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Why I think Clemson is overrated and not as good as preseason media thinks
Posted on 8/2/25 at 6:15 am
Posted on 8/2/25 at 6:15 am
I've noticed that the preseason polls hype up any team who made the CFP last year and has a returning QB. Clemson and Penn St fit this. I just think it is smarter to look into the data, than simply say they made CFP last year, they have returning QB, that means auto good.
Clemson Defensive Rankings in FBS:
Rushing Yards per Game allowed - 83rd
Total Yards per Game allowed - 70th
Points allowed Per Game - 51st
They have multiple 1st rounders on the Defensive line but finished 83rd in rushing yards per game allowed? That doesn't seem right. Usually the stats follow the talent
Clemson allowed more yards per game than LSU's defense, and I don't think anyone would say we had even an okay defense last year.
Clemson was outgained in yardage verse these teams: Pitt by 100 yards, SMU by 130 yards, Texas by 80 yards, Georgia by 300 yards, South Carolina by 20 yards. 3-9 Stanford came within 40 yards of them, being outgained 400-360.
Clemson was 1-3 vs Top 25 last year, and easily could've lost SMU game considering they were outgained by 130 yards, and would've gone 0-4 vs Top 25.
To add, Clemson's recruiting has gone down since the LSU loss in the Nati. They used to pull in Top 10 classes around 2015-2020. Their most recent class? It's ranked 28th in the country.
Their offense was a lot better than their Defense last year, and they finished 13 spots ahead of LSU in yards per game. Part of that can be chalked up to playing defenses like App State, Virginia, Wake Forest, Stanford, 2-10 FSU, etc.
I think many are chalking it up as a Loss, but they aren't as good as the media makes them out to be.
Clemson Defensive Rankings in FBS:
Rushing Yards per Game allowed - 83rd
Total Yards per Game allowed - 70th
Points allowed Per Game - 51st
They have multiple 1st rounders on the Defensive line but finished 83rd in rushing yards per game allowed? That doesn't seem right. Usually the stats follow the talent
Clemson allowed more yards per game than LSU's defense, and I don't think anyone would say we had even an okay defense last year.
Clemson was outgained in yardage verse these teams: Pitt by 100 yards, SMU by 130 yards, Texas by 80 yards, Georgia by 300 yards, South Carolina by 20 yards. 3-9 Stanford came within 40 yards of them, being outgained 400-360.
Clemson was 1-3 vs Top 25 last year, and easily could've lost SMU game considering they were outgained by 130 yards, and would've gone 0-4 vs Top 25.
To add, Clemson's recruiting has gone down since the LSU loss in the Nati. They used to pull in Top 10 classes around 2015-2020. Their most recent class? It's ranked 28th in the country.
Their offense was a lot better than their Defense last year, and they finished 13 spots ahead of LSU in yards per game. Part of that can be chalked up to playing defenses like App State, Virginia, Wake Forest, Stanford, 2-10 FSU, etc.
I think many are chalking it up as a Loss, but they aren't as good as the media makes them out to be.
This post was edited on 8/2/25 at 9:17 am
38
Posted on 8/2/25 at 6:19 am to Saunson69
They have a new DC this year
Posted on 8/2/25 at 6:57 am to Saunson69
Clemson is extremely talented and Dabo is a hell of a coach. What a phenomenal opportunity to get to take them on at home the first game of the season. Truly national championship caliber teams and programs battling week 1. How can you not love it?!?!?
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:16 am to T1gerNate
quote:completely agree with you, but half this board wants us to open with a cupcake.
Truly national championship caliber teams and programs battling week 1. How can you not love it?!?!?
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:21 am to atltiger6487
Id rather play Grambling to be honest.
Should be a great game and all, but a close loss is still a loss.
Should be a great game and all, but a close loss is still a loss.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:27 am to Saunson69
I’m buying. Let’s geaux.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:28 am to Tblock
Not Grambling but maybe someone like a Kansas/Wake/Sunbelt/CUSA type then at Clemson the next week. People are going to go the first game of the year anyway & it gives you one game to get the kinks out. We lose at Clemson & we can only afford one SEC loss. That is rare for most SEC teams today.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:28 am to Tblock
nothing wrong with the analysis. But Remember, they have experience and continuity, more so than our tigers. also, while they don't have depth, their starters are really good. it's early in the season so they are fresh, and lack of depth not likely to be a factor. It's early in the season, and we haven't had a chance to get our new guys and old guys playing together. our oline is the biggest worry on this score.
it's just such a huge game for us. we win and the national narrative changes completely! Our stars will have to be stars.
it's just such a huge game for us. we win and the national narrative changes completely! Our stars will have to be stars.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:41 am to Saunson69
quote:
than simply say they made CFP last year
Also if Miami doesnt blow it against Syracuse they dont even back into the CFP in the first place.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:59 am to Saunson69
We have a more talented, complete roster. But only 35 kids play in a game, and 25 of them are the ones who decide it. Their top 25 are more proven, and have played together for years. That's the only reason for concern. Yes they have a new dc, but we have an entirely new secondary, 2 best defensive players coming off severe injuries, brand new des, brand new oline, 5 of our 9 wrs/ tes are new... hard to know how all the new players will play together. We gel quickly, i like us, we don't, they win.
Some easy execution things I expect better for this game 1:
No snap issues for fumbles like multiple game 1's in the past (sr 3 yr starter center who's played at clemson)
Ability to get 1 yd on 3rd and 4th: we have green to block as te on short yardage.. we lost our blocking te 2 weeks before first game last yr, and had none yrs prior.
Wrs who can scoot: we were extremely limited at wr last yr, since Hilton and Parker were hurt almost all season. Our wrs struggled to get separation besides anderson.. having 5-6 who can fly will help nuss find easy 3-5 yd under neath for easy gains, and also stretch a team when he sees 1 on 1.
Some easy execution things I expect better for this game 1:
No snap issues for fumbles like multiple game 1's in the past (sr 3 yr starter center who's played at clemson)
Ability to get 1 yd on 3rd and 4th: we have green to block as te on short yardage.. we lost our blocking te 2 weeks before first game last yr, and had none yrs prior.
Wrs who can scoot: we were extremely limited at wr last yr, since Hilton and Parker were hurt almost all season. Our wrs struggled to get separation besides anderson.. having 5-6 who can fly will help nuss find easy 3-5 yd under neath for easy gains, and also stretch a team when he sees 1 on 1.
This post was edited on 8/2/25 at 8:01 am
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:03 am to Saunson69
Clemson has a blue chip ratio of 55, LSU's is 73. . 73>55 Plus our D will be better than their D, especially the EDGE players.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:07 am to T1gerNate
quote:
Clemson is extremely talented and Dabo is a hell of a coach. What a phenomenal opportunity to get to take them on at home the first game of the season. Truly national championship caliber teams and programs battling week 1. How can you not love it?!?!?
Don’t you know the Rant is not the place for common sense analysis to issues relating to LSU football !
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:11 am to Saunson69
Preseason media rankings and predictions are almost always based on perceptions of a team from the previous season and if they return enough starters from that team well then they'll be even that much better.
The issue with doing that is it most making the picks don't really know all that much about most teams just and just have a surface level knowledge.
In the case of Clemson they see a team that won the ACC, made the playoff and has 4 players that are projected to be first round pics in the NFL draft.
What they forget or maybe don't fully realize is that, the ACC was awful last year, Clemson lost 4 games last year, and their best win all season was a 34-31 nail biter to SMU, they lost to every other good team they played and most of those losses were not particularly close.
And yes the top end talent is good but I'd bet if we went 2 deep on both sides, first 44 you'd have a very good case our overall talent is better.
Not saying they suck, just saying the pre-season hype is based on some faulty premises, and when you really did into it as you did Saunson.....you realize that.
The issue with doing that is it most making the picks don't really know all that much about most teams just and just have a surface level knowledge.
In the case of Clemson they see a team that won the ACC, made the playoff and has 4 players that are projected to be first round pics in the NFL draft.
What they forget or maybe don't fully realize is that, the ACC was awful last year, Clemson lost 4 games last year, and their best win all season was a 34-31 nail biter to SMU, they lost to every other good team they played and most of those losses were not particularly close.
And yes the top end talent is good but I'd bet if we went 2 deep on both sides, first 44 you'd have a very good case our overall talent is better.
Not saying they suck, just saying the pre-season hype is based on some faulty premises, and when you really did into it as you did Saunson.....you realize that.
This post was edited on 8/2/25 at 8:13 am
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:12 am to stephendomalley
quote:
it's early in the season so they are fresh, and lack of depth not likely to be a factor.
I’d argue that depth is just as important in game one as it is late in the season. Game 1 is likely going to be somewhere around 80-85 and humid at kick off. Guys are not quite in game shape and they tend to cramp a lot. I feel like guys get way more tired in game 1 than they do later in the year.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:21 am to atltiger6487
quote:
but half this board wants us to open with a cupcake.
I mean you know why. Kelly can’t fricking win them. Hope he changes that narrative this year. Really tired of the letdowns week 1.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:23 am to Saunson69
1. They probably are not that good, it’s a premier opening game and the media broadcasting it is hyping it
2. LSU will make them look better than they are.
2. LSU will make them look better than they are.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:25 am to classicgold
quote:
Guys are not quite in game shape
As a former S&C coach, this better not be the case. There really is no conditioning quite like fall camp. Kelly works em hard as frick too. I don’t think this will be even remotely an issue, especially since it looks like we may be moving with some pace on offense.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:32 am to Saunson69
I give you credit for the analysis. I can also see the hype for them with 4 first rounders in next year's draft. The game will be exciting.
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:33 am to Saunson69
So you’re telling me we have a chance. Nice
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:36 am to Tblock
Say we play a bad game and beat Grambling by 3 scores
Or we play a great game and lose to Clemson by a field goal.
The committee will hold the loss against you but not an unimpressive win
Or we play a great game and lose to Clemson by a field goal.
The committee will hold the loss against you but not an unimpressive win
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