CLEMSON – NC State travels to No. 21 Clemson on Saturday, the ACC opener for both teams.
With a win, the Tigers (1-1) would become only the 14th FBS program ever to reach the 800-win mark and the first ever in the ACC.
The Wolfpack (2-1) have won two of their last three games in the series, but both of those games came in Raleigh. NC State hasn’t won in Death Valley since 2002, and Clemson has won 16 of its last 19 games overall.
5 things to look out for
– All eyes on this offensive: After what happened against App State, fans can’t wait to see Garrett Riley’s offense keep that momentum going. After the Mountaineers were beaten at home by South Alabama on Thursday night, there are legitimate questions about how good this team really is. While the Tigers’ performance last time was impressive no matter the opponent, it’s time to see Cade Klubnik and his passing attack against a power conference opponent.
NC State allows 381.7 yards per game, with both Western Carolina and Louisiana Tech able to move the ball against the Wolfpack defense. There is absolutely no reason why the Clemson offense can’t do the same if they can avoid the self-inflicted mistakes like the pick six Klubnik threw against the ‘Pack’ last season.
The Tigers have several highly touted wide receivers to choose from in this game, and their chances can only improve if we show them that last season’s offensive problems are a thing of the past.
– Harass the newbie and win the battle at the attack point: With Grayson McCall out injured, true freshman CJ Bailey is making his first career start. Although the Tigers have just two sacks this season, the front four have been disruptive. NC State has some weapons at the wide receiver position, including KC Concepcion, who basically single-handedly beat the Tigers in Raleigh last year. Clemson can’t afford to let Bailey get too comfortable. Stop the run and force the freshman to make some mistakes.
Peter Woods’s participation is questionable and it’s likely he won’t play after his injury against App State. Even if he does, he won’t be at 100%. Someone has to step in and fill that void. The question is who that person is. Clemson just doesn’t have a lot of experienced depth at the end position.
– Don’t lose Concepcion: Expect the second-year wide receiver to line up in multiple spots to create mismatches. Defenses need to know where he is at all times. Concepcion scored two touchdowns in last year’s loss to the Tigers, one of which was a 72-yard run that turned out to be the game-winning touchdown. He also added a 50-yard run that set up his first touchdown catch. There’s no way Clemson can afford to let him do what he did last season.
– Protect the quarterback: Klubnik looked more relaxed than ever in the win over App State. The junior signal-caller finally seemed to have full confidence in the offensive line, allowing him to get into the pocket and make some throws. The impact Matt Luke is already having at the position cannot be understated.
– Let the football run: They want to open up the passing game against the Wolfpack’s 3-3-5 scheme and run the football. Phil Mafah was effective against NC State in the second half of last season (5.7 YPC), but it was too little, too late as the Tigers were in a 24-7 hole in the third quarter. If Mafah can be effective early, that should open up some opportunities for Clemson’s pass receivers further down the field.
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