Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Oklahoma First Quarter Thoughts

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– It’s not as hot as it might seem. It’s 85 out, but there’s a breeze and it’s cloudy. Out on the field it’s not cool, but it’s really not that bad. It shouldn’t be THAT big a deal.

– Oklahoma legend Roy Williams asked if I’d take a photo of him on the field and said “thank you, sir.” I’m good now.

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Baker Mayfield … #OrangeBowl
pic.twitter.com/38IN5UwLqW

—
Pete Fiutak (@PeteFiutak) December
31, 2015

 
 
– I actually asked Campus Insiders super-producer Lawrence Benedetto if that was Baker Mayfield, because the Oklahoma star quarterback was running a full route tree and doing Odell Beckham Jr. end zone one-handed drills for about 15 minutes. I wasn’t sure if the Sooners had a Mayfield lookalike. Other than to show off, I’m not quite sure why Mayfield was running these routes for so long.

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HotTake: Mayfield exudes
confidence… Out here running @OBJ_3 receiver drills
in pre-game. #BoomerSooner
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—
Campus Insiders (@CampusInsiders) December
31, 2015

  

– I can’t workout without having problems finding a place to hold my phone or how to keep my headphones on, and these guys are flying around and cutting on a dime with their Beats firmly attached.

– Hoping the game is as entertaining as OU DE Charles Tapper and Clemson DE Shaq Lawson getting into a pretend fight.

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WOW!!! Clemson's Shaq Lawson
running real hot in pre-game… Lot of trash talk down here. Wow!!! #OrangeBowl
pic.twitter.com/K5CcJ4IWXc

—
Campus Insiders (@CampusInsiders) December
31, 2015

 

– Final prediction before this starts up? Sticking with it … Oklahoma in a wild and crazy shootout.

– Not sure if this matters, but Clemson had fire in its run on the field into, Oklahoma didn’t. It’s a sign.

FIRST QUARTER

– These two teams are FEISTY. Lots of little exchanges after the whistle.

– Oklahoma has the O line working early in the interior and doing a great job of getting the receivers into space.

– Mayfield in an early groove. That can’t happen for Clemson. The Tigers have to slow this down.

– 7-0 Oklahoma. That should hold up.

– The power of the OU running game is going to be a factor. The ground game is going to be why OU wins this game.

– Sitting around all this orange … now I want a Dreamsicle.

– Samaje Perine 33 yards and a score on the opening drive. The phrase you’re looking for Clemson D is, “uh oh.”

– Clemson in grave danger of going three-and-out, and then Deshaun Watson connects on a strike while taking a huge pop from Eric Striker.

– Both defenses are flying around. Great energy from the start. Lots of swarming.

– Not going to lie – watching this game in the warm weather of the outdoor pressbox is ridiculously awesome.

– Clemson drive stalls. Didn’t look anywhere near as crisp as Oklahoma’s first ten plays.

– Everyone tries to bat down Mayfield passes, but Clemson’s length up front might be a problem.

– The Tiger D might have quickly adjusted. It’s not worrying as much about Mayfield getting to the outside.

– It also helps that Shaq Lawson is back in the game after missing the first series.

– And there’s the problem. Baker Manziel giveth, Baker Manziel gets dropped for a huge loss. Shaq Lawson, ladies and gentlemen.

– SHANK. Clemson getting the ball on its own 30.

– Watson playing calm and controlled. The sped-up Oklahoma attack works for tempo, but Clemson playing like it doesn’t need to hustle. Get the play right, not fast.

– But that can be a problem when the Oklahoma defense is playing fast.

– Eric Striker just ate up Watson by dismissing the block for the big play.

– Huge, huge, HUGE stop for Oklahoma considering the field position.

– 7-3 Oklahoma.

– Mayfield back in a groove. Tempo starts with the offensive line giving Mayfield time to work.

– COMPOSURE. There’s a LOT of chippiness happening, and both teams have to be smart. Oklahoma hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

– That was nothing. Shouldn’t have been flagged. Everyone is shoving after the whistle.

– Clemson just doesn’t seem like it’s all that worried about Mayfield running on the outside.

FIRST QUARTER: Oklahoma 7, Clemson 3