CHARLOTTE – Clemson will go for its seventh ACC championship in eight seasons tonight when the Tigers face North Carolina at Financial institution of America Stadium. There’s no Faculty Soccer Playoff berth on the road, however a victory would ship the Tigers to the Orange Bowl for the primary time since 2015.
What does Clemson must do to make sure all of that occurs? Listed here are three keys:
Clemson has confronted three top-50 passing offenses to this point this season (Wake Forest, Florida State, South Carolina). The Tigers have allowed 317 passing yards on common in opposition to them. These groups have additionally averaged greater than 34 factors in opposition to them.
Now comes probably the most daunting problem of all for the Tigers, who’ve the duty of making an attempt to decelerate the nation’s No. 8 passing assault per week after giving up 360 passing yards to South Carolina. UNC, with one of many nation’s finest quarterbacks in Drake Maye, is averaging 321 yards per sport by the air.
That makes the target fairly easy for Clemson’s protection: Make Maye uncomfortable. The Tar Heels’ sophomore sign caller is only one of two FBS quarterbacks with at the least 30 landing passes and 5 or fewer interceptions on the season. He’s additionally finishing almost 68% of his throws.
In different phrases, Clemson can’t afford to let Maye get in a rhythm. Defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin acknowledged earlier within the week he’ll have to select his spots to dial up stress with a new-look secondary that’s had its points holding up in man protection this season. Nevertheless it’s a danger the Tigers doubtless must take as a rule to attempt to take Maye out of his consolation zone.
Clemson has been higher at attending to the quarterback of late, notching at the least 4 sacks in every of the final three video games. If the entrance 4 can generate stress by itself, that may be the best state of affairs for the Tigers in order that they’ll play extra protection on the again finish and attempt to make somebody aside from Josh Downs (third nationally with 8.3 receptions per sport) beat them.
Hold pounding
Clemson’s passing sport continues to scuffle, and final week was worse than it’s been all season (99 yards passing on eight completions).
The components for offensive success is fairly easy at this level: Get the working sport going and hope to get simply sufficient assist from the passing sport to maintain the protection sincere. However the best way the passing sport goes – or not – Clemson ought to pound at UNC’s protection with the working sport till the Tar Heels show they’ll cease it.
Clemson has a 1,000-yard rusher in all-ACC working again Will Shipley, who’s coming off a 132-yard effort final week. And regardless of his inconsistency as a passer, D.J. Uiagalelei has confirmed to be a harmful a part of the working sport when his quantity known as. He had a season-high in dashing yards in opposition to South Carolina because the Tigers went for 200-plus on the bottom for the fourth time in 5 video games.
The offensive line additionally continues to get push up entrance regardless of not having injured guard Marcus Tate. However none of it’s prone to matter if Clemson doesn’t…
Clemson misplaced for simply the second time within the Dabo Swinney period when dashing for at the least 200 yards final week as a result of it misplaced the turnover margin but once more. It’s turn out to be the norm for the Tigers, who’ve completed within the turnover purple in 5 straight video games. It’s the longest such streak of the Swinney period.
If left Swinney with an apparent reply this week when he was requested what he desires to see most from his staff in tonight’s sport.
“That’s the place I’d begin,” Swinney mentioned. “I’d wish to see us win the margin.”
Clemson has turned it over 15 instances within the final 5 video games. The Tigers have coughed it up 3 times in every of the final three video games. Fumbles have been the largest problem, and it’s not simply the offense. The Tigers misplaced two fumbles on particular groups per week in the past, together with one on a punt return within the waning minutes that value Clemson an opportunity at a possible game-winning drive.
Clemson has misplaced simply six instances underneath Swinney when it wins the turnover battle, however that’s one thing the Tigers haven’t performed since mid-October. Losses to Notre Dame and South Carolina have proven simply how small the Tigers’ margin for error is, so profitable the turnover margin away from house is a should for Clemson tonight.
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