Clemson is ranked number 11 in CBS Sports post-Spring Top 25
It’s that time of year for Clemson football fans to pick apart the “way to early” rankings for 2022.
I’m no different than any other fan and I’m not the only one who takes these things as less than seriously, but I’m here to share my opinion and “two cents”, so here I go.
CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd shared his post-Spring Top 25 last week and he had Clemson at number 11, which sounds about right to me. It’s hard to argue for much higher than that based on what we saw from the offense last season and difficult to argue much lower based on what we saw on defense, not to mention what’s returning on defense this season and the flaws of the teams above Clemson.
Dodds’ reasoning though is interesting, but maybe it’s just me.
Dodds isn’t buying that it was a down year at Clemson, he believes this is a longer term issue.
"I’m not buying that Clemson won 10 in an “off” year. The conclusion here is that program declined in general and needs to get its mojo back quickly."
Dodd offers no evidence or examples, just a conclusion. Facts though, say it was a down year by Clemson standards and they did win 10 games, which is generally a marker of success. I mean, what would Dodds say if Texas stumbled to 10 wins? Probably the exact opposite.
Next Dodd shows his true intellect by sharing this gem.
"Something is up with D.J. Uiagalelei’s game. It has to be fixed for the Tigers to ascend back to the top of the ACC."
Earth shattering news, though I’m not even sure what “fixed” means in this context. If it means “don’t throw pick six interceptions in crucial situations”, I’m with him. If it means the Tigers need Trevor Lawrence level performances to win the ACC, you’ve lost me.
The next chunk of genius reminds me of the old Jeff Foxworthy joke about “half a sentence” when his wife told him she “needs some space”, which he claimed was half a sentence, the other half being “without you in it”.
"Both coordinators left."
They did in fact leave and this is in fact a concern. They did not leave to sell insurance, run a car wash or for coordinator gigs at other universities. They left for head coaching jobs, one at arguably a perienniel top 7 or 8 program, another at a prestigious university that probably set his family for life. Good for them both.
A write up about Clemson, even one as short as this, wouldn’t be complete without the Dabo NIL/Transfer Portal blast, of course:
"Dabo Swinney continues to complain about NIL and the transfer portal. That can’t be good for transfers looking at the Tigers."
The next one is less controversial, at least to me. I think there’s a fair amount of concern among Clemson faithful about their status among the elite of college football.
"The question has to be asked: Is Clemson’s dynasty over when its ceiling for 2022 is only the ACC title?"
I don’t think the ACC title is necessarily the ceiling, but that’s his opinion and I can see his point.
Without saying one positive thing about Clemson, Dodd ranks Tigers just outside top 10
Where does Mr. Dodd rank this this program that has “declined”, has to “fix” their quarterback, lost both coordinators, has a coach complain about the NIL and the transfer portal and has a ceiling of “only an ACC title”?
Number 11 in the country, that’s where. All these issues, all this negativity and this team moves from “N/R” in the “way to early rankings” to number 11 in the country after the spring.
It’s not lost on me that there are zero references to the Clemson defense which should be one of the best in the nation. Zero, zip, zilch, nada, goose egg.
I admit, I didn’t read every word of all 25 teams, but even the ones closer to the bottom of the list have some positive references towards the teams in them, albeit some minor.
But Clemson? Nope, not one. For the team he ranked number 11.
But there’s no agenda here.