By Will Vandervort.
By Will Vandervort
CLEMSON — Clemson right tackle Gifford Timothy made it very clear Tuesday how important the Chick-fil-A Bowl is being viewed by the Tigers. Despite a 10-2 regular season and despite the fact 13th-ranked Clemson scored at least 37 points in nine straight games, the sophomore says all of that is for nothing if they don’t beat No. 7 LSU on New Year’s Eve in Atlanta.
“I think this is definitely a crucial game for us to say the least,” Timothy said. “It’s going to give us momentum or no momentum for next season. It will be a good challenge for us and to see how everything lines up next year because we are going to start off with an SEC team next year, too.
“This can be a really good opportunity for us to get some good momentum going into next season.”
Timothy, who will be lining up against LSU’s Sam Montgomery—a South Carolina native—says he understands why Clemson supporters attach this much importance to this one game, and why it is viewed as a defining moment for the entire season.
“I think it’s fair,” he said. “The bowl game, that’s the case for a lot of teams this year. I know a lot of teams are banking on the bowl game for momentum next year. I think it is fair because you get all of that preparation to get ready for it so we just have to come ready to play.”
No group has to be more prepared to play than the offensive line. Though the unit has had its moments this season in solid performances over Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech and NC State, it has also had its bad moments, too. Most recently against rival South Carolina, in which it gave up six sacks, including 4.5 to defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
LSU’s defensive front presents Clemson’s offensive line with a great challenge. Like Florida State, LSU’s defensive line is filled with talented players such as Montgomery and fellow defensive end Barkevious Mingo and defensive tackles Josh Downs and Bennie Logan. But it is also as deep if not deeper than FSU’s line as five others rotate in and out of the lineup.
“Coach (Chad) Morris is challenging us. This is probably one of the best defensive lines we have faced and we have faced some good ones,” right guard Tyler Shatley said. “They have a lot of depth and they play really hard so this is a big challenge for us to kind of really measure where we are as an offensive line.”
Left tackle Brandon Thomas says they are excited to play against LSU’s talented defensive front because it gives them an opportunity to see how much they learned from what happened against South Carolina. Thomas was charged for most of what Clowney did to the Tigers in the regular season finale.
“From that game, I learned a lot,” the First Team All-ACC tackle said. “I learned I have to stay poised, and going into the second half, I have to stay with my game plan and don’t get away from it and stay focused.”
Thomas describes Montgomery and Mingo as pretty quick and strong. He says he likes to play against that kind of talent to see where he is at, and maybe show his talent and skill set at the same time. He says it is a challenge to face such talented players, but it’s one he is embracing.
“(The South Carolina game) is going to help me a lot, I feel,” Thomas said. “A challenge like Clowney, going against the best in the SEC, basically, and Montgomery is right up there and Mingo is too, I think that will help me out a lot.”