange ball, Lawrence QB, 15:00, Orange 25
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun (strength to boundary) vs 4-3
IZ to Feaster bounces outside for a gain of 4.
Looked like a bigger gain was there for the taking but Wallace flew the alley and laid the big hit to stop Feaster in his tracks.
2nd & 6
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Deep corner to Powell overthrown, incomplete.
Foster (DE) got his hands inside of Reeves (RT) and pushed him into Trevor's lap.
3rd & 6
11 shotgun (Chalk flexed) vs 4-3
Deep go to Ngata vs Mike fire, cover 1, incomplete.
Ngata was open but misjudged the throw and the ball sailed down the sideline.
White ball, Brice QB, 13:41, White 34
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun (Galloway flexed) vs 4-3
ZR dive to Etienne blown up by Rudolph, loss of 1.
Brice should've kept, Rudolph honed in on Etienne from the snap. With Chad Smith washed inside on a bullet blitz there was an easy 5 yards even for 2 hand touch on a QB.
2nd & 11
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Quick out to Ross across the field (glad to see he's starting at field now vs backing up Higgins again) vs cover 4, dropped.
Brice's spiral wasn't tight but the pass didn't arc horribly or lack velocity, and was thrown to Ross' opening; should've been caught.
3rd & 11
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Dropback vs cover 4, Thomas sacks Brice before he can make a read, loss of 7.
Thomas caught Anchrum flat footed with an inside move and got inside his lunge, Brice would've escaped if he were live though.
Orange ball, 12:10, Orange 45
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
ZR keeper gains 2.
Correct read, Skalski flew at Feaster, and Lawrence may have blown through Spector if not for the tag.
2nd & 8
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Sam fire, Lawrence checks out of the IZ and throws the bubble screen to Powell, gain of 8.
This is a pre-snap check to the screen, Lawrence saw 8 in the box with the Jones showing blitz and Wallace behind him showin man on Powell. This is what Dabo means when he talks about command. This is a 3rd semester 19 year old. It will never be a highlight but it is an NFL trait. Swoon.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Flare screen to Feaster was read by Foster, thrown away.
Dabo is stealing my thunder by commentating with Kirk, which I now realize I would pay IPTAY an insane amount for access to a headset on gameday.
2nd & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Stick route to Ngata vs cover 1, gain of 3.
Don't crucify me for dissenting with Dabo here but Lawrence took the stick (vs the out to Higgins against a tight Terrrell) when Jones sat inside; Dabo thought he took it when Foster dropped into the boundary, but Lawrence never looked to the boundary side of the field (hire me please Dabo).
3rd & 7
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Man cover 1 Sam fire, Lawrence is flushed by Mascoll who just gets a hand, called a sack.
This isn't really a sack but Jones was there to clean up if Mascoll whiffed; Lawrence checked down short of the marker anyway.
Swanson with a beautiful punt, pinch me.
White ball, 10:00, White 5
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
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Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
12 shotgun vs 4-3
IZ to Etienne gains 2.
A 265 nose guard seems less than ideal but Jeffries held up here and led the pile up.
2nd & 8
12 shotgun vs 4-3
Dropback vs cover 2, Brice wanted the out but the corner sat underneath, thrown away.
Brice recognized an underneath corner a lot faster than Tua did in January ;)
3rd & 8
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Dropback vs cover 3, drag underneath complete to Ladson, gets the corner for 15.
Simmons carried Chase upfield and left the flat open, Chad Smith had no chance trying to cover Ladson horizontally. Simmons should've released Chase's seam to the single high safety, but Smith was playing the same underneath hook zone as Muse, when he should've in the field-side hook, in better position to deter or delay this throw.
We saw Simmons stick with the slot in man when he should’ve played his zone more than a handful of times last year, but we lived with it as long as there weren’t errors elsewhere. Better to carry a deep threat and vacate the underneath than let a seam go unchecked, yes, but it’s evidence Simmons still plays like a safety.
Drive continues from the White 23.
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
OZ to Etienne gains 3.
Thomas worked down the line well, never getting sealed out even though he never broke free to set the edge.
2nd & 7
11 shotgun vs 4-3
ZR dive to Etienne gains 4.
Simpson climbed and sealed out a walk on DT and Etienne burst throught the hole, but Simmons made an amazing ankle tackle coming from the edge. He didn't trip Etienne, he dove and wrapped up his calves.
3rd & 3
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Dropback vs cover 4, Brice flushes and Ross makes a 1 handed catch over DK on the sideline gain of 33.
Ross turned his slant into a corner route on the scramble, wasn't open, but Moss'd a fellow receiver. Retweet to give a Bama fan PTSD.
White drive continues from the Orange 33.
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun (strength to boundary) vs 4-3
Out to Chase complete vs FS fire blitz, gain of 20.
I like an overload blitz from the boundary side but Brice correctly threw behind it, Chase spun off McMichael and plowed down the sideline with deceptive power.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
RPO, TE arc to wheel route is wide open underneath and Galloway jogs in, touchdown.
Shaq Smith busted man coverage, caught looking in the backfield at the run action, easy points.
Orange ball, 6:37, Orange 19, 7-0 White lead
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
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Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Counter to Dixon, Jay misses his block in the hole and Tyler Davis makes the stop from inside.
Davis stoned Brockhorst and shoved him aside to fill when Dixon was forced inside; DT is the position I'm watching the closest considering the lack of depth in this game. Very reassuring to see Davis ready so early.
2nd & 8
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Cover 4, pocket collapses and Lawrence's checkdown to Dixon is taken, steps up and slices a pass through the middle to Powell, gain of 9.
Dabo is again rendering my amatuer analysis unnecessary and it is a football nerd's gold.
1st & 10
11 pistol vs 4-3
PA jet vs cover 1, go route to Ngata broken up by Terrell.
Turner rolled down on DK's jet and Lawrence knew he'd have Ngata 1 on 1, good throw, but but a freshman vs Terrell isn't a good matchup. Perfect coverage. Terrell is the alpha of the defense.
2nd & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
OZ stuffed by Wallace on the SS overload, loss of 4.
Lay whiffed on Wallace's swim move. If Galloway's suspension isn't overturn there is a serious problem at TE; Chalk gives you little and Lay isn't ready. Before Rodgers' injury I was dismissive and said to hell with it, go 10 personnel. Now the TE/H role is the glaring concern on offense.
3rd & 14
11 shotgun vs 4-3
4 verts vs 3 man rush cover 4, Lawrence rolls left and finds Powell between zone layers, gain of 20.
Again Dabo nails it and any slander regarding his coaching acumen is unfounded. Lawrence throws running left better than any quarterback should.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
ZR keeper, gain of 3.
Skalski tried to bait Lawrence this time, sat like he was waiting for the keep then dove at Dixon; Lawrence called his bluff and kept, but Lay missed a block at the 2nd level which would've left Lawrence blown up by 2 defenders.
2nd & 7
11 shotgun vs 4-3
RPO dig to Higgins just out of reach, incomplete.
The pass is off the outreached hand of Higgins, but Turner forced this incompletion by dropping back into his zone instead of charging the run action as this play oh so consistently forces. If Turner doesn't anticipate then Lawrence has an easy lane, but Turner forced Lawrence to lead Higgins more than he wanted.
3rd & 7
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Double LB bullets, Lawrence is whistled down as he delivers a 1st down lob to Higgins.
Skalski blew up Dixon's attempt at pass protection to force Dabo's quick whistle.
White ball, 3:03, White 20, 7-0 White lead
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
PA, quick out to Ladson gains 13.
Perfect throw against man coverage, McMichael couldn't have gotten there to undercut with his back turned in man.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Fake tunnel screen, TE seam overthrown incomplete.
Seems Clemson has set up this play for years without using it, good deep coverage from Johnson.
2nd & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Counter handoff blown up from the backside, loss of 6.
Chad Smith came free from his backside fire; Thomas blew up the playside and shared first contact.
Simmons read the screen and led a host of defenders through blockers.
Orange ball, 1:10, Orange 29, 7-0 White lead
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Quick out to Higgins vs soft cover 3, gain of 7.
Good tackle by Jones prevented what I thought would be a bigger gain.
2nd & 3
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Counter to Feaster gains 4.
Patient running, Chalk is able to block Skalski and show us he can serve as a poor man's Garrett Williams.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Deep fade to Higgins against cover 4, broken up by Jones.
Twice in three plays now we've seen Jones unafraid to physically harass Higgins, even though he interfered (flag not thrown), it's promising for a young corner.
2nd & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Bubble screen (checked from counter handoff) to Powell, stopped for no gain.
Good stop by Mike Jones, end of quarter.
3rd & 10
10 shotgun vs 4-3
Deep cover 4, Lawrence rolls left and finds Ngata tightroping, gain of 33.
A fully mobilized Lawrence, RIP everyone else.
Orange drive continues
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
ZR dive to Feaster gains 3.
Davis was doubled, Kelly was washed out by Carman, but Mascoll beat Chalk to make the stop and limit the modest gain.
2nd & 7
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Fake option, deep comeback at the front pylong, diving catch dropped.
This throw is impressive; under pressure, Lawrence still reset his feet and gets the pass off on a rope to the front pylon.
3rd & 7
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Cover 3 fire zone forces the checkdown to Chalk, gain of 4.
Wallace flew in to make the stop too quickly for Chalk to take the space originally given.
4th & 3
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Quick slant to Higgins gains 9.
Again Dabo is clairvoyant and explaining everything about the play in real time, I didn't know how much I needed this until I witnessed it.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Counter handoff blown up in the backfield but Feaster escapes, finds positive yardage on the edge.
Facemask makes it half the distance.
1st & 6
11 shotgun vs 4-3
IZ to Feaster loses 1.
Foster blew Chalk up with ease and made the tackle through him, did I mention tight end is a black hole.
2nd & 7
11 shotgun vs 4-3
RPO dive to Feaster gains 1.
If Lawrence had pulled he would've had Will Brown (walk on slot) wide open in the endzone.
3rd & 6
10 shotgun vs 4-3
Dig to Higgins vs cover 4 opens behind the linebackers, easy touchdown.
Young Venables (WLB) lost Higgins inside and Skalski (MLB) was too shallow to help.
White ball, 11:24, White 24, 7-7 tie
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
OZ to Etienne loses 2.
Cervenka whiffed on Skalski's bullet and Etienne was strung out.
2nd & 12
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Slant to Ross gains 7.
Brice saw the weak side DE drop in the fire zone and hit the opposite slant, he has been low key spectacular all day.
3rd & 5
Corner to Ladson vs man cover 1, Mike bullet overthrown incomplete, but Brice was whistled down by Skalski.
Well designed blitz; Simpson moved to block Shaq but he ran out with Etienne and Skalski slipped inside unblocked.
Orange ball, 9:17, Orange 32, 7-7 tie
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
PA rollout vs 3 man rush cover 4, out route to Brown incomplete.
This would've been better served as an RPO handoff, Dixonwould've had the edge.
2nd &10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Bubble screen to Brown vs Cover 3 Sam fire, Jones makes the stop for a loss of 1.
Jones is showing plus physicality again for a corner, a freshman at that. Sure it was 2 walk ons, but he pancaked the blocker and made the rough tackle.
3rd & 11
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Deep curl complete for a gain of 7 against cover 3.
Walk on receiver cutting his route off too short, punt.
White ball, 7:41, White 19, 7-7 tie
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Go route to Ladson complete, McMichael fell trying to jam, gain of 40.
Brice saw man cover 1 and a deep safety, knowing he had Ladson 1 on 1. Once McMichael fell it was cake.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Power option pitch to Etienne gains 13.
Chase sealed out Simmons and gave Etienne the corner; I had all but written Chase off with Rodgers moving to slot but he's made strides this spring.
1st & 10
11 pistol vs 4-3
PA bootleg, scramble gains 4.
Ladson was free for a score on the back post but Brice's eyes were down.
2nd & 6
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Slant to Ross vs cover 3 fire zone, gain of 10.
Dabo calling his shot again, knew where Brice was going before the snap.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
IZ to Etienne gains 1.
Simmons knifed through the hole and dragged Etienne down by the legs again, tough tackling.
2nd & 9
11 shotgun vs 4-3
RPO bootleg, arc flare to Galloway gains 5.
Worth noting Galloway has been better than expected in his assignments and is clearly the best pass catcher at TE...
3rd & 4
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Fade to Ladson broken up.
McMichael won this round, good technique and paw.
Orange ball, 4:06, Orange 25, 10-7 White lead
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Back shoulder fade to Higgins caught out of bounds.
Terrell with tight coverage again, you're looking at the 1st pick from this defense in next year's draft.
2nd & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
High snap, Lawrence plucks it out of the air and is blown dead.
Pollard at center.
3rd & 17
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Deep post vs Tampa 2 through Higgins' hands.
Walk on safety may have interfered.
From here the teams trade punts before White scores after a fumble deep in Orange territory.
Orange ball, 1:43, Orange 25, 17-7 White lead
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
Down & Distance
Formation
Play
Analysis
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Quick hitch to Lay vs soft cover 4, underthrown incomplete.
This is the first time I've ever witnessed Lawrence short hop an underneath pass.
2nd & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Quick out to Higgins gains 13 against Jones in cover 4.
Higgins got Jones back, shaking off his hit (failed to wrap up) and spinning down the sideline.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Quick out again to Ngata against cover 4, Jones couldn't get out wide in time, easy 14.
The drawback with cover 4, as we know, is flat coverage. With corners bailing, Lawrence is getting the ball outside of the linebackers in flat coverage and receivers are beating corners down the sideline after the catch. This will force different coverage.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Cover 3 Sam fire, Jones is beaten and Higgins is free down the sideline, gain of 22.
Jones bit on an outside move and was caught in the flat.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
ZR dive to Dixon gains 6.
Good recovery by Henry to wrap up from behind as the read man.
2nd & 4
11 shotgun vs 4-3
ZR keeper by Lawrence gains 4.
Foster caught not respecting a 2 hand touch QB run threat.
1st & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Out and up to Ngata just overthrown in the endzone.
Jones has played well but had a rough drive, beaten here again and got away with PI.
2nd & 10
11 shotgun vs 4-3
Slant and go to Higgins vs cover 4, Terrell is there again and forces the incompletion.
Double slant and go's, but Kendrick was doubled on the boundary side. Higgins had room to work the sideline, but Terrell was all over it.
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