Syracuse, NY
The Tigers fresh off the heartbreaking loss to Florida State, now travel north to upstate New York and take on another ACC foe in undefeated Syracuse. The Orange sit at 4-0 with coach Babers and veteran Quarterback Garrett Schrader at the helm, look to take out Clemson… a feat they have managed only once during the Dabo Swinney tenure . The last Syracuse win came five years ago. None the less, the Orange always seem to manage and play hard fought contest and the games are usually one score contest… as it has played out that way four of the past six games.
Bottle up Schrader:
Syracuse has a very seasoned and savvy Quarterback that you can always count on finding ways to get loose on the run. Schrader eviscerated Purdue on the ground running free all night long a few weeks ago. For Clemson to win. Goal one for Wes Goodwin’s defense has to be “Bottle up Schrader” … In other words disciplined pass rushes with timely edge blitzes to keep this mobile threat in a tight and collapsing pocket. I know.. easier said than done with this big and mobile signal caller.
Be “Clemson” EXECUTE and stay focused & balanced:
Clemson on the other side of the ball brings in a young offense and relatively new quarterback that will have to overcome the atmosphere the Dome will present to him as he leads his improving unit onto the field. Klubnik needs to be very composed and use that first scripted drive, execute and focus on the task at hand and keep his unit on target with finishing drives. Mistake free football is what the Dr. ordered for Clemson to win on this day. And how this team executes the game plan as well as in game adjustments will dictate how the day goes for the Tigers. Execute that first offensive drive finish with a Touch Down early will do a lot to take out the home field advantage the “Loud Dome” can be. Simple execute the offense, score early and play Clemson defense and be disciplined.
Syracuse on Defense is the same every year in the Babers era… You can count on two great edge rushers backed up by solid secondary play… and this year is no different with the ‘Cuse’ already with six interceptions and averaging 3.25 sacks per game. So communication along the offensive line as well how Klubnik see’s and adjust his line pre snap will be huge. And with a very loud and disorienting atmosphere the Line will need to have their instincts, fundamentals and most of all communication skills honed in well. Focus…communicate blitzes, pass off assignments and no pre snap issues due to crowd noise.. are huge factors in the success of this offensive game plan.
Also, the Clemson run game has to stay cranked up, the Shipley/Mafah show needs continue to grind out 150-175 yards per game… with the emergence of some young talent in the wide receiving corps (Tyler Brown/Troy Stellato), gives Offensive Co Ordinator Garrett Riley options that weren’t available earlier this season. The ability to get the ball out quickly to receivers on timing routes (slants/curls/screens), is big for an offense designed to operate fast. And for Clemson to be successful on Saturday… Brown and Stellato as they have done over the past two weeks will need to continue to make catches in tight coverage, and execute the “slants”quick” pass game. Bottom line here status quo the Same offense you’ve seen all year. Be Clemson, execute the offense and limit penalties and mental errors and most of all stay away from the “turnover bug” that has bitten the Tigers over and over this season. Stay on time (in front of the chains) and stay balanced and keep Syracuse guessing.
How it goes down:
This game will start out with each team finding early success. First half is a back and forth of emotions and momentum swinging from side to side resulting in a hard hitting half that finds the game close, as the two ACC foes enter Halftime tied or one score apart. Second half is where things start to turn Clemson’s way as the much deeper roster (especially the Clemson defense) wears down the adrenaline that was the first half success for the Orange and Clemson pulls away with two score or more win.
Clemson’s ability to stay balanced on offense and the physicality of the Clemson defense over the course of the game wear down the Orange in the late third and fourth quarter. These factors resulting in a few chunk plays on offense late, and the defense’s ability to “pin their ears back” and go after Schrader when the Orange are trying to make up the lead and find themselves passing 80% of the time. This will cause Syracuse fits and the Tigers will benefit from a turnover via the defensive backfield as a result.
This game has a Clemson team that has not had 2 conference losses in a season since 2010. To put that in perspective. The Freshman Class now at Clemson would have been Five years old the last time a Clemson team saw itself in this position. A Clemson team that now comes to upstate New York salivating for positive and winning energy. The kind of “Energy” you get from a resounding win in hostile territory. And on this Saturday around 330pm Eastern… This Clemson squad will be unwinding from a loud, raucous and exasperating day that brings that much wanted “Energy” from a Tigers win.
Clemson 31 Syracuse 20
