[NCAAF] vBook: CFP National Championship: #3 Clemson Tigers vs #1 LSU Tigers

greyhammer90

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Best 2 years in the past 20 years for ND Football. Which is fantastic. Don't get me wrong. However other programs are just better. No matter how good ND gets. If you think we are close to what was on TV tonight.. Well. I guess I can't help you.

No one is saying we are close to their level of play right now. They have Joe Burrow and a great OC. We don't. But that's the point. Change can happen fast and its not like a team needs to completely change everything to go from top 12 to NC.
 
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stlnd01

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Ok but look at 5 stars.

LSU two more five-stars this year than they did in 2017. So, better. But I'm not sure two five stars account for six more wins.

To be clear, my point is not that we have equal talent to LSU. Clearly we don't. My point is that LSU found a better QB (on the scrap heap) and improved their coaching (without changing head coach or coordinators) enough to go from 9-4 to national champions in 24 months. Aside from those two things I'm not sure their team is all that different than the one that played us in the Citrus Bowl two years ago.
 

Irish#1

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Boy Lawrence looks pissed.

I feel sorry for whoever has to play him next year.

Joe Klatt was talking about Lawrence and the Clemson O. He felt their easy schedule hurt them, because they run a pretty vanilla O where Lawrence just waits on the receiver to come open. Not having to face much pressure from the D line he just waited and hit the open receiver. LSU's D (pressure and coverage) forced him to move around and make quicker decisions. Clemson's OC didn't have an answer.

This was something of a "perfect storm" LSU team. LSU will remain good, but it will be difficult to replicate this year, especially without Burrow.
 

greyhammer90

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This was something of a "perfect storm" LSU team. LSU will remain good, but it will be difficult to replicate this year, especially without Burrow.

This is the definitely going to be interesting to see, because there's a good chance that LSU goes back to being a 10 win-ish team in the future since they don't have Burrow and he played out of his mind down the stretch. But there's also a decent chance that Coach O pulls a Dabo and successfully applies his "culture" approach to the incoming classes and contends for the immediate future.
 

drayer54

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Joe Klatt was talking about Lawrence and the Clemson O. He felt their easy schedule hurt them, because they run a pretty vanilla O where Lawrence just waits on the receiver to come open. Not having to face much pressure from the D line he just waited and hit the open receiver. LSU's D (pressure and coverage) forced him to move around and make quicker decisions. Clemson's OC didn't have an answer.

This was something of a "perfect storm" LSU team. LSU will remain good, but it will be difficult to replicate this year, especially without Burrow.

Clemson had amazing talent, but I agree the schedule didn't do them any favors. They did get a tough practice against OSU along the way though. You'd think OSU's celebrated d-line would have been a tier ahead, but I didn't see it.

Also, Clemson reloaded from DeShaun Watson, who seemed ehrmergerd good with a phenomenal QB, so the idea that LSU can't find another gunslinger in a talent-rich area who wants to work with Brady & co... not hard to believe.
 

Whiskeyjack

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Joe Burrow just had the greatest season in CFB history, right?

Yes. We may never see another performance like that one.

That's pretty much my point. This LSU team is basically the same team we played and beat (roughly same quality recruits, same HC, same DC) but made two key changes (great QB, forward-thinking OC) and now they are a juggernaut. That doesn't mean it's going to be that simple for ND but it's a good illustration of how fast a change can occur.

Agreed.

Glad I didn't put any money on this one. I thought the Clemson defense that destroyed us and Alabama last year would show up. 42 points? Ridiculous. 463 yards passing. Lets hope our next OC can use that as a blueprint.

Both FEI and SP+ rated this Clemson defense as better than last year's by a significant margin. Which really underlines how ridiculous LSU's offense was. Herbstreit was talking about it being the best college offense he's ever seen, and that's not hyperbole.
 

BobbyMac

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This is the definitely going to be interesting to see, because there's a good chance that LSU goes back to being a 10 win-ish team in the future since they don't have Burrow and he played out of his mind down the stretch. But there's also a decent chance that Coach O pulls a Dabo and successfully applies his "culture" approach to the incoming classes and contends for the immediate future.

What Dabo pulled was Deshaun Watson AND Trevor Lawrence. LSU and Clemson are similar besides that. All Coach O has to do now is find a Trevor Lawrence because he just lost his Deshaun Watson.

Good luck.
 
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ThePiombino

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What Dabo pulled was Deshaun Watson AND Trevor Lawrence. LSU and Clemson are similar besides that. All Coach O has to do now is find a Trevor Lawrence because he just lost his Deshaun Watson.

Good luck.
Amen to this!

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
 

IrishLion

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Joe Burrow just had the greatest season in CFB history, right?

Not just Burrow, but that LSU team might have locked up "Greatest Team of All Time"

Their schedule was ridiculous... in the final AP poll, they beat:

5 of the top 8 (!)
6 of the top 15
7 of the top 25

That is absurd.

I bet there are a couple of teams in CFB history that beat more top-25 opponents in total over a season... but beating 5 of the top 8, in the fashion that they did, is literally the stuff of fiction in the NCAA video game universe.
 

T Town Tommy

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Not just Burrow, but that LSU team might have locked up "Greatest Team of All Time"

Their schedule was ridiculous... in the final AP poll, they beat:

5 of the top 8 (!)
6 of the top 15
7 of the top 25

That is absurd.

I bet there are a couple of teams in CFB history that beat more top-25 opponents in total over a season... but beating 5 of the top 8, in the fashion that they did, is literally the stuff of fiction in the NCAA video game universe.

Congrats to LSU and Coach O. What an amazing season. It may be a long time before we see another one like it at the elite levels of CFB.
 
K

koonja

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If they were both draft eligible, would you take Burrow or Lawrence?

Before last night I was all in on Lawrence. I think I sti am because he was making many more throws under duress.

But Burrows was near perfect, with perfect deep balls, exceptional pocket awareness, and surprisingly problematic athleticism.

I'd still take Lawrence but it's more 55/45 whereas pregame I was 80/20.
 

irishnd31

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If they were both draft eligible, would you take Burrow or Lawrence?

Before last night I was all in on Lawrence. I think I sti am because he was making many more throws under duress.

But Burrows was near perfect, with perfect deep balls, exceptional pocket awareness, and surprisingly problematic athleticism.

I'd still take Lawrence but it's more 55/45 whereas pregame I was 80/20.

Lawrence is a gamer and a winner. I agree that Lawrence looked much better under duress and seems to do better with throwing on the run. Burrow is a hell of a college QB. Has all the tools and makes all the throws but does get rattled and may rely on his A+ receivers to get extra yards. I think they both have great careers ahead but I would give the edge to Lawrence if I'm picking. Something about that dude that I would want leading my offense.

Burrow looks too much like Kevin McCallister.
 

irishnd31

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To add, cocky “big personality” top of the board QB prospects seldom succeed in the NFL. Lawrence has the cool headed, relaxed, humble vibe going where as I get the sense that Burrow has more of a”show my ass” kind of personality on and off the field. Just my thoughts anyway.
 

phork

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No one is saying we are close to their level of play right now. They have Joe Burrow and a great OC. We don't. But that's the point. Change can happen fast and its not like a team needs to completely change everything to go from top 12 to NC.

Will. Never. Be.
 

drayer54

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SEC! It just means more.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OBJ handing out cash to LSU players <a href="https://t.co/xKjyot8boh">pic.twitter.com/xKjyot8boh</a></p>— &#55358;&#56677; Bennie Jennings (@volblood) <a href="https://twitter.com/volblood/status/1217069578351775744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Circa

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SEC! It just means more.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OBJ handing out cash to LSU players <a href="https://t.co/xKjyot8boh">pic.twitter.com/xKjyot8boh</a></p>— �� Bennie Jennings (@volblood) <a href="https://twitter.com/volblood/status/1217069578351775744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Amazing! If we had Joe Montana come In after we won the Camping World Bowl and said "I told you I got you" and started handing out 100$ bills... Everyone would lose their minds!
This Is pay for play and It happens all the time at these minor league schools. Forfeiture of the NC and the death penalty Is the only thing that should come of this! It's completely against all the rules. I'm actually surprised he didn't just put it in an envelope like everyone else.

Screw the SEC and Lebron James..(he did this same thing, just not as blatant)and OSU!!!!
 
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