By Will Vandervort.
Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer says one of his team’s main goals this week is to limit the about of big plays Clemson’s stellar defensive front makes.
The Tigers, who will host the Orange on Saturday in Death Valley at 7 p.m., lead the nation in tackles for loss with 66 and ranked third in the country in sacks with 26.
“Great players make plays,” Shafer said Wednesday. “You just want to try to minimalize just how many of those are happening from series to series and play has hard as you for as long as you can.”
Clemson (5-2, 4-1 ACC) recorded 14 tackles for loss in last week’s win at Boston College and more than half of those came from the Tigers’ dynamic front four.
All-American defensive end Vic Beasley is on pace to have another all-American season as he leads the Tigers with 10.5 tackles, including eight sacks. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett has 35 overall tackles, three tackles for loss and eight quarterback pressures, while fellow tackle DeShawn Williams has 27 tackles, four for loss, one sack, one pass broken up and four quarterback pressures.
Defensive end Corey Crawford has 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one PBU and six quarterback pressures. Even backup ends Tavaris Barnes and Shaq Lawson each have two sacks. Lawson also has 20 tackles, four tackles for loss and four quarterback pressures.
“They are unbelievable,” Shafer said. “When you play one of the best and talented fronts in the country, and really when I look at them, you can even say they are one of the best fronts I have seen in a long time. I’m talking years. This group is unbelievable.
“For us, we are going to go in and give it our best shot, try to change some things up and try not to get our quarterback killed. I mean these guys are unbelievable up front.”
The Orange (2-3, 1-2 ACC) will try to stop Clemson’s defensive front with an offensive line that is beat up and is playing with a lot of inexperience. And the quarterback is A.J. Long – a true freshman that will be making his second straight start on the road because starter Terrel Hunt is out with a broken fibula.
His first start was at Wake Forest last week where there were only 25,000 fans – not exactly like the 82,000 he will have screaming at him in Death Valley on Saturday night.
“We try not to worry about anything except doing your job,” Shafer said. “That is the focus we will have going into this one.”
Most knowledgeable college football analysts expect left tackle Sean Hickey to be a formidable opponent for Beasley this week. The senior has a ton of upside and is being talked about as one of the better left tackles in next spring’s NFL Draft. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 306 pounds.
“He is big, physical and strong,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “He is competitive and plays hard. That team plays really hard. Syracuse plays really, really hard so it will not be easy (for Beasley) by any stretch.”
Shafer feels his team will not have it easy.
“You try to change some things up on them a little bit, but understand when you have that many guys with that much ability, it is hard to slow those horses down,” Shafer said. “I think Coach Venables has done an unbelievable job. He is an extremely bright coach that has taken advantage of the talent and has a great scheme.”
Over the last three games, Clemson has allowed just 10 points a game, 97 yards rushing, 130 yards passing and just 11 first downs per game. The Tigers have had 9.3 tackles for loss per game during that same time. Those 14 tackles for loss at BC were accomplished by 13 different players.
Clemson held Boston College to just 120 yards rushing, well below their 316 yards per game coming into the contest, which was fourth best in the nation.
“It is difficult. I think you try to change things up the best you can, but also understand they are going to make plays,” Shafer said.