A few things that leap out at me

[Grayhead]

1. Failed 2 point conversion . saw no reason for that at that point t in the game
2. That horrible punk fake that lead to an overly easy Clemson score
3. The blown call by the refs at the end of the game

To me, those were key poi ts in that game that hurt our chances. Clemson played just like expected and are the champs hands down.
We control 2 of the 3 things I listed. As bad of a game as the qb was having, omit #1 &2 and we would be there at the end of the game. Can't help the refs screwed that last play. I also feel that any flag should be challengeable especially in that situation.

 

[notashelbyfan]

The INT was the biggest play of the game that was a 14 point swing

 

[UNCGridironFanatic]

Biggest turning point was the first drive of the 2nd half. Fedora just refuses to recognize a guy struggling and continues to put him in positions to fail. Just run it from the 12 yd. line. Remember SCar? Apparently, Coach Red Bull doesn't.

 

[keysersosay#1]

to me the KEY play in the game was the INT at the goal line on the drive at the beginning of the 2nd half It was a tipped ball and if we score the game takes on a whole different light.

Their O and D lines owned ours for the most part, the game was won in the trenches and Clemson was better much better there IMO. The call at the end on the onside kick was atrocious and the ref should be fired and banned from any future ACC games. Just pathetic.... But nothing we can do about it

 

[Realfreedom]

to me the KEY play in the game was the INT at the goal line on the drive at the beginning of the 2nd half It was a tipped ball and if we score the game takes on a whole different light.

Their O and D lines owned ours for the most part, the game was won in the trenches and Clemson was better much better there IMO. The call at the end on the onside kick was atrocious and the ref should be fired and banned from any future ACC games. Just pathetic.... But nothing we can do about it

Spot on

 

[randman1]

to me the KEY play in the game was the INT at the goal line on the drive at the beginning of the 2nd half It was a tipped ball and if we score the game takes on a whole different light.

Their O and D lines owned ours for the most part, the game was won in the trenches and Clemson was better much better there IMO. The call at the end on the onside kick was atrocious and the ref should be fired and banned from any future ACC games. Just pathetic.... But nothing we can do about it

They beat us in the trenches is absolutely right but Quise was off on his passing as well, and that interception was a big play. That play wasn't so much our mistake as their guys rose to the occasion.

For such a high scoring game, the real story had to do with defense. Our offense finally got it going but too late in the game. I thought their defense was superb and our defense was sufficient if the offense executed as well as they've shown they can.

Disappointed. I really believe we had potential here to win and win big, in fact.

 

[HeelFan58]

To take the next step up to Clemson-FSU level we must improve our line play and speed of our LB's teams just turn the corner for long runs on us too often.

 

[topdecktiger]

our defense was sufficient

Not sure I agree with that. The defense gave up two 90 yard touchdown drives. North Carolina's offense struggled at times, yet still scored 37 points. The fact that the defense let Clemson rush for 300 yards and eat up 38 minutes really handicapped the offense.

 

[skyblueheel]

Not sure I agree with that. The defense gave up two 90 yard touchdown drives. North Carolina's offense struggled at times, yet still scored 37 points. The fact that the defense let Clemson rush for 300 yards and eat up 38 minutes really handicapped the offense.

Defense was wore out from being on the field too long. Offense could not sustain to give them much needed rest.

 

[topdecktiger]

Defense was wore out from being on the field too long. Offense could not sustain to give them much needed rest.

But that goes back to my point. One reason they were on the field was because they allowed two 90+ yard drives. Can't blame the offense for that.

 

[BeezerHeel]

surprised it has not been pointed out how long 'Quise was holding on to the football in the pocket. That was just as huge as any of these other points.

 

[BeezerHeel]

and, yea, gotta agree with topdecktiger. UNC could not get off the field on defense. The 96 and 97 yard TD drives are inexcusable.

 

[Tigertown_a_Rick]

Defense was wore out from being on the field too long. Offense could not sustain to give them much needed rest.

Yeah, I agree especially the last couple minutes of the half....Our defense gave us the ball back with 2:30 left, and we went 3 and out, and used up only 30 seconds, and Clemson promptly drove down, and scored a crucial TD right before the half....We should have used more time in that situation because we were going to receive the 2nd half kickoff....I thought that was a key moment in the game last night!

 

[HeelFan58]

Q was holding the ball too long in the pocket and direct result was the turnover for their last score. He sometimes doesn't seem to have good awareness that the rush is closing in on him.

 

[randman1]

I thought we should have put Trubinsky in to be honest. I realize Fedora wouldn't do that to our start, senior QB but he wasn't throwing the ball well. Nor making the best decisions and just had a bad game. It happens but what a terrible time to have an off-game.

 

[Archer2]

To take the next step up to Clemson-FSU level we must improve our line play and speed of our LB's teams just turn the corner for long runs on us too often.

Yep.

And there were several key plays. I can't help but remember when we had them 3rd and about 12 inside their five and we let Watson scramble for the 1st down. Any time a team can sustain three drives of over 90 yards, they're dominating the line. A couple of more recruiting classes, which are already being assisted by our fine season, and we'll win this type of game.

 

[strummingram]

DeShaun Watson having more total yards himself than our entire offense leaps out at me.

 

[Archer2]

DeShaun Watson having more total yards himself than our entire offense leaps out at me.

 

[UNCbeliever]

Among the many things posted, I'd like to add that our DB's did a pretty darn good job considering our tired line was not pressuring Watson much

 

[GoNtheDistance]

Our lack of push from the defensive line was the reason for our defense getting carved up

 

[6666Heel]

and, yea, gotta agree with topdecktiger. UNC could not get off the field on defense. The 96 and 97 yard TD drives are inexcusable.

That's a bit of overstatement, IMHO. LAST yr those 96 and 97 yd TD drives would have been accomplished in 2 to 6 plays. This year, it took Clemson 11 to 13 plays to accomplish same. What we have seen most of the year is that most offenses can't be consistent, and careful enough to keep drives going that long without a major setback - fumble, INT, or major TFL, and as a result, we have in most games given up significant yardage, but been able, somewhere during that drive to make a key play to kill it, all the while keeping the play in front of the defense, resulting in a dramatic improvement in points surrendered. Clemson, this year, is not most teams - they're the #1 team in the country. And although their offensive emphasis like ours, is the short term, quick strike drive, they proved Saturday night when their big plays were taken away, they STILL could take it in small bits and pieces - the quick slant was devastating most of the game - never broke loose for a long gain, but generated a lot of 1st downs and "2nd and short" situations. AND in the process wore down our defense enough to generate a speed edge that wasn't there earlier in the game. Overall, in this overall situation, with the offense struggling most of the game, I thought the Defense play a helluva game.

And as for Marquise holding the ball too long in the pocket, I replayed the game last night, and saw Herbstreit's explanation of what caused his hesitation. They showed a replay of a couple of pass plays, showing our guys in the pattern, each covered VERY well by one or two defenders - NONE WERE OPEN. It wasn't until near the end of the 3rd quarter (after Clemson had lost a couple of d-backs - one for the targeting call, and I think another went down with an injury), that our receivers began to get open. The only effective pass game up to that point had been swing passes to the backs (Logan scored on one of those) .Their front seven is very good, and required very little support from the safeties to contain our run game, generally. Though, as we got to late 3rd quarter that started to break down somewhat, as we became more consistent on offense.