Clemson’s offense is a wide-open, fast-paced attack with speedy players all around the field.
That doesn’t inspire visions of power football, but coach Dabo Swinney said that’s the wrong way to view the Tigers.
“People get caught up in you have to get in an ‘I’ formation to be physical,” Swinney said. “That’s the furthest thing from the truth. It’s like saying that you can only run the option if you’re a triple-option team or something. We have elements of everything in our offense, and we pride ourselves on being a very physical football team.”
But for LSU, Clemson’s opponent in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Monday night at the Georgia Dome, being physical is part of its identity. Swinney said that’s why he ratcheted up the intensity during practices leading to the game.
Swinney said his players initially were a bit “shocked” by the fervor of the sessions, but he believes that’s what they needed.
“We have to do everything we can to prepare our team to go and compete at the level of intensity and physicality that it’s going to take to win this game,” Swinney said. “This is probably the most physical team we’ve played in quite a while when you combine it in all three phases. Third-and-10, they run the power; first down, they run the power.
“They have a style of play that you don’t see all the time. Just like you are preparing for the triple (option), you have to really prepare yourself the right way.”
The game sets up as a clash of styles, with LSU’s dominant defense against Clemson’s prolific offense.
Clemson (10-2) boasts six first-team All-ACC players on offense, including quarterback Tajh Boyd, the conference player of the year. The Tigers have scored 37 points or more in 10 of 12 games this season.
SEC coaches voted three LSU defenders to the all-league team, and safety Eric Reid is a consensus All-American. LSU (10-2) has allowed more than 22 points once, in a 41-35 victory against Ole Miss.
Clemson is at the forefront of the trend toward wide-open offenses in college football. LSU coach Les Miles said he doesn’t believe such schemes are a gimmicky fad — he noted LSU has some spread elements in its offense — but that the approach can put a lot of pressure on the play-caller.
“If the defense is ready to play with their cleats in the ground, and they are ready to have (a lot of) snaps and they are ready to play you well, then it is based on the validity of the play and not necessarily on ‘tricking’ them,” Miles said. “Now if the defense can stop you and you went one-, two-, three-and-out real fast and (the opponent) keeps the ball for quite some time, then you start thinking about, ‘Maybe I need a bit more time to pick some plays.’”
LSU’s defense has fared well against some wide-open offenses, most notably during its 24-19 victory at Texas A&M in October. The Tigers forced Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel into three interceptions and recovered two fumbles.
Clemson might have even more offensive talent than the Aggies.
The Tigers are led by Boyd, who ranks fourth in the nation in passing efficiency and has tied the ACC record with 34 passing touchdowns this season. Boyd also has rushed for 492 yards and nine touchdowns; the combined 43 touchdowns passing and rushing are an ACC record.
Boyd’s targets include wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (1,214 yards receiving, 16 touchdowns) and tight end Brandon Ford (411 yards, eight touchdowns). Running back Andre Ellington has posted back-to-back seasons of more than 1,000 yards rushing and ranks fourth in school history.
“Clemson is blessed with a bunch of players that are very fast,” Reid said. “So we just gotta stay on top of our game, be just as fast as they are and make quick decisions and make the right decisions.”
LSU has speedy players, too, but would rather make it a power game. After a month of knocking heads with each other, Clemson’s Tigers say they are ready for LSU’s brand of football.
“Just having that mentality of it’s going to be a four-quarter, physical battle,” Clemson defensive end Malliciah Goodman said. “You have to prepare your mind that way and fight that way.”
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