While watching the playoffs something that stood out was the quality of the quarterbacks. All 4 are elite.
Against Memphis we were unable to sustain an effective passing attack. Clearly Clifford is not an elite QB and even with a new OC and offensive line coach, I don’t see him making a step up.
Clifford is a good leader and has displayed flashes of brilliance but I don’t think he will ever be more than average. It will be interesting to see who emerges as the starter after spring ball. There were 2 freshmen that redshirted who should make the competition interesting.
While watching the playoffs something that stood out was the quality of the quarterbacks. All 4 are elite.
Against Memphis we were unable to sustain an effective passing attack. Clearly Clifford is not an elite QB and even with a new OC and offensive line coach, I don’t see him making a step up.
Clifford is a good leader and has displayed flashes of brilliance but I don’t think he will ever be more than average. It will be interesting to see who emerges as the starter after spring ball. There were 2 freshmen that redshirted who should make the competition interesting.
Now let's bash Clifford... It was his first year as a starter and did a hell of a job. He also made some mistakes and that is expected.
Did you happen to see how bad the OL played and little if any time they gave him.
QB is not an issue and Clifford will be the starter next year.
What a way to start 2020, pile in Clifford.
Clifford definitely plays better from a neighborhood backyard game scheme. I think it helps him clear out stuff between the ears and he becomes a more fluid quarterback. That is one thing the other QBs are; fluid.
Trace was not elite but he sure as hell was a leader first and foremost and then the man could improvise unbelievably.
Back to Clifford, I think if he gets a solid O'line protecting him his confidence will emerge and hopefully he will be able to make progression reads and deliver. I'd like to see him hand the ball off more vs keeping it as much as he did.
Now let's bash Clifford... It was his first year as a starter and did a hell of a job. He also made some mistakes and that is expected.
Did you happen to see how bad the OL played and little if any time they gave him.
QB is not an issue and Clifford will be the starter next year.
What a way to start 2020, pile in Clifford.
Easy to bash the offensive line. Elite QB’s excel from the start. Clifford is average and maybe with the staff changes, he could take a step up. It seemed like he regressed during the season. For sure, he needs to improve finding the third receiver.
When you think abut it, when was the last time we had an elite starting QB?
Now let's bash Clifford... It was his first year as a starter and did a hell of a job. He also made some mistakes and that is expected.
Did you happen to see how bad the OL played and little if any time they gave him.
QB is not an issue and Clifford will be the starter next year.
What a way to start 2020, pile in Clifford.
Easy to bash the offensive line. Elite QB’s excel from the start. Clifford is average and maybe with the staff changes, he could take a step up. It seemed like he regressed during the season. For sure, he needs to improve finding the third receiver.
Elite QB still needs an OL that plays 100x better than Clifford got.
The OL never improved to protect him.
Football is not a one person show... And if you take away the protection the elite QBs got they may not look so elite.
While watching the playoffs something that stood out was the quality of the quarterbacks. All 4 are elite.
Against Memphis we were unable to sustain an effective passing attack. Clearly Clifford is not an elite QB and even with a new OC and offensive line coach, I don’t see him making a step up.
Clifford is a good leader and has displayed flashes of brilliance but I don’t think he will ever be more than average. It will be interesting to see who emerges as the starter after spring ball. There were 2 freshmen that redshirted who should make the competition interesting.
Three of your "elite" QB's are going to, or have already, lost their last bowl game this year. Ours hasn't. Just saying
Can they be protected in this offense nitnation? Clemson’s QB got killed in the Ohio st game, Alabama’s QB is beat up and Michigan’s QB was beat up most of the year just like Clifford. This RPO offense has been good for us but regardless what team runs it the QB gets the chit knocked out of him we just watch ours get it every week. We just watch the replays that work with the other teams and the replays don’t show all the plays that don’t work. I just look at the results on the wins and losses and we’ve been pretty dang good. We’ll win with or without Limegrover and most likely win a d lose the same way. We just got to figure out how to get that one more win
I said all along, we need a new OC and now we got one. And I am not so sure it wasn't going to happen (regardless of the events that took place) after the season ended. I also anticipate some coaching changes on defense. I like Pry, but THAT Memphis game was a disaster....thank goodness #11 decided to have a banner day! Got to do something with the secondary sooner than later.
As for Clifford, thought he had a pretty good season for a first year starter. Not a top 5 or 10 QB ( right now) but I have a hunch the new OC will reel him in fast. He made some mistakes, but the Oline didn't help him a whole lot this year either.
Let's face it, when you watch Clemson and LSU, Penn State was not close to that level of play this year. However, they have plenty of returning talent (with experience now) that should make a substantial difference in 2020 and they could very well make solid run for the playoffs....heck, they had a reasonable shot at it this year.
11-2 is an outstanding season and I think JF took another step in the right direction and I think the program took another step in the right direction!
LSU is on another planet right now but Clemson I think we can play with. Clemson had players to step up and make a few plays In nitty gritty crunch time is the reason they beat Ohio State. Ohio State was beat up because of the last 3 games they played being Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin when Clemson had a cakewalk. Had Clemson played that last 3 games they would’ve been beat up. Clemson actually got beat up in the Ohio st game so let’s see how they do against LSU. When you play the teams Ohio st did 4 games straight games one of ‘em will get ya
Same to you sir. The old man is pretty much done with the forum. He's kinda tired of the bickering and all the other junk that's been going on. He might come back after a long cold winter in Maine, but I kinda doubt it. I'll surely pass your sentiments along to him though!!!!
Yeah, kinda figured as much. Pass along my regards too, please. Wouldn't mind keeping in touch with him, if he's so inclined.
Thanks.
Mr BT,
The old fart is feeling his oats this year for sure. He shot a 189lb (dressed) 7pt in Maine, traveled over to NH and shot a decent 9pt, and then headed down to PA and shot a nice 7pt down there. He misses you and SPF for sure and the back and forth diatribes You, He, and Lake used to share. He mentions MB and Navylion a lot too. I might try to Shanghai him and take him on a road trip to meet you guys. He just doesnt travel very well any more. I flew up over T-giving and drove him down to PA to hunt. What is usually a 9-10 hour drive took us about 13. It had been a few years since he's been down to PA to hunt and I'm figuring his time afield is coming to an end. I'm glad I took him down. I had to listen to the same war stories again for the umpteenth time, but the funny things is; over the years they've never changed. You'd think at his age he'd embellish them a bit but they're the same today as they were when i was a little squirt sitting on his lap over 30 years ago. He misses his old buddy Wolfy. I dont know if you remember him or not, he was on here briefly. When Wolfy died, a part of my Grandpa died with him.
I disagree 100% on making a new OC change if Rahne had not taken the HC job. Franklin was not cutting lose a very bright young coach after that season.
The event is the only reason we have a new OC. As far as Limegrover, that may have happened even if Rahne stayed.
Regardless this team will continue to improve under Franklins leadership.
I think RR was given "The Talk" and was encouraged to seek other employment. Of course its all speculation now and water under the bridge but the results on the field showed that we weren't progressing very smoothly. I'm looking for Terry Smith to be sent packing too or at the very least a complete overhaul in our pass coverage scheme. Our secondary sucked muddy canal water
lol He did a whole lot better than I did! I'm not opposed to driving up that way or meeting 1/2 way or if ya wanna swing by this way on his/your way to PA, just let me know. However; if I drive up to ME, he best be figuring to take me brookie/squaretail fishing.
haha If the stories are good, you don't need to stretch 'em any. ; )
Yep, I too miss the back and forth. Just not the same w/o him.
You can't run like the KY QB and last thru the season. Watched pieces of a game yesterday where the QB looked to be 6' 170#. One could argue that the wishbone/triple option QB's did so why not a RPO QB?
Clifford is not going to be a strong running RPO QB, he is just not that dynamic. So the team needs to get a little better in all offensive categories, better reads, better catching, better blocking. Jury is still out but he is above average for his 1st year.
RR was not given "the talk" Franklin was not going to fire a 2 year OC ,well respect young offensive mind who did well with first year starter in Clifford.
The only speculation was who would replace RR after he was offered that HC job.
I know it's tough for people and they want his parting to be negative, it's just not.
After watching the Minnesota win today maybe the Minnesota loss wasn’t as bad as I thought. I knew Minnesota was pretty good I just thought we should’ve won the game. Maybe I need to think we had a chance to win instead thinking we should’ve won. That damn penalty lol
You can't run like the KY QB and last thru the season. Watched pieces of a game yesterday where the QB looked to be 6' 170#. One could argue that the wishbone/triple option QB's did so why not a RPO QB?
Clifford is not going to be a strong running RPO QB, he is just not that dynamic. So the team needs to get a little better in all offensive categories, better reads, better catching, better blocking. Jury is still out but he is above average for his 1st year.
Agree, Clifford just needs to do enough to keep the defense honest.
After watching the Minnesota win today maybe the Minnesota loss wasn’t as bad as I thought. I knew Minnesota was pretty good I just thought we should’ve won the game. Maybe I need to think we had a chance to win instead thinking we should’ve won. That damn penalty lol
If nothing else this bowl game shows how good we actually are. Anyone watching this game came away thinking that Minnesota was a very good team, and Auburn played pretty well and just couldn't beat them.
We literally played as bad a game as we could against Minnesota and still had a chance to win at the end, in fact should have won if it wasn't for a bunch of BS pi calls.
Bring him back down to PA one more time...to York. Tell him I need him to drive out a thicket for me, next to Indian Rock Dam, posted federal land, about 3 acres (lol). It is were ALL the buck are hiding. There is a 12 point and at least two 8 points living in there.....saw the 12 point last night in the open field around 6:30. I will get locked up if I walk through there, but I think he can talk his way out of it!!!
He has been where I am talking about. Might not be able to put his finger on it right now, but if I took him there, he would know it well!
RR was not given "the talk" Franklin was not going to fire a 2 year OC ,well respect young offensive mind who did well with first year starter in Clifford.
The only speculation was who would replace RR after he was offered that HC job.
I know it's tough for people and they want his parting to be negative, it's just not.
Well respected offensive mind?? You're joking, right?? The only thing about your above comment was that he is young. The man couldnt make a halftime adjustment to save his ass and his offense was often too predictable. You have no idea whether he was given a talk or not, like I said, its all speculation. RR wasnt the man to get us to the next level and anyone that thinks he was is living in a cave. Heck Franklin pretty much put the writing on the wall when he praised our new OC after the Minny game.
