Clemson Tigers Offense
Total Offense Rank: 12th
Total Yards Per Game: 505.7
Yards Per Play: 6.35
Rushing Offense Rank: 67th
Rushing Yards Per Game: 173.1
Passing Offense Rank: 7th
Passing Yards Per Game: 332.6
Scoring Offense Rank: 14th
Points Per Game: 40.2
Ohio State Buckeyes Defense
Total Defense Rank: 3rd
Total Yards Per Game: 282.3
Yards Per Play: 4.25
Rushing Defense Rank: 13th
Rushing Yards Per Game: 117.8
Passing Defense Rank: 5th
Passing Yards Per Game: 164.5
Scoring Defense Rank: 3rd
Points Per Game: 14.2
This is the juicy matchup of this game. There's little separation between how good Clemson's offense is and how dominant Ohio State's defense is. NFL Scouts salivate when these two units are on the field and they will get a chance to see them up close against each other.
Clemson does one thing extremely well while wanting to be highly successful in another area. The Tigers own the seven best pass offense in the country and have arguably the best set of skill players. Receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott receive a lot of the attention, but the Tigers are loaded at the wideout position with Deon Cain, Hunter Renfrow and Ray-Ray McCloud plus tight end Jordan Leggett.
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| Clemson fans are confident No. 4 won't let them down. (Photo courtesy Associated Press) |
It doesn't hurt that there's a two-time Heisman finalist throwing to that group. Deshaun Watson will go down as one of the best, if not the best, to ever don the Tiger Paw. Watson's game has transformed since last year. He is still a runner when he has to, but his numbers in the passing game have increased. He's scanning the field more pre-snap to see what the defense is doing. All season long, Clemson coaches along with Watson have uttered the phrase, "We're just taking what they're giving us." That's meant more short passes and more passes in general.
Watson is on pace to surpass his passing numbers from a season ago. He does have 15 interceptions, but he closed the season with 10 touchdowns to just two INTs in his final three games. For the season, Watson has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes for 3,914 yards with a Clemson record 37 touchdowns. Watson has two weapons at his disposal that he didn't have during last year's Playoff - Williams and Cain. Both missed for differing reasons, but both will be on the field in the Fiesta Bowl.
Last season, particularly down the stretch, Clemson relied on the legs of Watson and Wayne Gallman. Many pundits will argue that running the ball with Watson is what pushed Clemson to the National Championship Game last season. In four of the final six games, he rushed for over 100 yards, including three games where he had 20+ carries. This season, he's only gone over 15 carries twice - at FSU and vs. VT in the ACC Championship. Watson has yet to eclipse the 100-yard mark on the ground.
While Gallman hasn't been used as much in the game plan, the Tigers have made it a point to at least say he is an integral part of the plan - but teams have forced Watson into changing calls at the line. Still, Gallman has over 1,000 yards on the ground. He's only the sixth back in program history to go over 3,000 yards in his career. The offense simply hasn't been put on his back this season. It goes through the air.
And that's what Ohio State wants. The Buckeyes boast an elite secondary that has been a nightmare for the Big Ten. Led by All-American safety Malik Hooker, Ohio State is second in the country in defensive touchdowns behind only Alabama. The Buckeyes have forced 25 turnovers, 19 of which have been interceptions.
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| At the center of it all for the Buckeyes defense is All-American Malik Hooker. (Photo courtesy USA Today Sports) |
Defensive coordinator Greg Schiano uses a press quarters defense. It's essentially a man defense, but allows for free roaming by the defender in each quarter of the field. Cornerbacks are on an island when the Buckeyes blitz. But Schiano trusts his guys and its worked. Ohio State is 10th in the country in third down defense. Getting off the field against the Tigers will be key.
Clemson's spread offense will force OSU linebackers Raekwon McMillan and Jerome Baker to cover receivers more than they have all season. That could open up the running game if the backers are spread out or being pulled away from the box.
We're not discounting the front seven for Ohio State nor the offensive line for Clemson. But this battle will be won on the outside. If Clemson can find success through the air, the Tigers will have the upper hand. If Ohio State limits Watson and Co., the Buckeyes will force Clemson out of its comfort zone.
There are two trains of thought here. One, Clemson has not seen a defense quite like this one all season. If there's any comparison, it might be Auburn. But that game was so long ago and such a different game having been the season opener when both teams were still figuring things out.
The other is Ohio State hasn't played an offense as dynamic and with the skill players like Clemson. Ohio State limited Oklahoma in Week 3, but again that feels like forever ago and the Sooners hadn't hit their stride.
Clemson fans will relax a little knowing Watson is on their side. Buckeye Nation will feel good about the relentless pressure with which OSU plays. Neither truly knows what to expect, though, because this is the best matchup this season for both units. That's why we're calling this a draw.
Advantage: Even
-BtW
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