Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining us now to kick off the Happy hour. Our
good friend Will Vandervoord from the Clemson Insider, who had
a double header double header duty up there in Pittsburgh
this weekend. What's up, my friend? Not better than you,
I'll tell you that you had one of the greatest
sports weekends I can imagine. We'll get to the Steelers
in a minute. Will, by the way, covers the Clemson
(00:20):
Tigers for the Believe in Clemson Football podcast and the
Clemson Insider dot com. And he was there in attendance
at Akroschure Stadium covering uh what I can just describe
as a gritty win by Clemson, and then he stuck
around maybe uh maybe camped out in the stadium. I
don't know this roomy and really you saw his from
what I understand. That was your third Steelers game of
(00:43):
the year. Undefeated, undefeated, right, undefeated?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Actually yeah, three and zero? Uh, I need the start
this season. Which was another game where the Steelers didn't
score touchdowns. Then I went to but they won. Then
I went to Denver. Yeah we two. They only scored
one touchdown in that game. And then I went to
U this game on Sunday and they did score touchdown,
(01:09):
but they won. And by the way, so me and
my friend Sam and his girlfriend Sonya shout out to Bill.
They were with me and my brother was with me
also this week with the Ravens game. But the three
of us were in Atlanta, no touchdowns, Steelers one. Then
the three of us were in Pittsburgh, no touchdowns and
Steelers one. It's the first time in franchise history the
(01:32):
Steelers have won two games in the same season without
scoring a touchdown. And I was out both of them
with my buddy Sam and his girl friends Sonya.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Did the Steelers to my knowledge, don't do they have
a mascot.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
They do not have one that's on the field.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Who needs to Van Dervoort needs to get a good team.
That just a big, a big mascot ahead of Will Vanderbilt. Yeah,
and a steel outfit with Will VanderBurg with the grime
and dirt on his hands. That's right, getting the dirty
work done. Well. We'll talk to Steelers here in a minute.
But man, what a win it was for Clemson. Look,
let's start just with Kate Clubnick in that amazing fifty
yard run at the end of the game, and you
(02:10):
couple that with the fact that they had to do
it that way because the offensive line was in shambles
from injuries, guys rotating it out. Antony Williams with a
big game, TJ. Parker with a monstrous game, but what
an effort at the end by Clubnick and the growth
of this quarterback continues.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah, I mean, just a very It was a design
quarterback draw and I got to get also give a
shout out, and I believe it was Trent Howard the
other day that said that at the line of scrimmage,
Ryan Linticum, he's the one who called the blocking scheme
that allowed Clubnick to get open. He saw something, he
changed it up at the last second before they snapped
(02:48):
the ball, and obviously it worked what he saw does
It allowed Kay to have a nice lane to go through.
And then also shout out to TJ. Moore too, because
Cade talked about how you know he when cut when
he started to cut outside, he saw TJ. Moore had
taken the guy and taken him to the right and
up the field, which took him straight out to play.
(03:09):
It was a great blockdown field by the freshman wide
receiver that allowed Cad just have one guy to beat
and that was the safety, and he beat him and
screwed it up the sideline for the touchdown. So it
was a cad made the play, but it was a
bunch of other guys that helped him make the play
obviously at the same time. And they all made it
when they needed to the most. And John I said this,
(03:31):
I've said this a couple of times now. Clemson doesn't
win the Virginia Tech game last week, nor the Pittsburgh
game last year. If this was last year's team, they
don't win either one of these games. But this is
a different team. It shows you how far they've come
because it's a lot of the same players that played
last year when they lost that MT State and they
(03:51):
played like that. He couldn't make a play when they
needed to when they lost at Miami and couldn't make
a play against the backup quarterback and backup running back,
and they couldn't make a play. Well this year, they
didn't play great in either one of those games, but
they found a way to win in the end, and
that's all that matters. But like you said, it shows
the progression of not only their young quarterback, but of
(04:12):
this team and this program as well.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
It does show a lot of growth, will vanevert when
you look at what they went through last year and
a lot of what they went through the last few
years with some of the adversity, and obviously last year
being the prime example of just self inflicted mistakes and
the inability to overcome. Like the NC State game comes
to mind, we'll get your thoughts on an NC State
grad who had a moment on Sunday, Peyton Wilson. I
(04:37):
know you were front and center to see that here momentarily,
but yeah, you look at the defensive side of the ball.
I mean TJ. Parker Man, I'm just watching that game
and he is flashing everywhere. Four sacks, four and a
half tackles for loss, making some history there as a
Clemson pass rusher. I mean, you're in attendance for that game.
It's got to be mind boggling to just watch what
(04:58):
you're seeing there against a very sound unit in pit.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Well, I knew he had a great game because he
was like in the backfield the whole day and he
was making tackles and everything, and so I knew he
had a great game. I didn't realize he had a
record day you know what I'm saying until I read
my game notes, so I'm like, holy man, he had
a great He had a record game that game, you know,
because when he made the plays there at the end
that gave him that allowed him to tie the record
(05:23):
and set the record. You know, that was you know,
that was at the end of the game because people
weren't really talking about it because you're talking about the
end of the game, right so you know, so you
really didn't know that was going on because of what
was happening in a moment. And but what a great
game by him. He's been playing with Listen, TJ. Parker's
played well all year. He's just been getting double team
(05:44):
and I think what you saw the reason he was
able to play as well as he did. Now, Fifthburgh
had some injuries on the offensive line as well. You
got to understand that. But I think the growth of
kay Deenhoff and a growth of Jahine Lawson at d
event helped because they moved Peter Woods inside. He played
ninety five percent of that game at defensive tackle. And
(06:06):
those two ends really grew up and have grown up,
and they showed that in that game where they were
actually getting in the backfield themselves and Pittsburgh had to
adjust to that, and so it wasn't just chipping on
on on, you know, TJ. Park of the whole game
and stuff like that. So that allowed him to be PJ.
Parker and he you know, right now, he's second in
(06:28):
the ACC and sacks and he's second in the ACC
tackles were lost, and he's one of the best in
the country at getting to the quarterback. And I think
you're going to see that continue to be the case
because you're seeing growth of those other two defensive ends
on the other side, and that's allowing you know, TJ.
Parker to get to make some plays now where early
in the season he wasn't able to do that because
(06:48):
of how teams were defending him.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Well. Vandervoord, Clemson insider and also the host of the
Believe in Clemson Football podcast, is our guest here. We'll
talk Steelers with him in a minute. He's a Steeler fanatic.
But Clemson moved up three spots in the College Football
playoff rankings. Uh, what's your take on that and what's
the path forward for Clemson as you understand it in
terms of ACC Championship possibilities.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, I mean, Clemson's only pack in the College Football
Playoff is to get into the AC championshgain win it.
I mean, they're not. Clemson's not going to get in
that large bid. We know that by now. This is
it's heavily favored to the Big ten and SEC and
it's going to be this way for years to come,
which is why Clinton needs to leave the ACC because
it's just not fair right now for if you're not
(07:32):
in those two conferences. With that said, though, just talking
about this year in general, you know, right now, Miami,
the scenarios of this. You know, Miami will if they
lose one of these next two. It doesn't matter which one.
Clemson's in, m Okay, because Clemson's in the clubhouse. They finished.
They're they're sitting in the eighteenth t eighteenth hole in
(07:53):
the clubhouse. They finished, you know why. You know, Miami
and uh and and them were on the seventeenth hole.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
So at the clubhouse hoping for the best.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, so they're on the seventeenth hole and then and
so the pressure is on those two teams to finish,
right because Clemson's in and Clinton knows where it's at.
So you know Miami if they lose one of these
next two games, Clemson's in and I want I'm interested
how Miami handles the pressure. I'll tell you this much, guys.
I'm glad and say, now, okay, Clinton's gonna be the
(08:24):
Nation Championship game. And I'm so confident I'm gonna fill
out my credential for Nations Championship plone with you, guys.
And here's why Miami will lose one of these next
two games. Because the ball doesn't lie. And everybody who
knows ball knows Miami had no business winning that Virginia
Tech game that they were given that game. And everybody
(08:45):
who knows ball knows Miami has no business winning that
California game that they were given that game too. And
that's not a very good defense.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
That's Syracuse game that that's the one I'm looking at.
That's the word friend.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Well, I'm looking at too. I don't think Wake Forest.
I think Force is gonna move the football on them
and score on them. But I don't think White Forest
can hang with them. Uh in a in a in
a you know, shootout. Weird.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
A lot of weird things happen in Syracuse, says you
know that is an awkward place to play in. Fran
Brown's doing a hell of a job at the football team.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
It's good team, so you know, I think that's where
it's going to happen. And you know it's gonna be
on the road. They're gonna be everybody's gonna be against them.
You know. I just and I just don't think ball lies.
I just don't think it lies. And I think everybody
knows Crimson should be in that championship game and not Miami.
I think everybody to a man knows that, and and
(09:37):
and I think it will happen. Now Crimpson didn't mess up.
They had their own opportunities. Just you know, if they
don't mess up against Louisville, they're playing in the AC
championship game. So that is what it is. But I'm
confident Miami's gonna lose because they don't deserve to be in.
They don't. They're not the best team in the ACC.
And I don't care what anybody says that they're not.
Their defense is not very good at all. I think
(09:58):
their defense is giving up Clo the forty points the
game and almost five hundred yards the game in act play.
That's how bad it is. Okay, it is not a
very good defense, and their offense now is great, don't
get me wrong. You know, I think I think cam
Board is the best quarterback in the league, and I
think they got one of the best running backs in
the country as well. But they're just not They're not
(10:19):
very good on the defense side of the ball, and
I don't it's a team game, it's not a one
unit game, and I think that's gonna cost them in
the end. So yeah, you know, so that's one scenario.
The other scenario is the you know, it's the less
likely of the ones. Now. If if SMU loses their
next two games, then Clemson's in there as well. But
(10:40):
I don't see SMU losing both of those games. I mean,
they could, you know, I mean, is a tough team.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Tony Elliott has the opportunity to be the most cleansing
man ever this weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yes he does. And it went surprised me to see
Virginia beat him because SMU has been flirting with disaster
the last couple of weeks. You know, I say, you
go back to last week's game or they almost they
should have probably lost to Boston College. You can make
a strong argument, and then they definitely should have lost
the duke. You know, so they've kind of been flirting
with disaster as well, but I think they I just
(11:14):
don't see them lose. They're too consistent, you know, They've
been too consistent throughout the season where I don't see
them losing back to back games. But if they lose
to Virginia, Okay, now here's how Clemson can get in.
If SMU loses to Virginia, if Louisville loses to Pitt
which is a possibility, and and Virginia, I mean Virginia
(11:37):
wins the SMU game and Louisville loses the PIT and
then Virginia next week beats Virginia Tech, there will be
a three way tie for first place in the ACC.
Miami automatically goes Clemson goes over SMU because Clinton's would
have beaten a team with a better conference record in Virginia.
So that's how Clemson would get in over SMU. And
(11:59):
that's so there's two scenarios out there, or three scenarios.
One is more likely, that's Miami. The other two are
not as likely, but you got to follow it. Hey,
my Steeler's gotten in the playoffs with less likely chances
the last few years, and so anything can happen. You know,
I'll never say it's over till it's over.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Will Let's let's get some Steelers talk in here. The Steelers,
they're in a pretty unique place as far as quarterback
play goes. Obviously, Russell Wilson with that deep moonball, it's beautiful,
but you've also got Russell or excuse me, you've also
got Justin Fields in there. I've heard chirp and chatter
through some of the people in Pittsburgh that cover this
team talking about Justin Fields down there in the red zone, dialing.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Up some packages for Justin Fields.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
How do you feel about that and utilizing him there
like not not just in the red zone. But we
kind of saw, you know, in Sunday's game against the
Ravens where he rushed for that to try and get
that first down. Obviously he slid a little early, didn't
get the first down, but dialing up some packages for
Justin Fields, you got him, may as well use him.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Yeah, I'll remind you that Justin. The Steelers weren't very
good in the red zone with Justin Fields with the.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Quarterback right he did have his legs though.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, but I hear it, I get it. But I
think you're better with Russell Wilson in the red zone.
When you go back to the last couple of games,
Who's throwing touchdown passes in the red zone? Idiot this game, No,
but you can't give the Ravens credit for that. Like
the Ravens game, the Steelers up very well. But against Washington,
he you know, got red zone touchdowns. You know the
other two previous games that Justson the Giants, you got
(13:30):
redon touchdowns. I'm not worried. You don't need to you
need to use Justin Fields. I'm thinking packages out in
the middle of the field. But I think when the
field shrinks, you got to be able to throw the
ball accurately in the red zone when the field shrinks
like that. And and Justin Fields is not that guy,
not right now. And that was proven the first six
games of the season. And so you know, the Steelers
(13:52):
were not good at all in the red zone with
Justin Fields. So I say, don't worry about that. I
don't think the Steelers are worried about that. I don't
even think jumped in their head because one of the
reasons they liked they went out and got Russell Wilson
was because Russell Wilson is very good in the red zone.
Twenty of these twenty six passes last year were in
the red zone. I think he's already got three red
zone touchdown passes this year was with the Steelers. Did
(14:14):
he make a stupid mistake the other day? Absolutely did.
I was up there yelling at him more.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Than I don't know.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
I think Washington goes up to that ball though he might.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yeah, I think he was being held too. But Russell
should have known the situation. You just keep the field goal,
you know, throw it out of bounce out of the
back of the end to kick the field goal. And
you know, at that point the Steelers would have an
eleven point lead instead of a you know, an eight
point lead. Changed the whole dynamics of that game. If
he kicks the field goal there, So, you know, got
(14:44):
to be Russell's got to be a little bit more
smarter than that. I understand what he was trying to do,
but you can't turn the football over there. You got
to get the point, especially in a game like that.
And so I'm find I like the way they did though,
Russell with with Justin Fields in the game, bringing them
in to run those plays and made the Ravens think.
I loved how Mike Tomlin did an okie dokee with
(15:07):
them when he came out with Justin Fields on to
that four on that third one, he came out with
Russell Wilson, saw the defensive alignment and then says up
time out, We're gonna put out Justin back in.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
And and even though they still ran Nasee on the play,
it made the Baltimore realize they had to pay attention
to what Fields was doing and it totally changed their
whole scheme on what they were going to do. And
they had they couldn't call the time out there because
they would have burned their last time out, so they
had to go with what was on the field. And
so smart move by. That's why Mike Tomlin he's a
(15:39):
he's a great coach in those situations. Now when it
comes to the challenge flag, because there was one sack
on the play in that game that would have cost
the Ravens would have got their field goal had Mike
Comlin thrown the challenge flag because he was down and
we're sitting in the stadium might throw the flag, throw
the flag, you know, you know, but anyway, you know.
(16:01):
But it was a good, great coaching call. The little
Oki dokie did there to the hardball and it pulled.
It worked out great, and Justin Field's made the great
right read and Nausey gets the first down and the
game's over and I was celebrating because you know why
they beat the Ravens, man, I hate the Ravens. Yeah,
And it was awesome. It was awesome to be in
that state. It was a great atmosphere, by the way,
(16:21):
it was like the playoff atmosphere. And the Steelers from
the moment, you know, about twenty minutes before the game starts,
they're getting the crowd amped up, and they do it
throughout the entire game. I mean, it is. It is
one of the best marketing things I've seen by any
game I've been to. And remember I've been to a
lot of games, guys, as you know, covering Yep and
going to different NFL stadiums following the Steelers, and trust me,
(16:45):
that's the best marketing game I've ever seen. To keep
the crowd into the game the entire time where they're
just loud and bolsterous and making it really difficult for
the visiting team.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
How are you feeling about tomorrow Night's game?
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Obviously coming off a short week, we just just played
the Ravens. That's always taxing. They play, they play hard,
but it seems like, I think, what's the stat I
saw the last like six meetings with the Browns were
like one four and one. I believe you think that's
different this year with this offense. And obviously it feels
like this defense.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Correct that what you just said, not the last that's
at Cleveland.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Oh okay, well yeah, Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Sorry, it's at Cleveland Bird, So there no time the
Browns are one four one overall against within any point
in life of my life. Well, yeah, we had to
make sure that's corrected.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
But definitely, this defense feels like it's playing on a
whole other level, even even above what we've we were
coming to expect coming into this season with this defense.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
How do you feel about Mars game?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Yeah, I mean it's I'm not gonna lie to you,
it's a trap game because you're playing the Steelers. By
the way, they want to give another record to make
you feel good. The Steelers are ten and ten coming
off the playing the Ravens in a game. So there,
that's that's not a good thing. Right Then, to make
it even worse, the Steelers are one in seven on
(18:04):
Thursday night football on the road, so uh and and
three of those losses are to Cleveland, believe it or not.
So so yeah, So the numbers don't are not good,
but the good news is Cleveland's awful. Yeah, and Miles
Garret did not practice yesterday at a whole status is today,
(18:26):
but he did not practice yesterday. He's got some kind
of hit pointer or something, they said. Even even if
he does play, he's probably not one hundred percent. So
that could bow well for for the Steelers in a Granted,
the Steelers are banged up too because they just played
the Ravens, you know, So you know it's gonna be
interesting to see. I think the key tomorrow night for
Pittsburgh Tomorrow night against the Browns, they got to stop
(18:47):
they gotta start Nick Chubb. I think that they can
just slow him down and not let him be any
factor in the game. Then I think the Steelers will win.
But you know, he's going to be motivated in this
thing because this is the game he got hurt in
last year, and actually the last two times he's got
hurt has been against the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I think Henry is a good matchup going into it
like that was a good litmus test there, Derrick Henry
with the with the Ravens now Nick Chubb with the Browns.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Right out of the gate and force. That was an
amazing way to start the game. So that helps.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
And it's good to get Herbert back because he made
the fumble against them. So and also you don't have
to worry about like you know, we saw Herbert a
couple of times get out of get out of his
runs run wanes and allowed he allowed uh you know,
Vick listen to me, uh Lamar Jackson to go to
go off to the hedge and get around them. So
(19:38):
don't have to worry about that. With James Winston, Jamis
Winston is not a running quarterback, so you you just
got to play the run. But you know, the Steelers
at times this year struggled against some teams you know,
run runs running backs and they have not you know,
coming off only you know, three days rest, you know,
not a full week. They just played a very physical
game against the Ravens. You know, it's it's a game.
(20:00):
But the good news I think, I think just that
the Browns just aren't very good overall on the defense
or on offense. Usually they're really good on offense, but
they're not, I mean really good on defense. But they're
not good on defense this year, guys, they're not. They're
not playing well on defense at all. And so you know,
you hope Pittsburgh could take advantage of that. And by
the way, here's a good number for you. Russell Wilson
(20:22):
is three and oh against the Browns all time, including
a win at Cleveland last year's Nevers quarterback. So there's
a good news for you.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
That's right. One more question here. You might have answered
this already, but forgive me. How happy are you that
Peyton Wilson is a Steeler? I mean, you covered the
ACC for a long time. Obviously NC stayed great, but
we saw what Peyton could do last year against Clemson
and what a play he made against Justice Hill on
that route.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
I don't know if they showed them on TV, but
it was after Renegade.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Renegade perfect. Yes, yeah, Renegade is for the can get
the big defensive stop and that was on that that
SI that was right after the interception that Russell Wilson threw.
And then they played renegade and then Lamar has that
long run getting in the midfield and then like two
plays later he throws the interception. Uh wow, so that
(21:18):
was after renegade. So it was a great play. Russell
Wilson said, it was great that an NC State guy
had another guy back.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Of course, there you go, man, that's right right up
to the turnover. Well, Will, ye can't wait to see
you down there. And Clemson again this weekend they take
on Citadel and then you got uh South Carolina. Clemson
of course coming up a week and a half from now.
Is always the host of Believe in Clemson Football podcast,
huge Steeler fan, and with the Clemson Insider, it's Will
(21:43):
Vanderford chronicling his yins are doubleheader this past weekend. Man,
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Bud real fast.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
For those people out there, because I know you've got
some Game Cup fans too that listen. Yeah, it's not
called the Palmetto ball, so don't call it that.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Duly noted it.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Don't play into the stupid marketing there. Okay, it is
not the Palmetto Balls, Carolina Carolina or Carolina Clipson. That's
all it needs to be called. Don't call it anything else.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Whatever it is, it's gonna be great. It's gonna be
a great matchup this year, t this time around noon kickoff.
We'll see you out there, will.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
All right, Man, talk to you guys like that.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
There it goes.
Joining us now to kick off the Happy hour. Our
good friend Will Vandervoord from the Clemson Insider, who had
a double header double header duty up there in Pittsburgh
this weekend. What's up, my friend? Not better than you,
I'll tell you that you had one of the greatest
sports weekends I can imagine. We'll get to the Steelers
in a minute. Will, by the way, covers the Clemson
(00:20):
Tigers for the Believe in Clemson Football podcast and the
Clemson Insider dot com. And he was there in attendance
at Akroschure Stadium covering uh what I can just describe
as a gritty win by Clemson, and then he stuck
around maybe uh maybe camped out in the stadium. I
don't know this roomy and really you saw his from
what I understand. That was your third Steelers game of
(00:43):
the year. Undefeated, undefeated, right, undefeated?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Actually yeah, three and zero? Uh, I need the start
this season. Which was another game where the Steelers didn't
score touchdowns. Then I went to but they won. Then
I went to Denver. Yeah we two. They only scored
one touchdown in that game. And then I went to
U this game on Sunday and they did score touchdown,
(01:09):
but they won. And by the way, so me and
my friend Sam and his girlfriend Sonya shout out to Bill.
They were with me and my brother was with me
also this week with the Ravens game. But the three
of us were in Atlanta, no touchdowns, Steelers one. Then
the three of us were in Pittsburgh, no touchdowns and
Steelers one. It's the first time in franchise history the
(01:32):
Steelers have won two games in the same season without
scoring a touchdown. And I was out both of them
with my buddy Sam and his girl friends Sonya.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Did the Steelers to my knowledge, don't do they have
a mascot.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
They do not have one that's on the field.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Who needs to Van Dervoort needs to get a good team.
That just a big, a big mascot ahead of Will Vanderbilt. Yeah,
and a steel outfit with Will VanderBurg with the grime
and dirt on his hands. That's right, getting the dirty
work done. Well. We'll talk to Steelers here in a minute.
But man, what a win it was for Clemson. Look,
let's start just with Kate Clubnick in that amazing fifty
yard run at the end of the game, and you
(02:10):
couple that with the fact that they had to do
it that way because the offensive line was in shambles
from injuries, guys rotating it out. Antony Williams with a
big game, TJ. Parker with a monstrous game, but what
an effort at the end by Clubnick and the growth
of this quarterback continues.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah, I mean, just a very It was a design
quarterback draw and I got to get also give a
shout out, and I believe it was Trent Howard the
other day that said that at the line of scrimmage,
Ryan Linticum, he's the one who called the blocking scheme
that allowed Clubnick to get open. He saw something, he
changed it up at the last second before they snapped
(02:48):
the ball, and obviously it worked what he saw does
It allowed Kay to have a nice lane to go through.
And then also shout out to TJ. Moore too, because
Cade talked about how you know he when cut when
he started to cut outside, he saw TJ. Moore had
taken the guy and taken him to the right and
up the field, which took him straight out to play.
(03:09):
It was a great blockdown field by the freshman wide
receiver that allowed Cad just have one guy to beat
and that was the safety, and he beat him and
screwed it up the sideline for the touchdown. So it
was a cad made the play, but it was a
bunch of other guys that helped him make the play
obviously at the same time. And they all made it
when they needed to the most. And John I said this,
(03:31):
I've said this a couple of times now. Clemson doesn't
win the Virginia Tech game last week, nor the Pittsburgh
game last year. If this was last year's team, they
don't win either one of these games. But this is
a different team. It shows you how far they've come
because it's a lot of the same players that played
last year when they lost that MT State and they
(03:51):
played like that. He couldn't make a play when they
needed to when they lost at Miami and couldn't make
a play against the backup quarterback and backup running back,
and they couldn't make a play. Well this year, they
didn't play great in either one of those games, but
they found a way to win in the end, and
that's all that matters. But like you said, it shows
the progression of not only their young quarterback, but of
(04:12):
this team and this program as well.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
It does show a lot of growth, will vanevert when
you look at what they went through last year and
a lot of what they went through the last few
years with some of the adversity, and obviously last year
being the prime example of just self inflicted mistakes and
the inability to overcome. Like the NC State game comes
to mind, we'll get your thoughts on an NC State
grad who had a moment on Sunday, Peyton Wilson. I
(04:37):
know you were front and center to see that here momentarily,
but yeah, you look at the defensive side of the ball.
I mean TJ. Parker Man, I'm just watching that game
and he is flashing everywhere. Four sacks, four and a
half tackles for loss, making some history there as a
Clemson pass rusher. I mean, you're in attendance for that game.
It's got to be mind boggling to just watch what
(04:58):
you're seeing there against a very sound unit in pit.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Well, I knew he had a great game because he
was like in the backfield the whole day and he
was making tackles and everything, and so I knew he
had a great game. I didn't realize he had a
record day you know what I'm saying until I read
my game notes, so I'm like, holy man, he had
a great He had a record game that game, you know,
because when he made the plays there at the end
that gave him that allowed him to tie the record
(05:23):
and set the record. You know, that was you know,
that was at the end of the game because people
weren't really talking about it because you're talking about the
end of the game, right so you know, so you
really didn't know that was going on because of what
was happening in a moment. And but what a great
game by him. He's been playing with Listen, TJ. Parker's
played well all year. He's just been getting double team
(05:44):
and I think what you saw the reason he was
able to play as well as he did. Now, Fifthburgh
had some injuries on the offensive line as well. You
got to understand that. But I think the growth of
kay Deenhoff and a growth of Jahine Lawson at d
event helped because they moved Peter Woods inside. He played
ninety five percent of that game at defensive tackle. And
(06:06):
those two ends really grew up and have grown up,
and they showed that in that game where they were
actually getting in the backfield themselves and Pittsburgh had to
adjust to that, and so it wasn't just chipping on
on on, you know, TJ. Park of the whole game
and stuff like that. So that allowed him to be PJ.
Parker and he you know, right now, he's second in
(06:28):
the ACC and sacks and he's second in the ACC
tackles were lost, and he's one of the best in
the country at getting to the quarterback. And I think
you're going to see that continue to be the case
because you're seeing growth of those other two defensive ends
on the other side, and that's allowing you know, TJ.
Parker to get to make some plays now where early
in the season he wasn't able to do that because
(06:48):
of how teams were defending him.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Well. Vandervoord, Clemson insider and also the host of the
Believe in Clemson Football podcast, is our guest here. We'll
talk Steelers with him in a minute. He's a Steeler fanatic.
But Clemson moved up three spots in the College Football
playoff rankings. Uh, what's your take on that and what's
the path forward for Clemson as you understand it in
terms of ACC Championship possibilities.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, I mean, Clemson's only pack in the College Football
Playoff is to get into the AC championshgain win it.
I mean, they're not. Clemson's not going to get in
that large bid. We know that by now. This is
it's heavily favored to the Big ten and SEC and
it's going to be this way for years to come,
which is why Clinton needs to leave the ACC because
it's just not fair right now for if you're not
(07:32):
in those two conferences. With that said, though, just talking
about this year in general, you know, right now, Miami,
the scenarios of this. You know, Miami will if they
lose one of these next two. It doesn't matter which one.
Clemson's in, m Okay, because Clemson's in the clubhouse. They finished.
They're they're sitting in the eighteenth t eighteenth hole in
(07:53):
the clubhouse. They finished, you know why. You know, Miami
and uh and and them were on the seventeenth hole.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
So at the clubhouse hoping for the best.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, so they're on the seventeenth hole and then and
so the pressure is on those two teams to finish,
right because Clemson's in and Clinton knows where it's at.
So you know Miami if they lose one of these
next two games, Clemson's in and I want I'm interested
how Miami handles the pressure. I'll tell you this much, guys.
I'm glad and say, now, okay, Clinton's gonna be the
(08:24):
Nation Championship game. And I'm so confident I'm gonna fill
out my credential for Nations Championship plone with you, guys.
And here's why Miami will lose one of these next
two games. Because the ball doesn't lie. And everybody who
knows ball knows Miami had no business winning that Virginia
Tech game that they were given that game. And everybody
(08:45):
who knows ball knows Miami has no business winning that
California game that they were given that game too. And
that's not a very good defense.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
That's Syracuse game that that's the one I'm looking at.
That's the word friend.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Well, I'm looking at too. I don't think Wake Forest.
I think Force is gonna move the football on them
and score on them. But I don't think White Forest
can hang with them. Uh in a in a in
a you know, shootout. Weird.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
A lot of weird things happen in Syracuse, says you
know that is an awkward place to play in. Fran
Brown's doing a hell of a job at the football team.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
It's good team, so you know, I think that's where
it's going to happen. And you know it's gonna be
on the road. They're gonna be everybody's gonna be against them.
You know. I just and I just don't think ball lies.
I just don't think it lies. And I think everybody
knows Crimson should be in that championship game and not Miami.
I think everybody to a man knows that, and and
(09:37):
and I think it will happen. Now Crimpson didn't mess up.
They had their own opportunities. Just you know, if they
don't mess up against Louisville, they're playing in the AC
championship game. So that is what it is. But I'm
confident Miami's gonna lose because they don't deserve to be in.
They don't. They're not the best team in the ACC.
And I don't care what anybody says that they're not.
Their defense is not very good at all. I think
(09:58):
their defense is giving up Clo the forty points the
game and almost five hundred yards the game in act play.
That's how bad it is. Okay, it is not a
very good defense, and their offense now is great, don't
get me wrong. You know, I think I think cam
Board is the best quarterback in the league, and I
think they got one of the best running backs in
the country as well. But they're just not They're not
(10:19):
very good on the defense side of the ball, and
I don't it's a team game, it's not a one
unit game, and I think that's gonna cost them in
the end. So yeah, you know, so that's one scenario.
The other scenario is the you know, it's the less
likely of the ones. Now. If if SMU loses their
next two games, then Clemson's in there as well. But
(10:40):
I don't see SMU losing both of those games. I mean,
they could, you know, I mean, is a tough team.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Tony Elliott has the opportunity to be the most cleansing
man ever this weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yes he does. And it went surprised me to see
Virginia beat him because SMU has been flirting with disaster
the last couple of weeks. You know, I say, you
go back to last week's game or they almost they
should have probably lost to Boston College. You can make
a strong argument, and then they definitely should have lost
the duke. You know, so they've kind of been flirting
with disaster as well, but I think they I just
(11:14):
don't see them lose. They're too consistent, you know, They've
been too consistent throughout the season where I don't see
them losing back to back games. But if they lose
to Virginia, Okay, now here's how Clemson can get in.
If SMU loses to Virginia, if Louisville loses to Pitt
which is a possibility, and and Virginia, I mean Virginia
(11:37):
wins the SMU game and Louisville loses the PIT and
then Virginia next week beats Virginia Tech, there will be
a three way tie for first place in the ACC.
Miami automatically goes Clemson goes over SMU because Clinton's would
have beaten a team with a better conference record in Virginia.
So that's how Clemson would get in over SMU. And
(11:59):
that's so there's two scenarios out there, or three scenarios.
One is more likely, that's Miami. The other two are
not as likely, but you got to follow it. Hey,
my Steeler's gotten in the playoffs with less likely chances
the last few years, and so anything can happen. You know,
I'll never say it's over till it's over.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Will Let's let's get some Steelers talk in here. The Steelers,
they're in a pretty unique place as far as quarterback
play goes. Obviously, Russell Wilson with that deep moonball, it's beautiful,
but you've also got Russell or excuse me, you've also
got Justin Fields in there. I've heard chirp and chatter
through some of the people in Pittsburgh that cover this
team talking about Justin Fields down there in the red zone, dialing.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Up some packages for Justin Fields.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
How do you feel about that and utilizing him there
like not not just in the red zone. But we
kind of saw, you know, in Sunday's game against the
Ravens where he rushed for that to try and get
that first down. Obviously he slid a little early, didn't
get the first down, but dialing up some packages for
Justin Fields, you got him, may as well use him.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Yeah, I'll remind you that Justin. The Steelers weren't very
good in the red zone with Justin Fields with the.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Quarterback right he did have his legs though.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, but I hear it, I get it. But I
think you're better with Russell Wilson in the red zone.
When you go back to the last couple of games,
Who's throwing touchdown passes in the red zone? Idiot this game, No,
but you can't give the Ravens credit for that. Like
the Ravens game, the Steelers up very well. But against Washington,
he you know, got red zone touchdowns. You know the
other two previous games that Justson the Giants, you got
(13:30):
redon touchdowns. I'm not worried. You don't need to you
need to use Justin Fields. I'm thinking packages out in
the middle of the field. But I think when the
field shrinks, you got to be able to throw the
ball accurately in the red zone when the field shrinks
like that. And and Justin Fields is not that guy,
not right now. And that was proven the first six
games of the season. And so you know, the Steelers
(13:52):
were not good at all in the red zone with
Justin Fields. So I say, don't worry about that. I
don't think the Steelers are worried about that. I don't
even think jumped in their head because one of the
reasons they liked they went out and got Russell Wilson
was because Russell Wilson is very good in the red zone.
Twenty of these twenty six passes last year were in
the red zone. I think he's already got three red
zone touchdown passes this year was with the Steelers. Did
(14:14):
he make a stupid mistake the other day? Absolutely did.
I was up there yelling at him more.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Than I don't know.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
I think Washington goes up to that ball though he might.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yeah, I think he was being held too. But Russell
should have known the situation. You just keep the field goal,
you know, throw it out of bounce out of the
back of the end to kick the field goal. And
you know, at that point the Steelers would have an
eleven point lead instead of a you know, an eight
point lead. Changed the whole dynamics of that game. If
he kicks the field goal there, So, you know, got
(14:44):
to be Russell's got to be a little bit more
smarter than that. I understand what he was trying to do,
but you can't turn the football over there. You got
to get the point, especially in a game like that.
And so I'm find I like the way they did though,
Russell with with Justin Fields in the game, bringing them
in to run those plays and made the Ravens think.
I loved how Mike Tomlin did an okie dokee with
(15:07):
them when he came out with Justin Fields on to
that four on that third one, he came out with
Russell Wilson, saw the defensive alignment and then says up
time out, We're gonna put out Justin back in.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
And and even though they still ran Nasee on the play,
it made the Baltimore realize they had to pay attention
to what Fields was doing and it totally changed their
whole scheme on what they were going to do. And
they had they couldn't call the time out there because
they would have burned their last time out, so they
had to go with what was on the field. And
so smart move by. That's why Mike Tomlin he's a
(15:39):
he's a great coach in those situations. Now when it
comes to the challenge flag, because there was one sack
on the play in that game that would have cost
the Ravens would have got their field goal had Mike
Comlin thrown the challenge flag because he was down and
we're sitting in the stadium might throw the flag, throw
the flag, you know, you know, but anyway, you know.
(16:01):
But it was a good, great coaching call. The little
Oki dokie did there to the hardball and it pulled.
It worked out great, and Justin Field's made the great
right read and Nausey gets the first down and the
game's over and I was celebrating because you know why
they beat the Ravens, man, I hate the Ravens. Yeah,
And it was awesome. It was awesome to be in
that state. It was a great atmosphere, by the way,
(16:21):
it was like the playoff atmosphere. And the Steelers from
the moment, you know, about twenty minutes before the game starts,
they're getting the crowd amped up, and they do it
throughout the entire game. I mean, it is. It is
one of the best marketing things I've seen by any
game I've been to. And remember I've been to a
lot of games, guys, as you know, covering Yep and
going to different NFL stadiums following the Steelers, and trust me,
(16:45):
that's the best marketing game I've ever seen. To keep
the crowd into the game the entire time where they're
just loud and bolsterous and making it really difficult for
the visiting team.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
How are you feeling about tomorrow Night's game?
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Obviously coming off a short week, we just just played
the Ravens. That's always taxing. They play, they play hard,
but it seems like, I think, what's the stat I
saw the last like six meetings with the Browns were
like one four and one. I believe you think that's
different this year with this offense. And obviously it feels
like this defense.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Correct that what you just said, not the last that's
at Cleveland.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Oh okay, well yeah, Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Sorry, it's at Cleveland Bird, So there no time the
Browns are one four one overall against within any point
in life of my life. Well, yeah, we had to
make sure that's corrected.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
But definitely, this defense feels like it's playing on a
whole other level, even even above what we've we were
coming to expect coming into this season with this defense.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
How do you feel about Mars game?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Yeah, I mean it's I'm not gonna lie to you,
it's a trap game because you're playing the Steelers. By
the way, they want to give another record to make
you feel good. The Steelers are ten and ten coming
off the playing the Ravens in a game. So there,
that's that's not a good thing. Right Then, to make
it even worse, the Steelers are one in seven on
(18:04):
Thursday night football on the road, so uh and and
three of those losses are to Cleveland, believe it or not.
So so yeah, So the numbers don't are not good,
but the good news is Cleveland's awful. Yeah, and Miles
Garret did not practice yesterday at a whole status is today,
(18:26):
but he did not practice yesterday. He's got some kind
of hit pointer or something, they said. Even even if
he does play, he's probably not one hundred percent. So
that could bow well for for the Steelers in a Granted,
the Steelers are banged up too because they just played
the Ravens, you know, So you know it's gonna be
interesting to see. I think the key tomorrow night for
Pittsburgh Tomorrow night against the Browns, they got to stop
(18:47):
they gotta start Nick Chubb. I think that they can
just slow him down and not let him be any
factor in the game. Then I think the Steelers will win.
But you know, he's going to be motivated in this
thing because this is the game he got hurt in
last year, and actually the last two times he's got
hurt has been against the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I think Henry is a good matchup going into it
like that was a good litmus test there, Derrick Henry
with the with the Ravens now Nick Chubb with the Browns.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Right out of the gate and force. That was an
amazing way to start the game. So that helps.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
And it's good to get Herbert back because he made
the fumble against them. So and also you don't have
to worry about like you know, we saw Herbert a
couple of times get out of get out of his
runs run wanes and allowed he allowed uh you know,
Vick listen to me, uh Lamar Jackson to go to
go off to the hedge and get around them. So
(19:38):
don't have to worry about that. With James Winston, Jamis
Winston is not a running quarterback, so you you just
got to play the run. But you know, the Steelers
at times this year struggled against some teams you know,
run runs running backs and they have not you know,
coming off only you know, three days rest, you know,
not a full week. They just played a very physical
game against the Ravens. You know, it's it's a game.
(20:00):
But the good news I think, I think just that
the Browns just aren't very good overall on the defense
or on offense. Usually they're really good on offense, but
they're not, I mean really good on defense. But they're
not good on defense this year, guys, they're not. They're
not playing well on defense at all. And so you know,
you hope Pittsburgh could take advantage of that. And by
the way, here's a good number for you. Russell Wilson
(20:22):
is three and oh against the Browns all time, including
a win at Cleveland last year's Nevers quarterback. So there's
a good news for you.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
That's right. One more question here. You might have answered
this already, but forgive me. How happy are you that
Peyton Wilson is a Steeler? I mean, you covered the
ACC for a long time. Obviously NC stayed great, but
we saw what Peyton could do last year against Clemson
and what a play he made against Justice Hill on
that route.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
I don't know if they showed them on TV, but
it was after Renegade.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Renegade perfect. Yes, yeah, Renegade is for the can get
the big defensive stop and that was on that that
SI that was right after the interception that Russell Wilson threw.
And then they played renegade and then Lamar has that
long run getting in the midfield and then like two
plays later he throws the interception. Uh wow, so that
(21:18):
was after renegade. So it was a great play. Russell
Wilson said, it was great that an NC State guy
had another guy back.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Of course, there you go, man, that's right right up
to the turnover. Well, Will, ye can't wait to see
you down there. And Clemson again this weekend they take
on Citadel and then you got uh South Carolina. Clemson
of course coming up a week and a half from now.
Is always the host of Believe in Clemson Football podcast,
huge Steeler fan, and with the Clemson Insider, it's Will
(21:43):
Vanderford chronicling his yins are doubleheader this past weekend. Man,
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Bud real fast.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
For those people out there, because I know you've got
some Game Cup fans too that listen. Yeah, it's not
called the Palmetto ball, so don't call it that.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Duly noted it.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Don't play into the stupid marketing there. Okay, it is
not the Palmetto Balls, Carolina Carolina or Carolina Clipson. That's
all it needs to be called. Don't call it anything else.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Whatever it is, it's gonna be great. It's gonna be
a great matchup this year, t this time around noon kickoff.
We'll see you out there, will.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
All right, Man, talk to you guys like that.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
There it goes.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com