#5 Clemson 51 #21 Wake Forest 45: What Did We Learn?

What Did We Learn

#5 Clemson outlasted #21 Wake Forest last Saturday in double overtime, 51-45. The coaches know there is a lot to learn from coming out of this game, and it will show in the film room.

As a layman or fan… that does not have access to the film room, or the different position group meetings, there are only so many things we can take away from the game. Surely there are more, but here is what we observed.

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei has had four very productive games and the Wake Forest game was his best, throwing for 371 yards and five touchdowns. He hit critical throw after critical throw, and led the offense to converting 16 of 23 on 3rd downs, a record for this Clemson team. Uiagalelei finally started to show the promise and leadership that’s been expected of him from the day he stepped on campus. Has he come all the way and reached the confidence level of Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence? Not yet. Although his performance so far has quieted down the “Start Cade Klubnik” rah rah’s. This weekend, against #10, he will need to step up again and lead.

We learned that freshmen cornerbacks will sometimes get burned without help. After 3 1⁄2 quarters, DC Wes Goodwin finally stopped leaving his corners on an island to deal with Wake’s 6-4 and 6-5 wide receivers down the field. With Wake’s slow mesh offensive style, all QB Sam Hartman had to do was wait long enough to see where the safeties were on either side of the field, then lob passes down the field. Clemson is going to face a similar offense with Devin Leary coming to town. The BIG difference, though, is the wide receiver group at State is not as big or strong as Wake Forest. Still, the staff probably learned that when the opposing team has a quarterback like Hartman or Leary, safety help is needed in the secondary and not cheating up to stop the run.

There is an area of the field that Clemson simply has not taken advantage of in the last year or so……..between the hash marks. Was it due to lack of talent? Due to the OC simply not comfortable going across the middle or down the seams? Last Saturday, OC Brandon Streeter finally gave opponents another area to be concerned about. Clemson tight ends Jake Briningstool and Davis Allen combined for 10 catches, 107 yards and three touchdowns. Fans have been clamoring for this for a couple of years now. That day has probably now come and hopefully, it stays around.

This Clemson team does not quit. We are learning that coordinators Streeter and Goodwin are still indeed new coordinators and learning on the fly. Regarding Streeter, there were comments on social media that actually referred to “fire Streeter, he doesn’t have a clue.” Makes you want to pull your hair out with “knee jerk reaction” fans. Four games, 175 pointts, 43.7 points a game, and some want to replace him……after four games.

The same goes for DC Goodwin. The man is in his 4th game as a defensive coordinator. He has spent the last several years working with Brent Venables on this Clemson defense, and was literally deemed as BV’s right hand man, but it’s different when you ARE the man making the calls. Don’t think that Coach Dabo Swinney is not in his ear every day, and working with the entire defensive staff. Dabo said “We will get it fixed”, and how can anyone argue with him. You hear these radio shows continually blasting about how bad this Clemson defense is. Goodwin this. Secondary that. The defensive line is overrated. Let’s remember Brent Venables 4th game as DC for Clemson. Florida State pummeled Clemson 49-37 and put up over 650+ total yards against his Clemson defense. Was he blasted on local radio and social media? Probably not. This Clemson defense has not been healthy since the Georgia Tech game and was still without three starters against Wake Forest. The Tigers now have a game against a ranked team to look at the film and see what needs to be worked on to prepare for #10 NC State.

The last thing we learned, but truly, already knew, is that BT Potter might just be the best place kicker in the country. We all know the man can kick. He also reminded us that he is clutch. With 4:01 left in the game and trailing 38-35, Potter calmly strolled in and hit a 52-yard field goal to tie it up, and send the game into overtime. On the season, Potter is 7-7 on field goals and 19-19 in extra points. Hard to get any more perfect.