Clemson traveled up to Durham, NC to take on the Duke Blue Devils and these are the overreacting knee jerk reactions that I have AS THE GAME HAPPENS.
First Quarter:
We won’t have to wait long to see the new Clemson offense. Duke won the toss and elected to defer. Cade Klubnik hands the ball off to Will Shipley on the first play and we are officially underway. Will Shipley gets a first down on the second play.
Cade Klubnik drops back on 3rd and 10 and nearly throws an interception right across the middle of the field. The ball went right to the Duke defender but luckily for the Tigers he dropped the ball. Not sure if Cade didn’t see him, or if the ball just came out of his hands a little hot, but not a great first throw of the night.
After a big punt return for Duke, Riley Leonard and the Blue Devils offense comes onto the field. The first play for Duke? False start.
XT is explosive, powerful, and fast.
Despite the defensive line getting good push, Duke is moving the ball pretty well against the defense. Clemson is missing some open field tackles early.
The Clemson defense finally wakes up a little bit and keeps Duke out of the endzone after first and goal. Duke jumps out to an early 3-0 lead. It looks like Nate Wiggins was not one of the starters for tonight and I’m not sure why yet. Duke had a lot of success on their first drive passing the ball. A lot of soft coverage and easy completions for Leonard.
Cade came out in the first drive, and early in the second drive with a little extra juice.He missed the only throw on the first drive high, and then overthrew a screen pass to open the second drive. He seemingly settled in with his throws and is now hitting guys. Clemson moved the ball well but stalled out around the 25. Robert Gunn III came out to attempt his first career field goal and it was blocked. Duke still leads 3-0.
Clemson looks like they are playing slow and timid. They need to settle into the game and play free. Defense needs to play with their hair on fire and take away the short game. Offense is coming out slow after all of the hype that we heard from coaches and players in the pre-season. They have got to get going soon.
Second Quarter:
Sheridan Jones blows up a screen pass, and Duke will have to settle for a field goal. Duke takes a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Clemson capitalizes on a muffed punt from Duke, and just a few plays later Cade Klubnik connects with Will Shipley on a 2 yard touchdown pass. Clemson scores their first points of the season and takes a 7-6 lead. They have seen the end zone now and need to use this to spark the offense. Time to get going.
Duke took a deep shot, which reminds me. Nate Wiggins is very good at football.
There were a lot of 3 and outs for each team to finish out the half.
Halftime Thoughts:
The offense has taken one shot. Double coverage to Cole Turner. Where is the tempo, where are the shots, where is Jake Briningstool, Adam Randall, and Beaux Collins? We heard great things all summer and fall about those three and combined they have 2 catches for 19 yards. I understand that this is the first game with a brand new offensive scheme but we haven’t seen what we heard about all camp.
Offense has got to get it figured out in the locker room.
The defense is getting good pressure and I have been very pleased with the youngsters. TJ Parker and Peter Woods are as advertised. My biggest problem with the defense through the first half, we have no spy on Riley Leonard, and we are giving WAY too much cushion on these wide receivers. The play that jumps out is on 4th and 7 on Dukes last drive they complete the pass and we are playing 3 yards off of the receiver.
Everything just feels sloppy. We have got some things to figure out in the locker room, and we will need to see them fixed in order for Clemson to secure this win.
Third Quarter:
Clemson gets Duke to a 3rd down and has Riley Leonard all but sacked. He somehow escapes and busts off a 44 yard touchdown run. Duke claims the lead 13-7.
Clemson comes out hot, busting some big runs, led by a 49 yard rush up the middle for Phil Mafah. Clemson gets in a goal to go situation and goes backwards. Robert Gunn III comes out for another field goal attempt after having one blocked in the first half, and shanks this one to the pull side, which may also have been blocked.
Clemson comes out and is dominant on defense with a three and out and gets the offense the ball back. Clemson drives down the field again and gets down to the 7 yard line just to fumble on the QB/RB exchange. Clemson continues to shoot themselves in the foot on offense tonight.
Defense comes back out and puts up another three and out. The defense is keeping Clemson in the game right now. If they want to take this game, a touchdown on this drive seems like a must.
Clemson came out in the third quarter and had no problem moving the ball until they got inside of the 10 yard line. Silly mistakes was the name of the game this quarter.
Outside of the terrible tackle attempt on Riley Leonard in the first drive, the defense really showed up this quarter.
Clemson will start the 4th quarter with a 2nd and 1 at the Duke 6 yard line. They HAVE to find a way to score here.
Fourth Quarter:
Clemson comes out and runs the ball with Mafah to get the ball down to the 1. On the very next play Mafah fumbles the ball. Duke takes over at the Clemson 33 yard line. Clemson continues to shoot themselves in the foot.
Duke takes advantage of another Clemson mistake and drives 33 yards for a touchdown. Duke would go for 2 and convert to take a 21-7 lead with 10:33 left in the game.
Clemson is forced to go for it on 4th and 7, Cade gets 6 yards and begins his slide and draws a late hit and targeting foul. Because it was AFTER the play, the ball goes to Duke, and Clemson is running out of chances.
To top the night off, Cade throws an interception off of a tipped pass by the wide receiver.
Final Thoughts:
We need to reconsider every thought we had about this team in the offseason. The defense is a very strong unit but after the first game, it looks like it will be the same as the last two seasons. They will be asked to carry this team all season. Clemson Moved the ball well in the second half, but suffered WAY too many self inflicted wounds to even think about having an opportunity to win this game.
Clemson falls to Duke 28-7. The Tigers will be back in action next week at home against Charleston Southern.
