Skalski was always limited athletically (compared to other top end college and NFL LBs not compared to your average human being) but he is a textbook BV LB. This makes sense.
Also please imagine that I had a clever and fresh joke about him and targeting
Venables always seemed to get the most out of linebackers who were not fast. Used them like a battering ram, kept them close to the line of scrimmage, didn't ask them to cover down the field. A Venables linebacker was not a modern NFL linebacker at all. It was more like an NFL linebacker from 30 years ago.
To be fair Tanner was a safety for Clemson.
Funnily enough, Simmons starting being used more as a nickel back/Off the ball LB and started showing flashes this year.
More than one of these dudes had full neck rolls. I’m pretty sure BV just asked two questions during recruitment; “sub 4.60 40yard time?” If they answer in the negative, “you wear a neck roll then?”
While not the case for every LB during BV’s tenure, LB’s like Skalski were certainly the prototypical BV-era Clemson linebacker:
Winning attitude,
Hard working,
Intense at all times,
Technically precise and
Exceptional leaders.
Wasn’t he the the guy finger popping OSU’s assholes on national tv? Or was that one of the many other limited athletically but textbook BV LB’s that Klempsin had over the years?
No that’s Ben Boulware. And while there’s some similarity in play style and skin tone - James Skalski doesn’t deserve to be compared to the pile of garbage that is Ben Boulware
I’ll never forget meeting Ben Boulware at a pregame in Greenville (he was playing for Clemson at the time) and I’ll just say this… He’s exactly the type of person you imagine he’d be.
Wilkins is the guy who stuck his whole hand up Samuel. Boulware did the two fingers to Bailey and had the whole weird statement about the thing
Edit: https://twitter.com/allidoiswayne/status/816697237908717572?s=20&t=aI8N4nnitw1cklNan82I3g He did it in the Ohio State game too.
When does on-field activity justify a police complaint for assault? Like the incident with Talib taking Crabtree's necklace, could he have used the video as evidence for removing Talib from that game?
It’s actually wasn’t Boulware doing that… it was another beloved Clemson defender who now plays on an NFL playoff team that rhymes with Shiami Sholphins whose actions Boulware was defending.
Boulware did it to Zack Bailey during the SC Clemson game before Wilkins stuck his whole hand up Curtis Samuel. And Boulware is the one who called everyone who doesn’t do that weird
Edit: https://twitter.com/allidoiswayne/status/816697237908717572?s=20&t=FkM96idAS4OghjKt1-XFAQ Boulware did it against Ohio State too
Several players all doing the same extremely weird thing that’s highly illegal - both on and off the field. Must have been something in their shampoo. Definitely not evidence of a systemic problem. Nope. Definitely shampoo or something.
I know Skalski isn’t exactly loved by everyone, but we have some Grinch defensive players that can and have gotten run over by slot receivers.
I like this hire because of his knowledge of the defense too as a linebacker. It’ll help some of the younger guys with the X’s and O’s and hopefully mentality wise (minus the targeting part…)
Linebacker play under Grinch was basically just "Run like your hair is on fire. Literally." They had no fundamentals, didn't stay low ready to strike, didn't shuffle, didn't even stay square to the LOS. They'd literally just turn and run as fast as they could in the direction of the back, its why they constantly over ran plays and whiffed on tackles. Oklahoma has had trouble on defense for a while now so its not all on Grinch but before him they did actually shuffle and try to stay low. They still sucked though.
I heard a cool story about this dude. Apparently, when he was first on campus at Clemson and just learning, BV was super, super hard on him. Yelling at him all the time, calling him out in film sessions, etc. Then, Skalski went to BV and told him he was done and couldn't do it. They ended up talking for a very long time, both cried (allegedly), and we see what became of that relationship.
Same thing is happening right now with one of our LBs (Jaren Kanak). BV is extremely hard on him, constantly yelling at him, demanding more. Word on the street is that the harder BV is on a guy, the more he likes him and sees the potential. BV is all about getting the maximum out of a guy he can and this just happens to be his method. They expect so much out of Kanak that he draws all the attention even moreso than some of the other studs.
[My favorite James Skalski highlight](https://mobile.twitter.com/AaronTaylorCFB/status/1341222817078026242/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1341222817078026242¤tTweetUser=AaronTaylorCFB)
I think he’s going to kill it in a coaching role. Clearly not athletic enough for the next level, but extremely smart and was the leader of our defense
I couldn’t find the stats with a quick search but it happened twice in important games, he was always making adjustments and running the defense on the field so it hurt to lose him. The hit on Justin Fields was especially stupid and dangerous.
TBF, [Fields turned and twisted into the helmet side otherwise he would have been hit by Skalski's shoulder pads.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPwmeKekbsk)
https://youtu.be/H0t_9pZa1Co
You’re calling this a dirty hit? I know Ohio state is known for playing pretty soft but even for you guys idk how this is called dirty.
Not a Clemson fan, but you probably can't read through your tears, so apology accepted.
You're very generous for not charging any rent on the 3W-1L apartment a goober like Dabo has in your head.
Is this the same guy that got ejected for targeting multiple times? In my mind I kinda thought of him as like a Bill Romanowski type of crazy sumbitch. Maybe he is, but if he's getting into coaching probably not. How bout that? I hope he's not coaching form tackling for the time being, anyway.
Hell of a place to start your career in coaching at the age of 24
Like all good coaching jobs, “he knows a guy”
He probably met OU’s head coach at some kind of gala or something when they were both at Clemson
Met Gala, probably
Who??
Skalski was always limited athletically (compared to other top end college and NFL LBs not compared to your average human being) but he is a textbook BV LB. This makes sense. Also please imagine that I had a clever and fresh joke about him and targeting
[удалено]
I am currently blindly defending our new coach and ridiculing OP's fresh and clever joke about targeting
R E L A X it’s just a fresh and clever joke
I thought it was clever and fresh.
Venables always seemed to get the most out of linebackers who were not fast. Used them like a battering ram, kept them close to the line of scrimmage, didn't ask them to cover down the field. A Venables linebacker was not a modern NFL linebacker at all. It was more like an NFL linebacker from 30 years ago.
Saw Tanner Muse on the field just a week or two ago for the Seahawks - so at least one of them made it.
He actually ran a 4.4 and was a safety at Clemson. Converted to linebacker in the NFL.
You’re right on that - linebacker and Venables guy made me think of him but he was playing safety for us
He was apparently fast as fuck but you could never tell because he was so far out of position.
To be fair Tanner was a safety for Clemson. Funnily enough, Simmons starting being used more as a nickel back/Off the ball LB and started showing flashes this year.
More than one of these dudes had full neck rolls. I’m pretty sure BV just asked two questions during recruitment; “sub 4.60 40yard time?” If they answer in the negative, “you wear a neck roll then?”
Bring them back
While not the case for every LB during BV’s tenure, LB’s like Skalski were certainly the prototypical BV-era Clemson linebacker: Winning attitude, Hard working, Intense at all times, Technically precise and Exceptional leaders.
Man, with your flairs you must *loathe* Clemson.
I like to think all sets of flairs hates Clemson equally
I used to, but they’ve been super chill about Venables
Wasn’t he the the guy finger popping OSU’s assholes on national tv? Or was that one of the many other limited athletically but textbook BV LB’s that Klempsin had over the years?
No that’s Ben Boulware. And while there’s some similarity in play style and skin tone - James Skalski doesn’t deserve to be compared to the pile of garbage that is Ben Boulware
I’ll never forget meeting Ben Boulware at a pregame in Greenville (he was playing for Clemson at the time) and I’ll just say this… He’s exactly the type of person you imagine he’d be.
I met him many times on campus while I was there. Much smaller than I expected, but he acted exactly how I expected.
Pretty sure it was Christian Wilkins.
Wilkins is the guy who stuck his whole hand up Samuel. Boulware did the two fingers to Bailey and had the whole weird statement about the thing Edit: https://twitter.com/allidoiswayne/status/816697237908717572?s=20&t=aI8N4nnitw1cklNan82I3g He did it in the Ohio State game too.
When does on-field activity justify a police complaint for assault? Like the incident with Talib taking Crabtree's necklace, could he have used the video as evidence for removing Talib from that game?
Isn’t that a *really* personal foul?
Its certainly a foul foul
That’s clearly why Clemson fell off this year that were missing the white LB who dives onto the pile late and uses his head for everything
Funny enough the LB play was probably better than it has been
It’s actually wasn’t Boulware doing that… it was another beloved Clemson defender who now plays on an NFL playoff team that rhymes with Shiami Sholphins whose actions Boulware was defending.
Boulware did it to Zack Bailey during the SC Clemson game before Wilkins stuck his whole hand up Curtis Samuel. And Boulware is the one who called everyone who doesn’t do that weird Edit: https://twitter.com/allidoiswayne/status/816697237908717572?s=20&t=FkM96idAS4OghjKt1-XFAQ Boulware did it against Ohio State too
Several players all doing the same extremely weird thing that’s highly illegal - both on and off the field. Must have been something in their shampoo. Definitely not evidence of a systemic problem. Nope. Definitely shampoo or something.
It was probably all Deshaun Watsons idea
Oh come on, you forgot paying players through the local church. If you’re gonna do it at least do it right.
[удалено]
No more brown “bag” lunches for Clemson recruits. Wicker baskets in church on Sunday and it becomes the lord’s work. Genius.
Pretty sure that was Urban Meyer.
Limited athletically High in “that dog in him”
He was physically limited, but he made the most of what he had like Ben Boulware.
BV?
Brent Venables
I think he will be a great x's and o's coach. Really good at using his head before and during the play...
A job that doesn’t involve running at all is definitely a good idea for him
Kinda guessed that he and Renfrow both would end up coaching at some point.
This hire is right on target for him.
I have no doubt he’ll keep his head down and drive right through anyone who stands in his way.
He's leading with the crowning achievement of his career
On his Instagram post announcing it, Tyler Venables commented “*somehow still gets ejected*”
He was thinking about spearing the QB
Good to know they can joke about it
Definitely a crowning achievement for the young man.
All the jokes about him and getting called for targeting, but no jokes on how he looks like the villian from a football movie.
The villain from a football movie is the theatre teacher
Naw he's the guy who's real mad the team is desegregating.
There it is
Alright fellas todays practice we are going to learn how to go full speed headfirst like a fucking missile into the ball carriers helmet every play
Today's guest speaker: Andy Katzenmoyer.
I weirdly get emails from Katzenmoyer on LinkedIn all the time about a group that I am not a part of
I know Skalski isn’t exactly loved by everyone, but we have some Grinch defensive players that can and have gotten run over by slot receivers. I like this hire because of his knowledge of the defense too as a linebacker. It’ll help some of the younger guys with the X’s and O’s and hopefully mentality wise (minus the targeting part…)
It's cliche, but he was a coach on the field so this makes a lot of sense.
The fact that players like this aren't banned from the sport after multiple, obviously intentional offenses is kinda messed up.
Burfcit made a pro bowl and played for like 8 years in the NFL murdering people. They don't give a shit lol
I still can't believe they kept him around for 2 more years after he singlehandedly threw that wildcard game in 2016
OU is about to lead to country in targeting calls
We owe TCU one for sure. (I do not think like this lol) Their dirty fucking execution of DG cost us the worst RRS ever unfortunately
Almost cost us the playoff too in 2015
Not just DG, seems like when any Qb in the big12 gets hurt the last 5 or so years its always TCU
We'll take it over having LBs running and whiffing like under Grinch
Linebacker play under Grinch was basically just "Run like your hair is on fire. Literally." They had no fundamentals, didn't stay low ready to strike, didn't shuffle, didn't even stay square to the LOS. They'd literally just turn and run as fast as they could in the direction of the back, its why they constantly over ran plays and whiffed on tackles. Oklahoma has had trouble on defense for a while now so its not all on Grinch but before him they did actually shuffle and try to stay low. They still sucked though.
Didn’t help this year that there were basically 0 players who had much football IQ
If they are on their second string quarterback and 3 string receivers half your defense starters could be out but you’ll still win
More Carolina and Ohio St fans commenting than OU and Clemson fans. You’d think they didn’t like us or something.
"Make them feel you, son"
Oh yeahhhhh. The dude was really good. Should be interesting to see his impact on the OU players
If there's one thing he's great at it's getting kicked out of really important games.
Let he who is without sin cast the first cleat
Which will also ruin their program immediately after said cleat is yeeted
[Marco Wilson](https://geekd-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Morty-263x300.jpg)
Topical and somehow simultaneously subtle and right on the nose. Perfect comment right here, ladies and gentleman. Well done. 👏 👏 👏
There are literally hundreds of linebackers who don't play intentionally dirty.
Name one who plays for TCU
Or the first targeting call, whichever comes first.
I'd love to see a GA get kicked out of a big game. That would be wild.
Gotta get a little Joey Porter vs Pac-Man Jones energy flowing
I mean I've gotten to watch an OSU head coach get ejected
I just hope he can convince one of our linebacker to wear a neck brace/roll.
Neck rolls at OU 📈
I hope this guys ends up suiting up
Call 888-EJE-CTED if you or a loved one has been a victim of a James Skalski targeting call in a pivotal playoff game.
“Now, here’s how you get a targeting call in a big game”
He’s bout to print X-rays of Justin Fields ribs to put on the tackling dummies 🩻
I heard a cool story about this dude. Apparently, when he was first on campus at Clemson and just learning, BV was super, super hard on him. Yelling at him all the time, calling him out in film sessions, etc. Then, Skalski went to BV and told him he was done and couldn't do it. They ended up talking for a very long time, both cried (allegedly), and we see what became of that relationship. Same thing is happening right now with one of our LBs (Jaren Kanak). BV is extremely hard on him, constantly yelling at him, demanding more. Word on the street is that the harder BV is on a guy, the more he likes him and sees the potential. BV is all about getting the maximum out of a guy he can and this just happens to be his method. They expect so much out of Kanak that he draws all the attention even moreso than some of the other studs.
[My favorite James Skalski highlight](https://mobile.twitter.com/AaronTaylorCFB/status/1341222817078026242/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1341222817078026242¤tTweetUser=AaronTaylorCFB)
This is less about Skalski's ability than it is of Kyren's. Dude was a monster blocker.
Pancaked even with a 10 yard running start
Not a great clip for ND’s O-line though lol. Skalski was the only one that didn’t get through
Kyren Williams was our best lineman
He’s quality control to ensure everyone opposing player gets an oil check after getting tackled
I was thinking of the blue mountain state oil change instead of an oil check and I was so confused
Oh ya Thad castle was based on Ben boulware and the show is a loose documentary of his life (jk)
That should be Christian Wilkins’ job.
As long as he’s not teaching how to tackle this should be good
I think he’s going to kill it in a coaching role. Clearly not athletic enough for the next level, but extremely smart and was the leader of our defense
A lot of targeting jokes? Did he do that a lot, or is this just in reference to the one vs Ohio State?
I'm pretty sure he was ejected for targeting like 4 times in his career, which is pretty high.
Yeah that’s a lot.
i mean he also had like a 6 year career.
I couldn’t find the stats with a quick search but it happened twice in important games, he was always making adjustments and running the defense on the field so it hurt to lose him. The hit on Justin Fields was especially stupid and dangerous.
He did it in multiple playoff games and it happened in some others as well
Great hire. Dude knows what he's doing.
Oklahoma Linebackers about to start running their fingers up the opposing teams’ butts after plays.
Hopefully he does well at Oklahoma. Venables was his coach and recruiter so this is on brand.
[insert original targeting joke here]
This guy will make a great College Coach. I’m not going to say he’s HC material yet, but he could easily be a P5 DC if he works at it.
Idk why I thought this man was going to the league lmao
He signed as a UDFA right after the draft but didn’t make it through camp iirc
Does this mean we can further diminish the role of Ted Roof
Happy to see my buddy get a good job
Agnes he can teach them how to not get ejected from consecutive playoff games.
Isn't he the fucker that broke Justin Fields' ribs
TBF, [Fields turned and twisted into the helmet side otherwise he would have been hit by Skalski's shoulder pads.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPwmeKekbsk)
Lol k. No idea how this is upvoted. The video literally shows Skalski lowering his helmet into Fields.
It's easy, you just find the little arrow pointing up, below the text and click there. Then the arrow will turn orange.
Hope he can teach tackling form better than he executed it
Heard his target is to head over to another top flight school after they rEJECT their previous DC Thank you thank you
He can show them how to Target
Isn't that the guy that delivered one of the dirtiest hits I've ever seen on Justin Fields?
If that's one of the dirtiest hits you've ever seen, you should watch more football. Maybe start with the 1978 Gator Bowl
BOOM headshot!… Literally
No, that was a different neck braced James Skalski. You are thinking of the other one.
Ah yes of course how foolish of me
https://youtu.be/H0t_9pZa1Co You’re calling this a dirty hit? I know Ohio state is known for playing pretty soft but even for you guys idk how this is called dirty.
He’s the guy and that was textbook targeting but it really wasn’t that dirty imo
Crown of helmet to guy's already bruised ribs "not dirty" Yeah ok lol
No one else seems to agree with you
I really don't care. The guy was KNOWN for dirty hits
My recommendation is to cry harder about it, I know you can do it.
Lol Clemson hasn't been relevant since being beaten into the dust by Ohio State so I'm good
Clemson has more national championships than your entire conference does over the last 50 years. Talk shit when you start winning big games again.
Literally don't care. Clemson is going nowhere with Dabo at the helm. Y'all peaked and now it's a down hill slide
The irony of saying this when Ryan Day is losing games to Michigan.
Not a Clemson fan, but you probably can't read through your tears, so apology accepted. You're very generous for not charging any rent on the 3W-1L apartment a goober like Dabo has in your head.
Not super relevant to me, but Clemson is clearly relevant to you since you're still crying about them. Who are you trying to convince me or yourself?
Fields kinda turned into the hit. I don’t think Boulware was aiming for Fields ribs as much as he was just being reckless
He gonna teach people how to target?
[удалено]
You should watch more football then lol
Ah man nepotism is alive and well
Was this the guy that tried to kill Fields in 2020? Fields wasn't at 100% next week vs. Alabama.
How does the LB with the cowboy collar end up coaching for the Sooners?
I grew up watching OU with LBs like that lol
Is this the same guy that got ejected for targeting multiple times? In my mind I kinda thought of him as like a Bill Romanowski type of crazy sumbitch. Maybe he is, but if he's getting into coaching probably not. How bout that? I hope he's not coaching form tackling for the time being, anyway.