After last weekend’s result in Atlanta against first-place team Georgia, Clemson will have to recover on both sides of the ball.
While most of the attention is focused on the Tigers’ still mediocre offense, the defense also needs to be much better than it was in the second half last weekend in Atlanta.
The Mountaineers are fresh off a 38-10 win over ETSU. In one game, they racked up 500 yards of offense, including 326 yards through the air thanks to quarterback Joey Aguilar. It was an efficient performance, albeit against FCS opponents, but make no mistake, App State will come to Clemson looking to win. And this is a team that has proven time and time again that it is capable of beating the big guys. Just ask Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina or Texas A&M.
While App State is expected to field a really good team again in 2024, the Mountaineers just don’t recruit at the same level as the Tigers, and this is one of those games where it should come down to Jimmys and Joes. Emphasis on the word “should.”
Still, we all saw what we saw last week, and that was more of the same on an offense that continued to sputter. The Tigers finished the regular season last year without scoring an offensive touchdown against the rival Gamecocks, and opened the regular season again this year without scoring a full-back.
Can this offense finally get on track Saturday night? App State gave up 183 yards on the ground in its win over ETSU, and if this offense can be as successful running the ball against the Mountaineers, the same should be true for Clemson.
Expect a heavy dose of Phil Mafah early and often on Saturday night. The Tigers can’t afford to play off schedule and behind the sticks as often as they did in the first half against Georgia. The best way to avoid that is to turn to your running back, who has already proven he can carry the load.
Clemson’s offensive line did well against the Bulldogs in Atlanta, so there’s no reason why they can’t win the battle at the line of scrimmage in this game. If the running game gets going, maybe, just maybe, Cade Klubnik and the passing game can develop some consistency.
It’s probably safe to assume we’ll see more of the freshmen receivers after Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore combined for just 18 snaps in the opening loss. Moore got on the field late when the game was already decided and Wesco rarely got on the field. These guys need to get opportunities to show what they can do and these are the types of games where they need to get on the field to show why they were considered 5-star talents during the recruiting process.
Wes Goodwin’s defense will also be eager to get back on offense after its second-half collapse last weekend. Clemson allowed Georgia to score four touchdowns in its first five drives after the halftime break, and this writer doesn’t buy the theory that they simply got tired from being left on the field too long. Time of possession was almost identical for both teams in the second half.
Goodwin’s unit simply needs to play better. Despite all the talk of a lack of adjustment, there were too many cases of complete breakdowns. Guys missed tackles, got caught with their eyes in the wrong place, reacted half a second too late and took bad angles. That has to change starting Saturday night.
Clemson started as a 16.5-point favorite, and on the surface you’d think that’s a number they’d get to. To do that, the offense would actually have to get to the end zone a few times and the defense would have to play to its full potential.
I believe the defense will respond and play well. I also believe the offense will be successful after a great night from Mafah. However, it might take a while to get going and it might not be until the second half that the Tigers really beat App State.
Clemson 31 App State 13
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