The Clemson Tigers will face the Ohio State Buckeyes on New Year’s Eve in the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. The winner of the College Football Playoff semifinal game moves on to the national championship game Jan. 9, 2017, in Tampa, Fla., against the winner of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl between Alabama and Washington.
KEY PLAYER, OFFENSE: WAYNE GALLMAN
The key to Clemson’s offense runs through running back Gallman. The junior has rushed for 1,002 yards and has 15 touchdowns. He also has five 100-yard games and has developed into a consistent threat in the passing game, with 16 catches on the season.
The Tigers will need Gallman to establish the run. This was a tough proposition early in the season, but Gallman has turned it on lately. Two of his five 100-yard games have come in the past three weeks. He will need to turn in another great performance against an Ohio State defense that ranks 14th in the nation in rush defense.
The Buckeyes allow only 117 rushing yards per game, but have given up 298 rushing yards in the past two games — including 160 yards to Michigan State running back L.J. Scott on Nov. 19.
If Gallman can get close to his 5.1 yards per carry average, Clemson would have a chance to slow Ohio State’s aggressive defense. That productivity also would help alleviate the pressure on quarterback Deshaun Watson in the passing game.
Gallman is the key to the offense. When he is finding running lanes and getting first downs, this opens the field for the Tigers’ offense to make the big plays. His production makes him the X-factor against the Buckeyes.
KEY PLAYER, DEFENSE: CARLOS WATKINS
Clemson has a stout defensive front that is led by stud players such as sophomore Christian Wilkins, freshman Dexter Lawrence, and linebacker Ben Boulware. However, the key player along the front is Watkins.
A senior, Watkins is a second-team All-American and has been dominant in the trenches for the Tigers. He has 70 tackles (10.5 tackles for loss) and 8.5 sacks on the season. Watkins also has 12 quarterback pressures from his defensive tackle spot.
His production is key for the defense because he can attract double-teams and allow linebackers to penetrate through the line. He showed this ability in the ACC Championship game against Virginia Tech, when he had 10 tackles and one sack.
Watkins will need to re-create that production against a versatile quarterback in Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett. One area he can wreak havoc is by collapsing the pocket. This will help Clemson contain Barrett easier and force him into tough decisions.
At 305-pounds, Watkins needs to be the run stopper and clog the passing lanes. If he does that, Clemson could find success against Ohio State’s high-powered offense. This makes Watkins the key player to watch on the Clemson defense.
KEY GAME OF THE SEASON
Clemson’s 37-34 victory against Florida State on Oct. 29 propelled the Tigers into the College Football Playoff because the Tigers were able to battle back from a late deficit, on a national stage, to beat a fierce rival.
The Tigers showed the CFP committee that they could win a tough road game in a place (Doak Campbell Stadium) they hadn’t won in 10 years. It was an emotional game, and Clemson showed that they could will themselves to victory in a raucous environment.
Deshaun Watson passed for 378 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense stopped a late FSU rally to stay ranked No. 3 in the country. The defense also had six sacks and pressured the No. 12 Seminoles’ offense.
Furthermore, the win gave Clemson two victories over two AP top-15 teams in Florida State and Louisville, who the Tigers beat 42-36 two weeks before. This turned around Clemson’s season because they finally showed that signs that they were the same team that made the 2015 playoffs.
After this game, Clemson went 4-1 and outscored opponents 229-98 over that time period. The offense also scored at least 35 points in those five games. The hot streak is what helped them get into the playoffs, and it started with this clutch win on the road.
UNSUNG PLAYER: KENDALL JOSEPH
Clemson has a lot of defensive stars, but the name that somewhat goes unnoticed is the Tigers’ middle linebacker. A sophomore, Joseph seldom comes off the field. He played 809 snaps and has to make every call for one of the nation’s top defenses.
Also, Joseph seemingly is in on every play, as he ranks second on the team with 107 tackles, with 10 tackles for loss. He has 3.5 sacks and 14 quarterback pressures. But if that wasn’t enough, he led the team in tackles four times this season.
Joseph’s production goes unnoticed, as he was only honorable-mention All-ACC, but makes sure that everyone is lined up properly and has developed into a great leader.
It starts with film study for Joseph. He has a unique ability to recognize plays and break on the play before it develops. He is also versatile enough to drop into coverage and has one interception this season.
Joseph is a player who plays instinctively. Though he is viewed as an underrated player, he is one of the main cogs that keeps the Clemson defense going. He just may be the Tigers’ unsung hero.
STRONGEST UNIT: RECEIVERS
One of the reasons Clemson’s offense is dynamic is because of its receivers. The Tigers have six players who have at least 25 catches and 350 receiving yards.
Wide receiver Mike Williams headlines the group. He has 84 catches, 1,171 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has been the favorite target of Deshaun Watson and will command attention from the Ohio State secondary. Watson likes to go to Williams on deep fade routes and quick slants. There could be extra motivation for him the playoff game as well. Williams wasn’t selected as an AP All-American earlier this month.
Other receiving threats are Artavis Scott and Deon Cain. Scott works out of the slot and can use his speed to get on top of safeties and nickel corners. Cain also is dangerous with his ability to make big plays down the field.
However, the X-factor of this group is tight end Jordan Leggett. The senior has legit 6-foot-6 size and is the red-zone threat. Watson likes to throw jump balls to Leggett. As a result, Leggett has seven touchdowns and 38 receptions. His size can be a concern to the smaller Ohio State linebackers and makes his matchup one to watch in the CFP semifinals.
MOST VULNERABLE UNIT: OFFENSIVE LINE
A lot has been made of the Clemson offensive line. The group has struggled at times to open running lanes, and that has affected the entire offense. After 10 games this season, Clemson ranked 98th in rushing and couldn’t convert in crucial moments.
Over the past three games, the offensive line has played better, and that has helped Clemson score more points and become balanced. Running back Wayne Gallman was able to find more holes, and quarterback Deshaun Watson was able to have ample time in the pocket.
However, the offensive line is about to face a tough defensive front in Ohio State. The Buckeyes have 26 sacks and 80 tackles for loss as a unit. They also have 19 interceptions because of the front seven’s pressure.
Clemson’s offensive line is going to have to show aggression to combat the pressure they are set to face in the Fiesta Bowl. If the offensive line can play as efficiently as it did against South Carolina to close the regular season, they can control the tempo and keep the Ohio State defense on the field longer than expected.
Otherwise, the line will be Clemson’s most vulnerable unit.
HOW CLEMSON CAN WIN THE FIESTA BOWL
Clemson will face a tough Ohio State defense that is one of the better in the nation. To get a win, Clemson will have to steal a page out of Penn State’s playbook. The Nittany Lions beat Ohio State 24-21 by setting the tempo early in the game.
Clemson has to do the same thing by establishing the running game. Coach Dabo Swinney has to rely on Wayne Gallman to get early first downs. This will force Ohio State not to stack the box with eight players. That also would set up the play-action pass that Clemson’s high-powered offense thrives on to succeed.
If this happens, Clemson has a chance to take an early lead. Also, the Tigers will have to play fast to take advantage of a potential slow start from Ohio State, which hasn’t played since the last weekend of November.
On defense, Clemson has to be aggressive on first and second down. Ohio State likes to get the majority of its yards with quarterback J.T. Barrett using his legs to create plays down the field. Clemson has to play defensive keys and even run blitz on occasion.
Should Clemson stay aggressive and play fast, the Tigers can overpower Ohio State’s great defense. That tactic might represent the Tigers’ best chance to make it to a second consecutive CFP Championship game.
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