Okay, maybe I’m missing something here, but when ClemsonSports.com says it’s found two specific areas that could give the Tigers an edge on Sept. 4, and they’re these…
One-two defensive punch
Brent Venables is one of the best defensive coordinators in college football. The 50-year-old has led the Tigers to five top-5 yards per play allowed finishes in nine seasons. Clemson will enter 2021 with a shot at having their best defense yet.
The Tigers have a plethora of former five-star recruits on the defensive line, return the top-10 tacklers from last season, plus have super seniors starting at linebacker and safety. All signs point to this unit being dominant thanks to the great combination of talent and experience.
To begin every season, defenses usually are further ahead than offenses. In Athens, the Bulldogs are breaking in new starters at center and guard, while the wide receiver position has had some preseason attrition.
Clemson could have the advantage on this side of the ball thanks to all the returning pieces for Swinney’s program. The Tigers are stacked on defense.
Clemson’s consistent offensive structure
One of the biggest storylines from the offseason for Clemson occurred in the SEC. Tennessee once again had a coaching search and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott emerged as a premium candidate for the SEC East program. However, the 41-year-old decided to stay put and is back for his seventh season at his alma mater calling the offensive plays.
That’s huge for the Tigers as it will give the program staff continuity in a year where there are a ton of moving parts with personnel.
The Tigers are breaking in new starters at quarterback and running back to go along with a pair of new starters on the offensive line. Starting left guard Matt Bockhorst may even be moved to center.
Despite all of that, the scheme will remain the same and this should make the transition much easier. That will pay off in Week 1 going up against a very talented Georgia defense.
… well… um, can’t Georgia say the same damned things about itself?
This is probably a good time to reiterate that we can forget about all the other bullshit and just say whichever team’s offensive line carries the day should win.
Get The Picture 
I’m thinking the team that scores the most points will win the game.
LikeLiked by 12 people
That’s novel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m thinking Clemson sucks.
LikeLiked by 9 people
That sounds like the title of a Grizzard book.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s times like these when I really miss that man.
LikeLike
Doo- Dah,
Doo-Dah!
LikeLike
I had a nightmare last night. We lost 35-15. AD Mitchell had 2 fumbles. For some reason I also missed most of the game and had to find out the outcome on my phone late in 4q. Very strange
LikeLike
I think you need other hobbies 🙂
LikeLike
My advice is to lay off the spicy food before bedtime. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree with you, Senator. The best line play wins. AnOSU showed this defense can be run through in the playoff game. When Venables can’t steal your signs, he’s as bland as instant grits.
LikeLiked by 7 people
Clemson was soft on both sides of the ball against OSU. That’s a difficult characteristic to correct in an offseason.
LikeLike
The season with the fewest signs stolen would have been 1972 (iirc). Thd NCAA made a rule that allowed a player to enter the huddle and then leave without participating in a play. Teams started having a messenger who would run to the huddle, communicate the play, and leave. Thd NCAA ended it thd next year. I know it has nothing to do with the topic, but when I was your reference to Clemson stealing signs I thought of it.
LikeLike
I think you hit a few months back. Whichever O-Line can hold up best likely wins it for that them. Both defenses are stout. Apparently they have some real issues with the interior of their line and that just happens to be perhaps Georgia’s biggest strength of defense. If the middle is constantly being blown up, it forces the QB to roll or to get the ball out very quickly. Can’t use the middle to keep the outside of the defense honest.
As far as what was written; I just remind myself that these guys are cousins to the Gamecock crowd and that’s all you really need to know.
LikeLiked by 5 people
“cousins to the Gamecock crowd” will be my next insult in the ongoing shit talk skirmish with my Clemson buddy. He’s at a serious disadvantage naturally. With you fellas feeding me ammo? He’ll be forced down into dumbass defilade before Sept 4th.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Request your klempzen buddy go into a round room and piss in the corner…he’ll be there for days…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Agreed that the OL who wins the most battles wins the day, but that’s kind of low hanging fruit; still something I’ll take. Here’s a little apple for ya though:
Perhaps the team with the plus turn over margin May be the one who jumps on the logo.
LikeLiked by 4 people
All of those Top five YPP finishes are impressive.
But Clemson couldn’t do that in the SEC.
Against the ACC?
It’s like Cosmo Kramer’s domination of his Karate class team mates.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I was thinking the same thing. Feasting on all that ACC fodder will make your stats look good.
LikeLike
Pay off in week one? How so? None of these turds can say they will win outright.
LikeLike
Stay classy Clemson…and consistent (with a new QB, rb, and o linemen) just like you were against OHio State…I promise Kirby & crew did not study that tape
LikeLiked by 1 person
Clemson are tigers we are proud to hunt.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The fact that these are the only two things that writer could come up with to give Clemson an edge tells you all you need to know about how scared those kittens are of the beatdown and embarrassment that’s coming down the track in 9 days.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Downside to coaching stability…years & years of down & distance tendencies on film.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Tru Dat…having those two huge stat makers gone to the next level, means what you described will ring true in 2021…
LikeLike
UGA can’t say the same things because we have our QB and entire RB room returning. Minor details that writer couldn’t be troubled to look up. Either way, I really do think it comes down to QB play. If JT is really ready to go and be the elite QB we haven’t had in a while, we win. If not, and DJ has become the real deal in 9 months, we lose. OL play is high up in importance too though, given how Clemson played against the elite teams the last 2 years with above average line play.
LikeLike