2018 Graveyard Thread

[rioninusc]

Originally Posted by Absfract

If one is a Gamecock fan growing up... one would think Clemson would be the last destination on this earth one would end up.

Wasn't Mike Williams a Gamecock fan? You have that edge, but if you don't recruit them, they will most likely head elsewhere, even to a rivals school. Why I say if he is a Gamecock fan, with this recruiting staff, i'm 99.99% sure XT will be a Gamecock next year.

Originally Posted by AtlantaSportsGuy

Gamecocks still lead.

Thanks for the update ASG!

[Ace Dilcock]

Originally Posted by gotrice?

I believe they've been top 20 nationally each of the last 3 years on defense with 2 of those 3 being in the top 10 and one of those years being #1 overall. They've been putting together some elite units and sending lots of players to the NFL on that side of the ball.

I am not saying their D is no good, just that it is not all that. They have talent and a scheme that allows them to be very effective, especially early in games before the Offense can adjust. And they pad their stats against teams with anemic offenses like BC, Syracuse, SC State. And us, this year.

They play man coverage, jump the short routes, and send the house, with blitzers coming from different angles and locations. It works gangbusters against the run and the pass, resulting in TFLs and sacks. But you can beat it - as Louisville, Pitt and even Alabama (at times) did. You have to be able to:

• Have a running QB that can avoid the initial push - if that happens, he either has a lot of room to run, or wide open WRs that beat their man coverage with a second move.
• Have a QB that can make accurate, quick throws and WRs that can make plays against single coverage (an experienced QB helps).
• Have a really good O Line, plus have RBs and TEs that block well and can pick up blitzers. If you have time to go through progressions, there will be side open WRs (single coverage).

Our O line had issues, we had a non-running, inexperienced Freshman QB - on the road - who kept trying to go through progressions rather than let it go, we had a shortage of talented WRs, and we had RBs and TEs that were not particularly good at blocking. All a recipe for disaster against Clemson. A year earlier, with a more experienced QB, we actually had our best offensive output of the year.

[RevengeoftheCOCK]

Originally Posted by pitchcock

They have a very good defense, and lots of talent coming in and coming back.

We didn't have a single player on our defense this year who would've started there. In fact, I'm not sure we even had a defensive player who would've cracked their two deep, and may not' even have cracked the three deep.

It goes beyond talent. Their guys played with heart and fire. Our guys run their mouths, then complain when someone calls them a naughty name.

How is that not bashing our entire defense while celebrating the defense of our rival in a recruiting forum for one of the elite defenders in our state, WOW! As a GAMECOCK fan if you feel that way, why would you write that in this forum? I would argue it but this forum is for Xavier Thomas, wow just wow! I think XT would fit well with the young talent we have and that BAW could start, Skai Moore could start and Darius English but it is futile to say something like that and futile to debate it as it is impossible to find out!

[gotrice?]

Originally Posted by Ace Dilcock

I am not saying their D is no good, just that it is not all that. They have talent and a scheme that allows them to be very effective, especially early in games before the Offense can adjust. And they pad their stats against teams with anemic offenses like BC, Syracuse, SC State. And us, this year.

They play man coverage, jump the short routes, and send the house, with blitzers coming from different angles and locations. It works gangbusters against the run and the pass, resulting in TFLs and sacks. But you can beat it - as Louisville, Pitt and even Alabama (at times) did. You have to be able to:

• Have a running QB that can avoid the initial push - if that happens, he either has a lot of room to run, or wide open WRs that beat their man coverage with a second move.
• Have a QB that can make accurate, quick throws and WRs that can make plays against single coverage (an experienced QB helps).
• Have a really good O Line, plus have RBs and TEs that block well and can pick up blitzers. If you have time to go through progressions, there will be side open WRs (single coverage).

Our O line had issues, we had a non-running, inexperienced Freshman QB - on the road - who kept trying to go through progressions rather than let it go, we had a shortage of talented WRs, and we had RBs and TEs that were not particularly good at blocking. All a recipe for disaster against Clemson. A year earlier, with a more experienced QB, we actually had our best offensive output of the year.

I get what you're saying but every defense, even elite ones have ways to be beaten. I didn't say Clemson's D was Bama's level but it was that next tier down and the tiers currently go Bama, lots of space, the rest of the elite defenses in college football.

[gotrice?]

Originally Posted by RevengeoftheCOCK

How is that not bashing our entire defense while celebrating the defense of our rival in a recruiting forum for one of the elite defenders in our state, WOW! As a GAMECOCK fan if you feel that way, why would you write that in this forum? I would argue it but this forum is for Xavier Thomas, wow just wow! I think XT would fit well with the young talent we have and that BAW could start, Skai Moore could start and Darius English but it is futile to say something like that and futile to debate it as it is impossible to find out!

BAW would probably be able to land 1 LB spot and King or Lammons would be able to take the #2 CB spot opposite of Tankersly. Skai started zero games for us this year so he can't go on this list. English plays Ferrell's spot, no way he starts over Ferrell. Realistically we have 2 guys that would have been able to take starting jobs from Clemson's D and the rest of the positions have a pretty big gap. Fortunately it's not going to remain that way because Muschamp is going to seriously upgrade the talent here and a big part of that is going to hopefully be XT, Belk, and Sandidge.

[RevengeoftheCOCK]

Originally Posted by gotrice?

BAW would probably be able to land 1 LB spot and King or Lammons would be able to take the #2 CB spot opposite of Tankersly. Skai started zero games for us this year so he can't go on this list. English plays Ferrell's spot, no way he starts over Ferrell. Realistically we have 2 guys that would have been able to take starting jobs from Clemson's D and the rest of the positions have a pretty big gap. Fortunately it's not going to remain that way because Muschamp is going to seriously upgrade the talent here and a big part of that is going to hopefully be XT, Belk, and Sandidge.

It is futile to debate as I wrote, put those guys in that system, practicing with that team and you have no idea how it shakes out. We can all have an opinion but to put it out in this forum is just wrong IMO! I mentioned English as someone who would no doubt crack the 2 deep as in his post we would not have a defender crack the 3 deep.

I completely agree with the last statement and hard not to agree with the entire post! XT would go loooooong way in shoring up our DLine and helping our secondary!

[Coondog]

Originally Posted by RevengeoftheCOCK

How is that not bashing our entire defense while celebrating the defense of our rival in a recruiting forum for one of the elite defenders in our state, WOW! As a GAMECOCK fan if you feel that way, why would you write that in this forum? I would argue it but this forum is for Xavier Thomas, wow just wow! I think XT would fit well with the young talent we have and that BAW could start, Skai Moore could start and Darius English but it is futile to say something like that and futile to debate it as it is impossible to find out!

How is pointing out the obvious bashing our defense? They were bad plain and simple but for the talent that Muschamp inherited they probably over achieved. Muschamp said plain and simple that we need more speed and playmakers on defense. He said flat out LINEMAN NEEDED!!! He said that he is going to have to recruit better and faster players. Most people would see that as a message to XT and recruits on just how bad we need him and other players of his caliber. BAW was the best player we had on defense and I doubt that he would be any more then a backup on Clemson's defense. English had a good year but nothing like Clemson's DE's.

But your right about one thing, it is futile to debate anything with you.

[RevengeoftheCOCK]

Originally Posted by Coondog

How is pointing out the obvious bashing our defense? They were bad plain and simple but for the talent that Muschamp inherited they probably over achieved. Muschamp said plain and simple that we need more speed and playmakers on defense. He said flat out LINEMAN NEEDED!!! He said that he is going to have to recruit better and faster players. Most people would see that as a message to XT and recruits on just how bad we need him and other players of his caliber. BAW was the best player we had on defense and I doubt that he would be any more then a backup on Clemson's defense. English had a good year but nothing like Clemson's DE's.

But your right about one thing, it is futile to debate anything with you.

So you don't think this is bashing and it is just pointing out the obvious? Only one player on clemsux's defense had more sacks than English and they play in the acc.
Pitchcock "Our guys run their mouths, then complain when someone calls them a naughty name."

[Ace Dilcock]

Originally Posted by gotrice?

BAW would probably be able to land 1 LB spot and King or Lammons would be able to take the #2 CB spot opposite of Tankersly. Skai started zero games for us this year so he can't go on this list. English plays Ferrell's spot, no way he starts over Ferrell. Realistically we have 2 guys that would have been able to take starting jobs from Clemson's D and the rest of the positions have a pretty big gap. Fortunately it's not going to remain that way because Muschamp is going to seriously upgrade the talent here and a big part of that is going to hopefully be XT, Belk, and Sandidge.

Ferrell is a Freshman that did not start playing well until late in the season - by that time, English already had a bunch of sacks. Wilkins is a really good DT but very slow for a DE - if Clemson had anyone else able to play after Bryant went down, Wilkins would have stayed at DT. There was a play in the Alabama game where the QB got outside on Wilkins and he could have walked past Wilkins and gotten big yardage.

In other words - Clemson's starting DEs early in the season would have been English and Qua Lewis, with Sawyer ahead of whoever they had for the strong side.

[Ace Dilcock]

Originally Posted by pitchcock

They have a very good defense, and lots of talent coming in and coming back.

We didn't have a single player on our defense this year who would've started there. In fact, I'm not sure we even had a defensive player who would've cracked their two deep, and may not' even have cracked the three deep.

It goes beyond talent. Their guys played with heart and fire. Our guys run their mouths, then complain when someone calls them a naughty name.

I realize that you are a troll, but that is ignorant even for a troll. You are confusing "heart and fire" with scheme. I guarantee you that our guys played hard - if they did not, Boom would have jerked them in a heartbeat and put someone else out there. Clemson plays a totally different scheme - an aggressive, blitzing scheme for Clemson and a more conservative containment/keep the players in front scheme for South Carolina. Both were effective at times, so it is not a night and day situation in terms of talent or success.

Clemson's D may have kicked our ass with our young skill guys, but they gave up a lot of points and yards to the likes of Pitt, FSU, Louisville, Alabama. We had a number of guys that could have played in the two deep and even started.

[sully1]

Thread has gotten off topic IMO. I do agree that touting CU right now isn't exactly the best thing to do on a Gamecock recruiting forum.

Truth is, CU has a good defense. Hope is, Muschamp is going to have ours just as good or better really soon. Truth is, if you are a good player and want a better opportunity at early playing time you should choose USC over CU.

[cockymac]

He put out a tweet a few moments ago that should make us feel very good about our position with him. Someone tweeted to him something negative about USC and that he should come to Clemson to play for championships. He replied that USC played in the bowl game with a brand new staff and a team full of freshmen. He then said "They are building something special at USC. Trust me." That's a very good sign.

[eatlighting]

That is definitely positive considering this couldn't be a worse PR week for us considering we've done nothing wrong to get any negative attention.

[Gamecocks111]

His next tweet wasn't as good tho

[sandstorm2001]

Originally Posted by cockymac

He put out a tweet a few moments ago that should make us feel very good about our position with him. Someone tweeted to him something negative about USC and that he should come to Clemson to play for championships. He replied that USC played in the bowl game with a brand new staff and a team full of freshmen. He then said "They are building something special at USC. Trust me." That's a very good sign.

If he's really a fan I think Clemson fans bad mouthing us on Twitter could help. If it was me that would give me more incentive to want to go here and prove them wrong. Show that USC can win big and I can be the one that helps make that a reality.

[Cockygaming]

XT sure knows how to play the recruiting game. He keeps all eyes on him. Furthermore he keeps everyone guessing with little throw ins like that. Says a positive, then something that could be perceived as a negative followed by a positive. It's a great way to make both teams feel like they have to keep pursuing him and he isn't a take yet. Another ability of his that is undeniable is his gift for football. He will be the cornerstone of the 2018 class.

[Roosterboy]

Originally Posted by cockymac

He put out a tweet a few moments ago that should make us feel very good about our position with him. Someone tweeted to him something negative about USC and that he should come to Clemson to play for championships. He replied that USC played in the bowl game with a brand new staff and a team full of freshmen. He then said "They are building something special at USC. Trust me." That's a very good sign.

That is also a sad part recruiting where fans have this type of ease of access to recruits.

[Greyrooster]

XT I hope you read this::
Go ahead and commit to the Gamecocks And help bring some more Elite talent to Columbia SC!! Once you start the ball rolling, the big dogs will follow you!! Like you said "They're building something special at USC, trust me" so let's get 2018 started with a bang!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cockymac]

Originally Posted by Gamecocks111

His next tweet wasn't as good tho

It's all good.

[USCremedy]

Originally Posted by Roosterboy

That is also a sad part recruiting where fans have this type of ease of access to recruits.

The world we live in. This is normal for teenagers.. they grew up with social media. It's part of the recruiting game now.