Our QB play will determine outcome..

[Lonnie]

I can't believe I'm about to write what I'm about to write. And really, I'm just thinking out loud here.

If Connor's foot is still bothering him, and he's going to see limited practice this week, AND knowing how weak Clemson's back 5 are, why don't we give DT a shot in this game? I'm not sure that the tigers would see that wrinkle coming... unless dabo reads cockytalk...

[SClawman]

O-line is gonna have to block better than they did against Wofford obviously. Our receivers and tight ends can get open on Clemson's defense. We need to score early and often. Can't mess around and get in a hole. Our defense can keep us in the game, but the offense has to do its part.

[kick_ball]

maintaining long sustained balanced drives is going to be the biggest factor...RUN THE FOOTBALL! do not come out slinging the ball around.... this will give our D time to rest and eat clock limiting clemsons chances... clemson is going to score but if our D is well rested they maybe able to make that one or two crucial stops that change the game... we will not win a shootout with clemson ... long balanced sustained drives by our offense are going to win this game

[2four2Gamecock]

Originally Posted by Lonnie

I can't believe I'm about to write what I'm about to write. And really, I'm just thinking out loud here.

If Connor's foot is still bothering him, and he's going to see limited practice this week, AND knowing how weak Clemson's back 5 are, why don't we give DT a shot in this game? I'm not sure that the tigers would see that wrinkle coming... unless dabo reads cockytalk...

Why not play the better QB then sub in DT if there is an injury?

[cofcgamecock9]

Originally Posted by 2four2Gamecock

Why not play the better QB then sub in DT if there is an injury?

I agree 100% as long as Connor is producing early. But this is a game where we need to make a change if Connor isn't moving the offense. Clemsons defense is just too bad to have a QB out there if he is not moving the chains.

I believe in Connor and I hope he plays just like he did against Many teams this year. But if he refuses to throw it against a secondary that is as bad as Clemsons then we have to get someone in that will throw it.

[Rebel4ever]

Shaw plays them like he did last year, he will carve them up again.

[snoopcockycock]

don't mean this to be offensive to anyone, but several of you sound like you're in panic mode. listen, i understand that our offense had a bad day last week, when we thought that they would dominate. but there are a few things that you need to consider. first, never underestimate the power of a strong willed heart, or the difficulty of playing in rhythm against a freaky team that is unlike any other that you play. wofford is a nasty team to play, and they put everything they had into that game, and gave us fits. it's ok. they did the same thing to clempscum last year, and have done the same thing to many, many great teams in the past. but you can't judge connor, or our offense, on that game. it was a atypical game, and not indicative of our team.
connor has played very well under terrible circumstances all year. so he had a really bad game. well, he has almost always bounced back very well after having a bad game. i expect him and our coaches to set things up very well for him in this game. a better feeling should be the arkie and tenn games. they are much more like cu. great offenses, especially passing the ball, and subpar defenses. look at connor's, and our teams efforts in those games and you should feel better about this weeks game.
no need to panic. we will go up there and out muscle them to a win. one last point, our ol always has trouble with smaller faster dl's, but play much better against bigger slower dl's. so they will handle cu's dl, and connor will have a career day. mark it down!

[Evilchicken2]

Originally Posted by cofcgamecock9

I really believe this. Our d-line is going to get its stops and big plays and Clemson is going to score some points. Our running backs are going to gain some yards (probably around 100-150). I feel very comfortable that all of this will pan out just like we expect.

This game will come down to QB play. Shaw plays like he did against UT, Ark, UGA, Mizzou, UAB, and even LSU, SC wins. His performance against LSU would get us 40 points against Clemson's defense.

Shaw plays like he did against Florida, Kentucky, or Wofford and SC loses.

Everyone on here knows I have been a HUGE proponent of Connor Shaw. That is true. But in THIS PARTICULAR game, if Shaw seems like he is afraid to throw it like it appeared against Wofford, DT needs to go in, even in a hostile environment. This is not a "who is a better QB point." I am saying this because Clemson's secondary is horrible and all SC needs is for someone to actually throw the ball downfield.

In any other game, I would have said Shaw was still our best option because we could play ball control and still win and having DT in would risk too many turnovers from lack of experience. This game is different. We can score 40 easily on Clemson if we just throw the ball.

If Connor does what he did against Ark and UT, which was only a couple of weeks ago, we will beat Clemson.

I simply do not trust Connor out there right now. He's over thinking his reads, pulls down and wants to run all the time. Spurrier needs to take this kid out to O'Charlies for a steak and some beers and whisper superlatives in his ear or something, because we need his confidence to be red hot.

[JTsecSC]

Originally Posted by Evilchicken2

I simply do not trust Connor out there right now. He's over thinking his reads, pulls down and wants to run all the time. Spurrier needs to take this kid out to O'Charlies for a steak and some beers and whisper superlatives in his ear or something, because we need his confidence to be red hot.

Hot hands and a run game. We need to run it with authority and Connor has to show some poise. Smart, not tentative.