Differences Between UM/Bama&Clemson
Yes, I know we have a game thread for the championship. This isn't meant to be based on the play by play happenings of tonight but rather the obvious differences that we see between the quality of our team (and just about everyone else) and these two teams.
To me, I think we actually have the skill set at the receiver position that would be about on par with both of them. I think our secondary from this year and Bush are obviously at this level. That being said, I'm not sure we'd have a single offensive or defensive lineman (outside of Gary) touch the field for either of these teams. The difference in size and athleticism jumps off the screen.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:17 PM ^
People saying D doesn't count in today's game...
Clemson's D shut Bama down son...!
January 7th, 2019 at 11:30 PM ^
that is a point, so yes the D makes a difference!
January 7th, 2019 at 11:18 PM ^
I’m so hungry for a fullback dive. These defenses are so fresh without the bodyblows.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:20 PM ^
Locksley must have checked out. Dude isn’t calling a very good game. Eventually you would think O and D coordinators taking jobs elsewhere and finishing out this run would catch up with them.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:20 PM ^
Does the guy following & carrying the 500' roll of cord for Harbaugh's headset, wear cleats also?
January 7th, 2019 at 11:20 PM ^
Alabama and Clemson have better players and coaches than Michigan does. That's the main difference I see.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:23 PM ^
I still say Michigan has hotter cheerleaders tho...
January 7th, 2019 at 11:25 PM ^
What were the ranks of Clemson’s class three to four years ago?
Also Dabo was supposed to be fired five years ago. As a guy from a Clemson family they had all the same arguments everyone on this board had as recent as five years ago. All the talent, archaic system, etc. The real issue was stars, depth, offensive play design, and that ONE win. They were KNEE deep in BPONE. This Michigan needs to have talent fit scheme, cultural consistency across the board, and that ONE win. When this team beats OSU the floodgates will open.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:37 PM ^
Bama 2018 class: 5
2017: 1
2016: 1
2015: 1
Clemson 2018 class: 7
2017: 16
2016: 11
2015: 9
*24/7 composite rankings
January 7th, 2019 at 11:26 PM ^
Tagliavoa getting the belt tonight
January 7th, 2019 at 11:27 PM ^
Really should be "Differences between Michigan/Clemson" after tonight's performance for your thread title
January 7th, 2019 at 11:30 PM ^
DONALDA's blitzes and scheme are kindergarten level compared to Venables'
January 7th, 2019 at 11:37 PM ^
Pass rush up the middle. If you can collapse a pocket the way Clemson has in this game, you make it next to impossible to run an offense.
Interior pass rushers in this game has been the difference in a close game to the blow out it is. That has to be Michigan's priority in defensive recruiting, year in year out.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:37 PM ^
Pass rush up the middle. If you can collapse a pocket the way Clemson has in this game, you make it next to impossible to run an offense.
Interior pass rushers in this game has been the difference in a close game to the blow out it is. That has to be Michigan's priority in defensive recruiting, year in year out.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:59 PM ^
We had Hurst the last few years and I like Hinton and Mazi. The gap is Solomon not really doing much in a winged helmet.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:37 PM ^
Pass rush up the middle. If you can collapse a pocket the way Clemson has in this game, you make it next to impossible to run an offense.
Interior pass rushers in this game has been the difference in a close game to the blow out it is. That has to be Michigan's priority in defensive recruiting, year in year out.
January 8th, 2019 at 8:41 AM ^
Agreed - need to find one Mo Hurst per recruiting class. We missed on our DT choices the last few years.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:38 PM ^
I don't know about all this coaching difference thing.
I do know that I thoroughly enjoyed the fuck out of Bama getting their asses kicked.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:39 PM ^
Here are Clemson's Rivals recruiting rankings over the last 10 years:
2019 #6
2018 #8
2017 #22
2016 #6
2015 #4
2014 #13
2013 #14
2012 #14
2011 #8
2010 #19
Average of #11.4. 5 classes outside of the top 10. Only 1 top 5 class.
There is nothing there that says 2-time National Champions.
They are doing it on offensive and defensive scheme and coaching.
They are not doing anything that Michigan could not do, if Michigan would just decide to do it.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:55 PM ^
Steroids and Jesus.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:02 AM ^
If my aunt had nuts she'd be my uncle.
Their coaches are way better than ours
January 8th, 2019 at 12:05 AM ^
Now can we get the recruiting rankings for Trevor Laerence, Christian Wilkins, Justyn Ross, Xavier Thomas, Tee Higgins, Mitch Hyatt, Clelin Ferrell, and all the guys who actually make plays for them? Oh and they run a modern offense and play in a basketball conference.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:42 PM ^
I like this Clemson DC. Hopefully he is our next coach when Harbs retires
January 7th, 2019 at 11:47 PM ^
Dabo Swinney loves Jesus, but Jim Harbaugh doesn't. That's the only difference. Clemson has God on their side.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:48 PM ^
According to Dabo, God is responsible for their success. Has Jesus ever been a DC?
January 8th, 2019 at 12:18 AM ^
Aww does God trigger you? Are you offended? Do you need a safe space?
January 7th, 2019 at 11:52 PM ^
Mitch Kramer is actually a pretty good interview.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:54 PM ^
The have Jesus and $$$$$$ on their side.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:12 AM ^
Jesus and ostarine.
We need to send our guys to church on sundays and GNC on mondays.
January 7th, 2019 at 11:58 PM ^
Difference in coaching: Vast
Difference in talent: Even more Vast
January 8th, 2019 at 12:06 AM ^
‘Parently Jesus wasnt available to show up with the bag o cash when they were recruiting Rashan. He had a prior engagement.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:17 AM ^
What is the difference between Michigan now and Clemson and Alabama after year 4 of Dabo and Saban?
January 8th, 2019 at 12:31 AM ^
Dabo and Saban were both able to win their conference in year 2, Saban did it by beating Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow. Dabo just got lucky in a garbage year for the ACC. If anyone but Urban, Saban, or Dabo had coached OSU the last 4 years I think Harbaugh would have 2 Big Ten Championships. Alas... as long as OSU keeps only losing 1 game in conference play, it's not going to look like Harbaugh has accomplished anything.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
Clemson QB walks into a bar...
the bartender asks “why the long face?”
January 8th, 2019 at 12:28 AM ^
This game showed why the offense needs to become more explosive, and rely on its elite playmakers.
Clemson's offense kept scoring, forcing Alabama's offense to become more desperate, thereby relieving some pressure and helping the defense.
And Clemson's defense played so smartly. They didn't try to blitz every play and hold Bama to under 100 yards. In fact, they gave up 443 yards. Rather, they made the plays that mattered in preventing Bama from scoring or converting on 3rd or 4th down.
This is what we need to do to beat OSU.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:29 AM ^
The composite rankings (in which our ranking is inflated by quantity) are somewhat misleading. Here is how the top five ranked Michigan defensive linemen recruits compare to the top ten ranked Clemson defensive linemen recruits:
January 8th, 2019 at 8:56 AM ^
Still looks good enough to beat Ohio State more than once every 15 years.
January 8th, 2019 at 1:13 AM ^
Its not even close. The Clemson and Bama OL's are light years ahead. The RB talent on Bama is insane and Clemson, while not as deep has a starter who is better than anyone we've had in years.
Clemson's WR's are absurdly good. I like the guys we have but would any of them start over Clemson's starters? Juedy is elite, the Bama TE is a stud.
Tua, Lawrence and Hurts are vastly superior to Shea. Not even close.
Only area that is somewhat similar is DL talent.
We're closer to Penn State and Washington than we are to Clemson or Alabama.
January 8th, 2019 at 3:15 AM ^
No doubt the biggest difference between Michigan and Clemson is the coaching, particularly at head coach.
Swinney is probably the last of the old southern True Believer coaches. . .they talk about RichRod being a bad fit at U-M. . .can you imagine Schlissel and Swinney together? Schlissel would hold his nose, whereas Schlissel and Harbaugh can discuss the best clothier from which to purchase their stuffed shirts.
Swinney's players play at a very high level during big games. . .they out-performed Alabama to an amazing degree. . .compare the performance of Clemson's players to that of Michigan's players in the OSU game. . .for Michigan it was dropped passes and defensive ends tripping over their own feet. . .it's not simply a matter of scheme, play-calling or recruiting rankings. . .the head coach instills a spirit into his team. . .Clemson: fun, fast, fearless. Michigan: tight, tedious, tentative.
January 8th, 2019 at 7:41 AM ^
Michigan didn't look like they were fun, fast, and fearless when they were rolling Penn State, Wisconsin, and MSU? When Harbaugh was running around with his shirt off in satellite camps or firing off pithy tweets at Saban or Urban everybody wanted him to act more professional. Now your argument is that Jim should have more fun? It's a red herring to take Michigan at their low point and Clemson at their high point and try to make an apples to apples comparison with regards to program tone.
January 8th, 2019 at 6:01 AM ^
Keep this in mind while you read these threads. Clemson (Dabo) lost his first 5 games in a row to the great powerhouse USC. Not Southern Cal, but South Carolina. So, for anyone that thinks there is no hope vs OSU, Clemson/Swinney couldn't beat there in state rival for 5 years. That would be like Harbaugh not beating MSU for 5 years.
Michigan can be in CFP every couple years. What it takes is a few breaks, solid QB play, depth with good Dline and Oline coaches. Michigan now has a good Oline coach and will soon have a good Dline coach. Imagine if Michigan Dline coach has just one sack next year vs OSU, they will have improved over 2018.
January 8th, 2019 at 8:19 AM ^
I believe the gap between Bama/Clemson vs Michigan is a large one. Seriously, I’m a homer but come on. They are better at every level from coaching down to their water boys. It’s not just Michigan but it’s these two teams and then everyone else. Look at how well Clemson’s d was prepared for that game. Their dline was superior to ours, there defensive backs were taller more athletic, and again the coaching was phenomenal and they actually played zone and disguised it well. On offense for both teams, go down every position and we maybe have 1 or two guys that would even get on the field for these teams. It’s just fact, not trying to be negative but Michigan would have gotten torched by both these teams this year. Keep having recruiting classes like we did this year and it will turn around, but speed kills and you can’t teach speed and it is evident that both these teams have a lot of that and it is a great need for Michigan at the skill positions and dback.
January 8th, 2019 at 8:28 AM ^
Not one of Michigan's starters would start for Alabama. Only a few would make the 2-deep.
Clemson's OL in pass pro was outstanding. Lawrence had all day in the pocket and that never happens versus Alabama.
January 8th, 2019 at 8:59 AM ^
Lawrence helped too by getting rid of the ball quickly. He didn't mess around.
January 8th, 2019 at 9:15 AM ^
True. Not that Clemson's OL didn't do an admirable job, but they were absolutely helped by Lawrence. There were numerous times when Lawrence took hits but stood in and got the pass off, giving his WRs a chance to make a play. Incredible poise for a true freshman.
What a crazy strategy... realizing you have good WRs and actually giving them a chance to make plays.
January 8th, 2019 at 9:18 AM ^
Bama and Clemson play to win and will do whatever it takes to get favorable matchups on the field, and win.
January 8th, 2019 at 10:28 AM ^
Clemson’s offense looked like a pack of fast ferocious cheetahs out for blood.
Michigan’s offense looks like a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter...on a good day.
If anyone seriously believes Clemson only got over the hump due to top ranked recruiting classes then they’re delusional. Clemson’s coaching is what got them here, top to bottom. Their coaches are all-in playing the college game. Our coaches seem to think they’re in the NFL d-league where everyone is running schemes from 15-20 years ago.
Until our defense learns to run multiple looks constantly throughout the game and our offense learns what an offense is actually supposed to do, I highly doubt we’ll ever become a top team.
January 8th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
um championships?
January 8th, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
What does Clemson have that we don’t? Southern location? I just wonder why we can’t do what they’re doing. Why are we a notch below the top with recruiting and talent in general?