Clemson knows App is coming and will be Ready

[BTK2000]

http://www.tigernet.com/story/football/ ... tion-14038

He gives App a lot of praise and isn't overlooking the mountaineers

[WVAppsfan]

Typical Coach talk. I am sure that the fans of Tiger Nation will be looking forward to the Louisville game. My only hope is that the team does as well. I am looking forward to going to the game.

[Yosef]

Agreed - no coach will suggest that they are looking past a game ever. If he/she does, they should be canned.

[T-Dog]

I've been listening to all of Dabo's media appearances this week. The local media doesn't respect App State at all. 75% of their questions have been about Mike Williams and banning goalposts.

[Gonzo]

I don't think their state of mind will be as influential as the fact that they have superior talent and depth at most positions.

[moehler]

I don't know, right after his game, he watched our game, doesn't sound like a HC overlooking us, I think he knows we present a tougher challenge than when we signed up to play them a couple of years ago, now, whether or not he can convince his team that we are any good, remains to be seen.

[T-Dog]

Dabo said ap-puh-lay-shun in his presser today. Instead of just beating them, I want to beat them by several hundred points now.

[AtlAppMan]

I don't think their state of mind will be as influential as the fact that they have superior talent and depth at most positions.

I have seen teams with "superior talent and depth" be beaten many times by teams that play as a team with good talent.

[ASU3432M]

There is no excuse for any head football coach, particularly at school in the South just a few hours away from us; mispronouncing our name.

[AppinVA]

I don't think their state of mind will be as influential as the fact that they have superior talent and depth at most positions.

I have seen teams with "superior talent and depth" be beaten many times by teams that play as a team with good talent.

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.

[AtlAppMan]

Was Larry Bird the MOST talented basketball player? No but I would take him on my team every time.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Was Larry Bird the MOST talented basketball player? No but I would take him on my team every time.

Compared to the greats he played in his era, no he was not the most talented, however Larry Bird was a very talented basketball player.

People do care about talent. That's why we recruit, and try to land the best talent. It is up to the coach at that point to put the pieces together. Nobody ever says, "Awesome we got a 5 star QB, but can he play as a team player?" Why? Because it is assumed that the coach will be certain that occurs. Clemson has more talented players, how they play as a team....I don't watch them enough and it's too early in the season to say yes or no.

Early Prediction Stands

Kitty Cats - 42
Mountaineers - 21

[moonshine]

Watched the Clemson v Wofford game and I thought the Terrier D did a respectable job containing Clemson's offense given the talent gap. In true WC fashion, they forced Clemson to string together 10+ play drives on several possessions and swarmed to the ball. The Terriers struggled to get off the field on 3rd down and make tackles upon first contact. Wofford's Center was getting blown off the ball when Pagano was in which completely disrupted their offense.

App must hold up at the LOS. Fernandez will have his work cut out for him but I think Woody can get some pressure with his scheme. The D must wrap up (looking at you secondary) and not allow Clemson to gain a lot of yardage after contact. Gallman is load between the tackles and Ray Ray is very dangerous on the outside with the quick hitting screens. No need to mention Watson as I'm sure everyone already knows what he can do. "The Freak's" (Jevon Kearse) son plays Safety for the Tigers and he's long and rangy so Lamb can ill afford to hang the ball up.

App will match up much better against the Tigers than the Terriers did but the boys in orange have no shortage of talent on both sides of the ball. App must focus and execute on every play. App's D needs to force a few mistakes and get off the field on 3rd down to stay in the game. Hopefully the O can put sustain some drives to keep DW and co. off the field.

[sixtoes9134]

Watched the Clemson v Wofford game and I thought the Terrier D did a respectable job containing Clemson's offense given the talent gap. In true WC fashion, they forced Clemson to string together 10+ play drives on several possessions and swarmed to the ball. The Terriers struggled to get off the field on 3rd down and make tackles upon first contact. Wofford's Center was getting blown off the ball when Pagano was in which completely disrupted their offense.

App must hold up at the LOS. Fernandez will have his work cut out for him but I think Woody can get some pressure with his scheme. The D must wrap up (looking at you secondary) and not allow Clemson to gain a lot of yardage after contact. Gallman is load between the tackles and Ray Ray is very dangerous on the outside with the quick hitting screens. No need to mention Watson as I'm sure everyone already knows what he can do. "The Freak's" (Jevon Kearse) son plays Safety for the Tigers and he's long and rangy so Lamb can ill afford to hang the ball up.

App will match up much better against the Tigers than the Terriers did but the boys in orange have no shortage of talent on both sides of the ball. App must focus and execute on every play. App's D needs to force a few mistakes and get off the field on 3rd down to stay in the game. Hopefully the O can put sustain some drives to keep DW and co. off the field.

I expect Fernandez, Small, and Burns will rotate a good bit and since a bunch of other guys got time last weekend, I would not be shocked to see a good bit of rotation along defensive front and LBs to keep them fresh. This is what we have been shooting for - DEPTH who can come in and contribute with solid minutes - doubt Wofford has this luxury.

Also, I don't see Jesse Chapman getting blown off the ball.

[Cu_tigers_time]

Dabo has done well at having our team ready to play each week. A lot of people hate on Dabo, but we have been very well coached team over the last few years. We don't kill ourselves with penelties. Our double dIgit win record over non ranked teams is some of the proof.

With that said I really like your app state team. I think yall will be flirting with the top 25 by the end of the year.

I see yall moving the ball, but also have a good bit of 3 and outs. That's what venables does best with his aggressive style. They key is holding our offense during those 3 and outs. That's how we end up jumping out to big leads.

[sixtoes9134]

Dabo has done well at having our team ready to play each week. A lot of people hate on Dabo, but we have been very well coached team over the last few years. We don't kill ourselves with penelties. Our double dIgit win record over non ranked teams is some of the proof.

With that said I really like your app state team. I think yall will be flirting with the top 25 by the end of the year.

I see yall moving the ball, but also have a good bit of 3 and outs. That's what venables does best with his aggressive style. They key is holding our offense during those 3 and outs. That's how we end up jumping out to big leads.

That's the part I'm most concerned about, holding your offense to some 3 and outs. I too believe we will move the ball. I read a post on TigerNet saying the key to slowing us down is shutting down Marcus Cox. In a way that is true, but our offense is definitely not 1 dimensional in that way.

[MtnDevil95]

Clemson is stacked with talent this year, and Dabo has made strides in reducing the "pull a Clemson" losses in recent history. I've no delusions on the most likely outcome of this game, however there are things that App can do to put itself in a position for an unlikely outcome, or at least to prevent too much carnage. The current line is Clemson -17, which means the battle to beat expectation for the Apps is a bit of steeper hill to climb. Losing 42-21 will not be good enough, which means the boys in white (as it turns out we're wearing the all white unis) will need to step it up big time on at least one side of the ball.

If the App defense can force some 3 and outs, and hold the big plays from Watson and his recievers, that will help the defense stand strong deeper into the 4th quarter. The O-line will have to really man up on the big uglies in the trenches and spring Upshaw and Cox for respectable yards per carry. Honestly Clemson's secondary scares me a bit, so I think App nees to be traditional SEC in it's approach and establish the run to open up the passing. 3 yards and a cloud of dust time.

Something App can do to help itself in a potentially game changing way is to win the turnover battle. Protect the ball boys, cherish every offensive play and no mistakes that give up the rock.

[DeathValleyTiger]

Anxious to see how this plays out. I think most Clemson fans know App State will be a MUCH stiffer test than what we saw Saturday in Wofford. The only real challenge Wofford presented was from an offensive schematic standpoint. App on the other hand has the athletes to challenge Clemson.

It is my understanding (read on a Clemson site) App likes to play some Cover0/1? If so I am curious to see 1. how our line handles the blitz (True Freshman LT) 2. How App DB's match up against our WR's.

I think if APP can sustain long drives you have a chance to wear on our D. Talent certainly isn't an issue with our first team but behind the starters there is a decent gap in experience. Establishing the run would go a long way in allowing y'all to setup the passing game.

[asu66]

Dabo said ap-puh-lay-shun in his presser today. Instead of just beating them, I want to beat them by several hundred points now.

This was, of course, done on purposes to jab us. Swinney is a 'Bama native and a 'Bama grad. He's never lived or worked anywhere other than in 'Bama and in SC. The guy's not an imbecile and he didn't grow up in 'Bama and SC hearing and saying ap-puh-lay-shun!

His handlers have made him aware that it's sensitive with our students, alums, fans and players and suggested that he needle us a bit. And he's followed through on it--every day this week--even after being corrected at least twice. He's having is own little party-time fun with it. He's an a**.

I want us to beat him by one stinkin' point on the last play of the game with 00 seconds remaining on the clock. I want him to feel the pain all season; and hear about it from all of Clemson's fans and rivals all season.

[Cu_tigers_time]

Dabo said ap-puh-lay-shun in his presser today. Instead of just beating them, I want to beat them by several hundred points now.

This was, of course, done on purposes to jab us. Swinney is a 'Bama native and a 'Bama grad. He's never lived or worked anywhere other than in 'Bama and in SC. The guy's not an imbecile and he didn't grow up in 'Bama and SC hearing and saying ap-puh-lay-shun!

His handlers have made him aware that it's sensitive with our students, alums, fans and players and suggested that he needle us a bit. And he's followed through on it--every day this week--even after being corrected at least twice. He's having is own little party-time fun with it. He's an a**.

I want us to beat him by one stinkin' point on the last play of the game with 00 seconds remaining on the clock. I want him to feel the pain all season; and hear about it from all of Clemson's fans and rivals all season.

You really don't like Dabo for some reason. I've only heard of Dabo hate from gamecock fans, but who knows.

Yall will really enjoy watching A Scott play for us. He goes 100% every play. I haven't seen a guy that pushes as hard as he does. He tries to score every time he touches the ball. It's going to be a fun game. Hopefully the rain holds up.