Playing Clemson again..

[SpeedsterX]

We should have won by more. We left a LOT of points in the red zone. I truly feel we can beat them again handily IF we played the same guys. Problem is, they are going to be playing 3 NFL caliber starters that were "sick" on defense (which I don't personally think it's the difference maker) but then they are playing Trevor "California" Lawrence.

We all know he's the real deal. He can m move, he's experienced, accurate as anyone I have ever seen, and plays smart. I have seen players in my lifetime that actually takes over games and he's is absolutely one.

I am just hoping we keep it close if we play them in the ACC Championship Game and we can still get in the playoffs if we lose. Thoughts?

[FaithInIrishForever]

Originally Posted by SpeedsterX

We should have won by more. We left a LOT of points in the red zone. I truly feel we can beat them again handily IF we played the same guys. Problem is, they are going to be playing 3 NFL caliber starters that were "sick" on defense (which I don't personally think it's the difference maker) but then they are playing Trevor "California" Lawrence.

We all know he's the real deal. He can m move, he's experienced, accurate as anyone I have ever seen, and plays smart. I have seen players in my lifetime that actually takes over games and he's is absolutely one.

I am just hoping we keep it close if we play them in the ACC Championship Game and we can still get in the playoffs if we lose. Thoughts?

I find it hard to believe Trevor's going that much over 400 yards against us. I don't think we'll score 47 again but we should not need too. Its hard to believe as well 6-0 would be better then 11-1 but these are different times so who knows?

[jessemoore97]

It'll be a challenge for sure. I think the plan still has to be controlling Etienne which really takes a big weapon out of their offense. Even with their starters on D back we should be able to move the ball, but like you said we have to get better in the RZ.

One other factor that cannot be overlooked, confidence. Our guys beat them and now believe they can compete with the best. That's a huge factor for our team knowing that they did it once, and with plenty of mistakes that they can clean up.

[drakan]

Originally Posted by FaithInIrishForever

I find it hard to believe Trevor's going that much over 400 yards against us. I don't think we'll score 47 again but we should not need too. Its hard to believe as well 6-0 would be better then 11-1 but these are different times so who knows?

TL wouldn't have made the rookie mistakes that Uiagalelei made that led to turnovers and he wouldn't have taken as many sacks.

[hawaiiirish]

It was very difficult to win one at home against Clemson,,,,the odds of us beating them twice is not high IMO...

2 things,,,first lets see if we can beat a pretty good carolina team

second speedster is right as long as we dont fold ... dont give a miami collapse performance.....if we play strong and make it a close entertaining game we can still get to the post season,,,then maybe i would like our chances better against them in the third time.....would be so odd to play a team three times i guess its unlikely for some unclear reason.

aloha

[irishwavend]

Quite frankly, BC was right there with us if their receivers didn’t drop balls for no reason...

[coltssb]

Everyone I hear from thinks Trevor will be the difference. I don’t believe that for a second. Maybe he doesn’t take a sack at the end. But DJ played just as good as anyone. And Trevor isn’t making some of those throws he did running opposite side throwing a dart across his body. A pure seed. So it balances out. What will hurt and is there 3-4 defensive starters being out. Yes, the backups were 5 stars. But they were freshmen or inexperienced. Let’s not forget ND didn’t score for 59 mins against that defense. Add those starters back and those young guys who just got experience. Tough sledding for sure.

[jbrown_9999]

1) Irish won a game that either team could have won. But the Irish played well and finally won a big game and that should be a positive factor for them in a re-match.

2) Clemson will have at least some of their missing players back but odds are that both teams will have some other players who do not play due to injury or Covid.

3) By now, Clemson will have already dissected Lea's defensive game plan that shut Clemson's run game down so the game of rock, paper, scissors will advance a few cycles. Likewise, same for ND O vs Clemson D.

4) Whatever advantage ND had from playing at home will be gone.

5) I'm guessing that Clemson has a 65/35 chance of winning

6) At the end of the day, ND will probably need to win the turnover battle to win.

[Synoptico]

Originally Posted by irishwavend

Quite frankly, BC was right there with us if their receivers didn’t drop balls for no reason...

BC was right there with clemson too

[Island Domer]

Originally Posted by Synoptico

BC was right there with clemson too

They had to come from behind to win at the end.

[Rocketsan]

We need a couple key stops on D, the run the sh!t out of the ball on them. Win.

You’re welcome.

[NYGoldenDomer]

I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing Clemson again. Well, watching them play Clemson again...you know what I mean.

[so_cal_irish]

Anyone else concerned about these ACC refs calling an ACC championship with us in it as 1 year members? We’ve been getting hosed the last couple weeks and could definitely see it happening again if were to make it to this game.

[NYGoldenDomer]

Originally Posted by so_cal_irish

Anyone else concerned about these ACC refs calling an ACC championship with us in it as 1 year members? We’ve been getting hosed the last couple weeks and could definitely see it happening again if were to make it to this game.

That's a good point.

[jessemoore97]

Originally Posted by irishwavend

Quite frankly, BC was right there with us if their receivers didn’t drop balls for no reason...

And they were right there with Clemson the whole game but couldn't score in the second half. And that was against a TL led Clemson.

[ndfanatic78]

Originally Posted by jessemoore97

And they were right there with Clemson the whole game but couldn't score in the second half. And that was against a TL led Clemson.

TL was out for the BC game too.

[SpeedsterX]

Originally Posted by FaithInIrishForever

I find it hard to believe Trevor's going that much over 400 yards against us. I don't think we'll score 47 again but we should not need too. Its hard to believe as well 6-0 would be better then 11-1 but these are different times so who knows?

It's not how many yards he passes for, it's how many touch downs he passes for. We'll se if we can pressure him into mistakes. All I have seen from him is he doesn't make too many mistakes.

[jessemoore97]

Originally Posted by ndfanatic78

TL was out for the BC game too.

Was he? I watched some of it and swear that I remember him playing. Oh well.

[cavic]

Originally Posted by coltssb

Everyone I hear from thinks Trevor will be the difference. I don’t believe that for a second. Maybe he doesn’t take a sack at the end. But DJ played just as good as anyone. And Trevor isn’t making some of those throws he did running opposite side throwing a dart across his body. A pure seed. So it balances out. What will hurt and is there 3-4 defensive starters being out. Yes, the backups were 5 stars. But they were freshmen or inexperienced. Let’s not forget ND didn’t score for 59 mins against that defense. Add those starters back and those young guys who just got experience. Tough sledding for sure.

Have to disagree with you here. If you go back to last years playoff game vs OSU with Clemson trailing 16-0 it was Lawrence who turned the game around and he did it with 2 long runs. OSU was containing Etiene and the passing game so Lawrence changed the momentum with his legs. He is a better runner than given credit for.

[coltssb]

Originally Posted by cavic

Have to disagree with you here. If you go back to last years playoff game vs OSU with Clemson trailing 16-0 it was Lawrence who turned the game around and he did it with 2 long runs. OSU was containing Etiene and the passing game so Lawrence changed the momentum with his legs. He is a better runner than given credit for.

DJ was also not on the squad. They now have two legitimate number one picks at qb at Clemson. I do agree that QB is a huge difference maker and a running QB can spark a big play. But from everything I’ve read and heard, ND was prepared for QB runs. I think they would had been prepared for Lawrence too. DJ did NOT hurt them in anyway against the Irish. He did pretty much everything Lawrence would/could do beside run here and there. But he picked up those runs by being able to pass for more yards. Again, that game could had went either way. Adding Lawrence just because he can run for 25 yards here and there isn’t going to win a game. Getting three or four starters back on defense will.
I’ll always take 3-4 guys over 1 any day of the week.

[ND_JACK]

Originally Posted by jessemoore97

Was he? I watched some of it and swear that I remember him playing. Oh well.

Third party input....TL did not play!

[Jersey Irish]

Originally Posted by so_cal_irish

Anyone else concerned about these ACC refs calling an ACC championship with us in it as 1 year members? We’ve been getting hosed the last couple weeks and could definitely see it happening again if were to make it to this game.

Noticed that too. Some very iffy calls in BC game

[Green Goblin]

Yeah, I’ve had this strange feeling that if we play them again...we’re going to beat them even more soundly.

I also have this weird feeling that we end up playing Miami in the title game and not Clemson.