Is our coaching staff so inept...

Media made too much about the starting production returning. That and it appears some regression has taken place, S&C is a huge issue and needs an overhaul so bad.

Is the season over, Coach?

344? Third shift?

Georgia Orange said:

that nobody saw how bad we are during all that preseason practice? And the media.....all that positive trash...did they just blindly drink the koolaid? In all the half century that i coached, when I had a bad team I saw it and tried to limit expectations to keep the pressure off of them. Our offensive line is so unathletic, it is pitiful. Coaches and media did this team a disservice by lifting expectations so high when they are so.....bad.

A bad team? Come on man, why dont we wait and see what happens.

Georgia Orange said:

that nobody saw how bad we are during all that preseason practice? And the media.....all that positive trash...did they just blindly drink the koolaid? In all the half century that i coached, when I had a bad team I saw it and tried to limit expectations to keep the pressure off of them. Our offensive line is so unathletic, it is pitiful. Coaches and media did this team a disservice by lifting expectations so high when they are so.....bad.

Like everyone, we're surprised with what we've seen thus far. But we didn't blindly drink the Kool Aid. The vast majority of what we wrote was tempered with some caution. We thought Cade was capable of taking the next step. But we didn't present it as a guarantee, and we noted some of the scattered moments late last season that were still present and certainly would have to be eradicated to get this team to the heights it seemed fit for. We thought the OL was in position to be really good, but we tempered that with some not-so-encouraging blocking episodes from late last season. We were pretty much all-in on this receiving corps. But we also didn't know the top playmaker was going to be out after the second series of the season. We were skeptical of the safety positions. And we thought they'd have major problems if Khalil Barnes wasn't available. Turns out safety hasn't been a big issue (so far). I did not anticipate TJ Moore's struggles. So that's a whiff so far. I wrote that all the hype Peter Woods was getting was probably not enough. Woods has been pretty good, and he's been double-teamed a lot, but fair to count that as a whiff so far. TJ Parker hasn't been the presence I expected. So you could count that as a whiff too so far. There's a lot of "so fars" in there and I think that's the operative part at this point. I've said this before, but our job is much more giving y'all an idea of what's going on inside the building rather than predicting games and records. So a lot of what we wrote was conveying the optimism we were picking up. But it'd be disingenuous of me to say we were not mostly on board with that optimism, based on the experienced talent returning. Again it was tempered, and we said time and again they still had to do go out and do it. If this team finishes 8-4, though? Yeah, we'd be kicking ourselves for buying too much of what we were hearing. And in that scenario y'all would certainly be warranted in asking us what we were thinking. We're two games in, though. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

How can you be so doomed after two games. So much left to play for.

Larry_Williams said:

Like everyone, we're surprised with what we've seen thus far. But we didn't blindly drink the Kool Aid. The vast majority of what we wrote was tempered with some caution. We thought Cade was capable of taking the next step. But we didn't present it as a guarantee, and we noted some of the scattered moments late last season that were still present and certainly would have to be eradicated to get this team to the heights it seemed fit for. We thought the OL was in position to be really good, but we tempered that with some not-so-encouraging blocking episodes from late last season. We were pretty much all-in on this receiving corps. But we also didn't know the top playmaker was going to be out after the second series of the season. We were skeptical of the safety positions. And we thought they'd have major problems if Khalil Barnes wasn't available. Turns out safety hasn't been a big issue (so far). I did not anticipate TJ Moore's struggles. So that's a whiff so far. I wrote that all the hype Peter Woods was getting was probably not enough. Woods has been pretty good, and he's been double-teamed a lot, but fair to count that as a whiff so far. TJ Parker hasn't been the presence I expected. So you could count that as a whiff too so far. There's a lot of "so fars" in there and I think that's the operative part at this point. I've said this before, but our job is much more giving y'all an idea of what's going on inside the building rather than predicting games and records. So a lot of what we wrote was conveying the optimism we were picking up. But it'd be disingenuous of me to say we were not mostly on board with that optimism, based on the experienced talent returning. Again it was tempered, and we said time and again they still had to do go out and do it. If this team finishes 8-4, though? Yeah, we'd be kicking ourselves for buying too much of what we were hearing. And in that scenario y'all would certainly be warranted in asking us what we were thinking. We're two games in, though. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

We’ve gone back and forth on this a few times this week, so I feel the need to point out this isn’t intended as a dig. What I’m struggling wrapping my head around is this - we’ve had a lot of the same narratives come out of camp the last 3 (especially the last 2) seasons that don’t really come to fruition. At what point as a talented and experienced reporter do you go, “fool me once (twice)….”? I do hope you’re right and this turns around. I miss Clemson football being fun to watch.

Georgia Orange said:

that nobody saw how bad we are during all that preseason practice? And the media.....all that positive trash...did they just blindly drink the koolaid? In all the half century that i coached, when I had a bad team I saw it and tried to limit expectations to keep the pressure off of them. Our offensive line is so unathletic, it is pitiful. Coaches and media did this team a disservice by lifting expectations so high when they are so.....bad.

No way you coached for 50 years and have this attitude. We are two freaking games into the season.

Howard's Jock said:

Is the season over, Coach?

Its overreaction Friday HJ, lol!

SherbertOrange said:

We’ve gone back and forth on this a few times this week, so I feel the need to point out this isn’t intended as a dig. What I’m struggling wrapping my head around is this - we’ve had a lot of the same narratives come out of camp the last 3 (especially the last 2) seasons that don’t really come to fruition. At what point as a talented and experienced reporter do you go, “fool me once (twice)….”? I do hope you’re right and this turns around. I miss Clemson football being fun to watch.

Larry and any media covering the team can only report what they are hearing. I think all the TI staff have written “but they have to prove it on the field” many times this off-season. To your point on the last 3 years of camp…just my opinion but I don’t think this staff self scouts very well and it’s not looking like they develop players very well…we’ll see as this season plays out. As fans we want to hear guarantees and certainties but good luck with that when you are dealing with a bunch of 18 to 22 year olds who are now getting paid massive amounts of money.

Larry_Williams said:

Like everyone, we're surprised with what we've seen thus far. But we didn't blindly drink the Kool Aid. The vast majority of what we wrote was tempered with some caution. We thought Cade was capable of taking the next step. But we didn't present it as a guarantee, and we noted some of the scattered moments late last season that were still present and certainly would have to be eradicated to get this team to the heights it seemed fit for. We thought the OL was in position to be really good, but we tempered that with some not-so-encouraging blocking episodes from late last season. We were pretty much all-in on this receiving corps. But we also didn't know the top playmaker was going to be out after the second series of the season. We were skeptical of the safety positions. And we thought they'd have major problems if Khalil Barnes wasn't available. Turns out safety hasn't been a big issue (so far). I did not anticipate TJ Moore's struggles. So that's a whiff so far. I wrote that all the hype Peter Woods was getting was probably not enough. Woods has been pretty good, and he's been double-teamed a lot, but fair to count that as a whiff so far. TJ Parker hasn't been the presence I expected. So you could count that as a whiff too so far. There's a lot of "so fars" in there and I think that's the operative part at this point. I've said this before, but our job is much more giving y'all an idea of what's going on inside the building rather than predicting games and records. So a lot of what we wrote was conveying the optimism we were picking up. But it'd be disingenuous of me to say we were not mostly on board with that optimism, based on the experienced talent returning. Again it was tempered, and we said time and again they still had to do go out and do it. If this team finishes 8-4, though? Yeah, we'd be kicking ourselves for buying too much of what we were hearing. And in that scenario y'all would certainly be warranted in asking us what we were thinking. We're two games in, though. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Not OP but when I refer to media, it’s outside media not you guys. IMO, you and especially Paul said more than once to pump the brakes. It’s common to assume returning production equates to improvement. At some point (it may be after this game) it will be obvious the talent and player development is lacking!

SherbertOrange said:

We’ve gone back and forth on this a few times this week, so I feel the need to point out this isn’t intended as a dig. What I’m struggling wrapping my head around is this - we’ve had a lot of the same narratives come out of camp the last 3 (especially the last 2) seasons that don’t really come to fruition. At what point as a talented and experienced reporter do you go, “fool me once (twice)….”? I do hope you’re right and this turns around. I miss Clemson football being fun to watch.

What was it last year that didn't come to fruition? Here's my recollection of the biggest positives of August camp 2024: "Cade looks a lot better. The passing game looks a lot better. Wesco and Moore are going to help a ton." That didn't come to fruition in the first game, of course. But it did for much of the rest of the season. The regression on defense was, of course, a big surprise.

And just on the topic of an accounting of stuff we've said in recent years: In 2022 when Cade Fever erupted when he guided a garbage-time TD drive in the opener against Georgia Tech, we caught hell for saying he wasn't ready. We also caught hell later that year for still saying he wasn't ready to start vs. Notre Dame, Miami, etc. He was simply doing too many things in practice (like spiking the ball on fourth down, just being frazzled) for us to buy into the idea that he was clearly the best option. Now was he clearly the best option after DJ totally went into a shell late that year (particularly against SC?) Yes. But he still had a ways to go, evidenced by yet more frazzled stuff in the bowl game against Tennessee. On the Wes Goodwin hire, I didn't blast it. But I did say it was the most unconventional hire in college football history, and Dabo was taking a considerable risk. Anyway, I guess my point is there have been a wide array of instances of us being at least a little skeptical.

Georgia Orange said:

that nobody saw how bad we are during all that preseason practice? And the media.....all that positive trash...did they just blindly drink the koolaid? In all the half century that i coached, when I had a bad team I saw it and tried to limit expectations to keep the pressure off of them. Our offensive line is so unathletic, it is pitiful. Coaches and media did this team a disservice by lifting expectations so high when they are so.....bad.

Georgia Orange said:

that nobody saw how bad we are during all that preseason practice? And the media.....all that positive trash...did they just blindly drink the koolaid? In all the half century that i coached, when I had a bad team I saw it and tried to limit expectations to keep the pressure off of them. Our offensive line is so unathletic, it is pitiful. Coaches and media did this team a disservice by lifting expectations so high when they are so.....bad.

Maybe you shouldn’t watch.

This is nothing new. I can't tell you how many times I have felt like we were out coached and/or unprepared, out of position, etc. over the last several years. Heck, when CJ Spiller and Tyler Grisham are two of your main staff members on offense, that's all you need to know.

Dabo teams have often times been slow starting...not sure why but they have. But to throw the season away after 2 weeks is unfair. I think @Larry_Williams lays it out perfect above about what has happened

Georgia Orange said:

that nobody saw how bad we are during all that preseason practice? And the media.....all that positive trash...did they just blindly drink the koolaid? In all the half century that i coached, when I had a bad team I saw it and tried to limit expectations to keep the pressure off of them. Our offensive line is so unathletic, it is pitiful. Coaches and media did this team a disservice by lifting expectations so high when they are so.....bad.

In all your years coaching did you not ever have a team or players that didn’t translate what they did in practice to a game setting? Did you never have a team that started slow, for whatever reason, and improved? Or did you just come here to prove that you could do it better than Clemson’s staff?

Our own fans were leading the ridiculous hype train for this team more than anybody else. Anybody in the media who doubted this was a Top 5 preseason team got blasted by this fanbase. For those with short memories, that was LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AGO Everyone needs to calm down and go out and support this team, this can still be a very successful season

Who writes about sports and is always accurate in every detail. People listen to a weatherman whose accuracy is 50%. Athletes and teams underperform every season. Duh! If you know someone who is a soothsayer, read them.

Georgia Orange said:

that nobody saw how bad we are during all that preseason practice? And the media.....all that positive trash...did they just blindly drink the koolaid? In all the half century that i coached, when I had a bad team I saw it and tried to limit expectations to keep the pressure off of them. Our offensive line is so unathletic, it is pitiful. Coaches and media did this team a disservice by lifting expectations so high when they are so.....bad.

My guess is you didn't find the answers in the bottom of the bottle and TI was the next stop...amirite

Larry_Williams said:

I wrote that all the hype Peter Woods was getting was probably not enough. Woods has been pretty good, and he's been double-teamed a lot, but fair to count that as a whiff so far. TJ Parker hasn't been the presence I expected. So you could count that as a whiff too so far.

eh...I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on those so far. They haven't been beaten, they've been "schemed out" by the opponent. LSU did a great job of quick throws that minimized the strength of our D. On obvious run and pass downs the DL has done their job. We will know more about them after Sat. GT, specifically with King, likes to attack the DL. The whole front 7 does seen susceptible to the cut back though. I don't know if that is overpursuit or out of position, or not getting off blocks. I'll leave that to someone that watches film. But that aspect really scares me for GT.

wajordan said:

Our own fans were leading the ridiculous hype train for this team more than anybody else. Anybody in the media who doubted this was a Top 5 preseason team got blasted by this fanbase. For those with short memories, that was LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AGO Everyone needs to calm down and go out and support this team, this can still be a very successful season

I remember how jittery people were a week or so before the season. When prognosticators praised Clemson it was "rat poison!!!!" When some folks talked favorably about LSU or, horrors, even picked them to win it was "THIS GUY IS AN IDIOT!" At that point no one who predicts anything can win, haha.

Larry_Williams said:

Like everyone, we're surprised with what we've seen thus far. But we didn't blindly drink the Kool Aid. The vast majority of what we wrote was tempered with some caution. We thought Cade was capable of taking the next step. But we didn't present it as a guarantee, and we noted some of the scattered moments late last season that were still present and certainly would have to be eradicated to get this team to the heights it seemed fit for. We thought the OL was in position to be really good, but we tempered that with some not-so-encouraging blocking episodes from late last season. We were pretty much all-in on this receiving corps. But we also didn't know the top playmaker was going to be out after the second series of the season. We were skeptical of the safety positions. And we thought they'd have major problems if Khalil Barnes wasn't available. Turns out safety hasn't been a big issue (so far). I did not anticipate TJ Moore's struggles. So that's a whiff so far. I wrote that all the hype Peter Woods was getting was probably not enough. Woods has been pretty good, and he's been double-teamed a lot, but fair to count that as a whiff so far. TJ Parker hasn't been the presence I expected. So you could count that as a whiff too so far. There's a lot of "so fars" in there and I think that's the operative part at this point. I've said this before, but our job is much more giving y'all an idea of what's going on inside the building rather than predicting games and records. So a lot of what we wrote was conveying the optimism we were picking up. But it'd be disingenuous of me to say we were not mostly on board with that optimism, based on the experienced talent returning. Again it was tempered, and we said time and again they still had to do go out and do it. If this team finishes 8-4, though? Yeah, we'd be kicking ourselves for buying too much of what we were hearing. And in that scenario y'all would certainly be warranted in asking us what we were thinking. We're two games in, though. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

It never entered my mind to question TI's perspective on our season.....you have limited access to practices etc. You can only go on talent level, experience and what it looks like on paper plus a little inside info. At some point however, you do begin to question whether our coaches have the juice to form the talent into a hungry aggressive well oiled team. I like all of them and hope we're about to see a big turnaround!

Larry_Williams said:

Like everyone, we're surprised with what we've seen thus far. But we didn't blindly drink the Kool Aid. The vast majority of what we wrote was tempered with some caution. We thought Cade was capable of taking the next step. But we didn't present it as a guarantee, and we noted some of the scattered moments late last season that were still present and certainly would have to be eradicated to get this team to the heights it seemed fit for. We thought the OL was in position to be really good, but we tempered that with some not-so-encouraging blocking episodes from late last season. We were pretty much all-in on this receiving corps. But we also didn't know the top playmaker was going to be out after the second series of the season. We were skeptical of the safety positions. And we thought they'd have major problems if Khalil Barnes wasn't available. Turns out safety hasn't been a big issue (so far). I did not anticipate TJ Moore's struggles. So that's a whiff so far. I wrote that all the hype Peter Woods was getting was probably not enough. Woods has been pretty good, and he's been double-teamed a lot, but fair to count that as a whiff so far. TJ Parker hasn't been the presence I expected. So you could count that as a whiff too so far. There's a lot of "so fars" in there and I think that's the operative part at this point. I've said this before, but our job is much more giving y'all an idea of what's going on inside the building rather than predicting games and records. So a lot of what we wrote was conveying the optimism we were picking up. But it'd be disingenuous of me to say we were not mostly on board with that optimism, based on the experienced talent returning. Again it was tempered, and we said time and again they still had to do go out and do it. If this team finishes 8-4, though? Yeah, we'd be kicking ourselves for buying too much of what we were hearing. And in that scenario y'all would certainly be warranted in asking us what we were thinking. We're two games in, though. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

I'm just about certain that when he said "media", he was talking about the national guys, not TI. McElroy had us at #1, shoot, even Finebaum was praising us which never happens.