Thoughts on the Cal game
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 12:37 am- Amazing turnout, the best in stadium history for Thanksgiving week.
- Jennings was amazing. Somehow PFF only gave him credit for two Big Time Throws, but the back-to-back-to-back throws he made, with the final one being the ball that three defenders dove at and still made the target was incredible. They put a lot on his shoulders. I know he took a lot more time to release the ball than the other games, but that is the Cal defense - they have the ability to lock up on the outside and then throw a bunch of zones at you in the middle. It is hard to read. When they played Miami, Cam Ward had the same issue and just had to buy himself a lot of time to figure things out.
- In the running back room, Brashard gutted another game out and was solid in the running game and outstanding in the passing game. McFall added a lot of electricity on the field, and is going to impact both the ACC Championship game and the playoffs. I bet that by the time we get to the playoffs, both LJ and Brashard will be healthy.
- That said, the running game is still a concern. We only ran it 29 times today. The last three games it has been subpar. The line hasn't been blowing people off the line since the BC game. Part of that was Parr not playing today. Sparks does well technically, but doesn't get the drive in zone blocking and isn't as mobile or effective when it comes to the Gap plays that we run. The penalties, of course, killed us as well and really impacted the ability to run the ball. But it wasn't just Sparks, across the board we didn't block very well in the running game and pass protection. It was surprising because there were a lot of plays where only 6 were in the box and we chose to pass. What Cal was doing was starting players back in the RPO and trying to trick Jennings into calling the run, and then sneding the safeties up into the box immediately and had the LBs attack the LOS. It was really dynamic. Great scheme from Cal. But we have got to turn the running game around.
- In pass protection, Byrd really struggled in the first half with both 44 and 7. He got pulled at some point in the second quarter and we put Chamblee in, who did a little better, but struggled some as well. This is something to watch because Clemson has an outstanding defensive line.
- HIbner was great, especially the early TD. Hudson was having a really nice day, just needed to come down with the one TD from Jennings that went through his hands.
- On defense, Cal ran a total of 68 plays. We got 20 pressures. That is an amazing number. Really spread out across the team as well. Only credited with 5 sacks, but 17 tackles for a loss is a great number as well. The DL has played amazing since the BC game.
- Under 3 yards per carry again. Run defense is incredible. All three levels - DL, LB and S all play well. Not allowing big explosives from that group is a big deal. We dominated the line and shut them down. NWO had another double digit tackle day.
- Huge props to both the defensive players and Symons for that performance. Rogers is not an awful QB. And to be prepared for a pocket passer all week and find out right before the game you are going to get a completely different style of QB is a really difficult challenge. You saw it hurt us once on a zone read keeper early around the left side that went for a big gain, and then there was the other scramble he got hurt on that was a designed QB draw. But really bottled it up. And then you have to face a tall QB that you have zero clue about. The defense adjusted well and really pretty much shut Cal down. Great job by both the players and the staff.
And now, on to the championship game and then the playoffs. Yes, we are a lock for the playoffs. The committee is not going to let a championship game derail an undefeated conference season in a power 4 conference, especially after in the three head-to-head games this weekend, the ACC certainly showed that we can play with the SEC. Louisville reminded everyone how bad Kentucky is, which takes Ole Miss out of the running. SMU is a lock for the playoffs. Clemson is playing the ACC championship game to try and steal a bid from Bama/South Carolina/Colorado/BYU, who are the next teams in line. But a 5-3 conference record should never be good enough for the college football playoffs.
- Jennings was amazing. Somehow PFF only gave him credit for two Big Time Throws, but the back-to-back-to-back throws he made, with the final one being the ball that three defenders dove at and still made the target was incredible. They put a lot on his shoulders. I know he took a lot more time to release the ball than the other games, but that is the Cal defense - they have the ability to lock up on the outside and then throw a bunch of zones at you in the middle. It is hard to read. When they played Miami, Cam Ward had the same issue and just had to buy himself a lot of time to figure things out.
- In the running back room, Brashard gutted another game out and was solid in the running game and outstanding in the passing game. McFall added a lot of electricity on the field, and is going to impact both the ACC Championship game and the playoffs. I bet that by the time we get to the playoffs, both LJ and Brashard will be healthy.
- That said, the running game is still a concern. We only ran it 29 times today. The last three games it has been subpar. The line hasn't been blowing people off the line since the BC game. Part of that was Parr not playing today. Sparks does well technically, but doesn't get the drive in zone blocking and isn't as mobile or effective when it comes to the Gap plays that we run. The penalties, of course, killed us as well and really impacted the ability to run the ball. But it wasn't just Sparks, across the board we didn't block very well in the running game and pass protection. It was surprising because there were a lot of plays where only 6 were in the box and we chose to pass. What Cal was doing was starting players back in the RPO and trying to trick Jennings into calling the run, and then sneding the safeties up into the box immediately and had the LBs attack the LOS. It was really dynamic. Great scheme from Cal. But we have got to turn the running game around.
- In pass protection, Byrd really struggled in the first half with both 44 and 7. He got pulled at some point in the second quarter and we put Chamblee in, who did a little better, but struggled some as well. This is something to watch because Clemson has an outstanding defensive line.
- HIbner was great, especially the early TD. Hudson was having a really nice day, just needed to come down with the one TD from Jennings that went through his hands.
- On defense, Cal ran a total of 68 plays. We got 20 pressures. That is an amazing number. Really spread out across the team as well. Only credited with 5 sacks, but 17 tackles for a loss is a great number as well. The DL has played amazing since the BC game.
- Under 3 yards per carry again. Run defense is incredible. All three levels - DL, LB and S all play well. Not allowing big explosives from that group is a big deal. We dominated the line and shut them down. NWO had another double digit tackle day.
- Huge props to both the defensive players and Symons for that performance. Rogers is not an awful QB. And to be prepared for a pocket passer all week and find out right before the game you are going to get a completely different style of QB is a really difficult challenge. You saw it hurt us once on a zone read keeper early around the left side that went for a big gain, and then there was the other scramble he got hurt on that was a designed QB draw. But really bottled it up. And then you have to face a tall QB that you have zero clue about. The defense adjusted well and really pretty much shut Cal down. Great job by both the players and the staff.
And now, on to the championship game and then the playoffs. Yes, we are a lock for the playoffs. The committee is not going to let a championship game derail an undefeated conference season in a power 4 conference, especially after in the three head-to-head games this weekend, the ACC certainly showed that we can play with the SEC. Louisville reminded everyone how bad Kentucky is, which takes Ole Miss out of the running. SMU is a lock for the playoffs. Clemson is playing the ACC championship game to try and steal a bid from Bama/South Carolina/Colorado/BYU, who are the next teams in line. But a 5-3 conference record should never be good enough for the college football playoffs.