By Heath Bradley.

By Heath Bradley

CLEMSON — After just one day of film review, Brandon Thomas was impressed with the talent along the Florida State defensive front.

“There defense seems very athletic, they move around very fast,” Clemson’s starting left tackle said. “Their defense ends seem really good. Their defensive tackles are really strong inside.”

This mixture of speed and strength is something that the 1oth-ranked Tigers (3-0) have not seen to this point of the season. Auburn, who Clemson defeated in the season opener, has two very talented ends, but does not seem to have the same caliber of player on the interior defensive line as the Seminoles.

“They are similar to Auburn,” Thomas said. “Their defensive tackles I would say are a little better. Their ends seem to be about the same, they are fast up the field. Their tackles move side to side, try to move you out of the way.”

After playing the past two games with a shorthanded offensive line, the Tigers look to be at full strength heading into the top 10 showdown with No. 4 FSU in Tallahassee, Fla. With the lack of continuity in the offensive line over the past two weeks, one could worry about the ability of the line to gel in time for facing a team like the Seminoles. Thomas is one person that is not worried.

“I think we will be fine this week,” he said.

This confidence is due to the fact Thomas and his teammates, all prepare the same way, each and every day.

“We all prepare at the same time. We study the same plays, and same film,” he said. “We go out to practice and try to prepare for playing time.”

Being ready to play, not only for the starters, but also for the reserves is key in building quality depth. This is something Thomas feels the Tigers have been successful at to this point in the season.

Heading into a game that the Tigers are two touchdown underdogs, Thomas feels it is best for Clemson to focus only on Clemson.

“It is Florida State, the public holds them up there on a pedestal,” he said. “I think we are going to prepare as a team, and we are going to be ready for them.”

Thomas feels that the Tigers have what it takes to win in Tallahassee, due in part to how they prepare each week, placing emphasis on each game, not looking past any opponent.

“As a team, we feel like we should focus every week on each opponent,” he said. “That is how we prepare. We take one team at a time, no matter who the opponent is.”

As Clemson heads to Florida State, Thomas feels this team can look back to the Auburn game as a point of motivation.

“Being on that kind of stage early, it lets us know we can play on that stage,” he said.

The Clemson offensive line will look to impact the game Saturday night the same way that they helped lead the Tigers to victory over Auburn in the season opener.