DeacAssured
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2015
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These are rather harsh. Yall are acting like Clawson coaches with his head chopped off. I recognize the complaints regarding Friday and don't entirely disagree (e.g., if we are going to run out the clock, run the play clock to the last second before snapping the ball). Think we need to give Clawson more credit.
Acting like there was no strategy involved or a calculated decision that was made by Clawson and Co. is ridiculous.
There are 2 ways to finish a game with both decisions having its positives as well as its potential for collapse.
1) Keep running the offense, being aggressive. Positives: it could all work out, no turnovers, and you crush them (as everyone wanted). Negatives: start giving up turnovers, pick 6s, and good field position.
2) Run out the clock, being conservative. Positives: You get some first downs, only need a few possessions to run out the clock. Negatives: get complacent, and don't get first downs.
We just so happened to choose option 2, and guess what, we fucking won. Clawson weighed the strengths/weaknesses of the game going into halftime and believed that with UNC's freshman QB, how they couldn't move the ball to save their life, and the way our defense was playing - that that strength outweighed the others. He picked that option and went with it and we won. He put the game on the defense and running the clock out. And guess what? the clock quite literally ran out and defense showed up when we needed. Mission accomplished.
It was going to be a close game, it was a rivalry, and we walked out with a W. Sorry it didn't meet your requirements of a 56-14 blowout we all wanted.
I am not fully vindicating Clawson of this, but I am presenting his mindset, which was a rational and calculated decision. Remember when we doubted whether he would put Bowers in over Hartman to preserve his RS, and much of the fanbase doubted that Clawson "had the capacity" to think about this scenario.
We are 3-0 BECAUSE of Clawson, in who we should Trust.
Respect this argument, really do. I’m playing the #1 strategy, however, because we have the personnel and I’m confident that we do. DC will let the dogs out this year. I just strongly believe he should have Friday night. Heck, it doesn’t matter anyway now.