After last weekend’s result in Atlanta against top-ranked Georgia, this Clemson team needs a bounce-back performance and on both sides of the ball.

While much of the focus has centered on the Tigers’ offense still looking rather pedestrian, that defense also needs to be much better than what was seen in that second half in Atlanta last weekend.

The Mountaineers come in fresh off a 38-10 pummeling of ETSU. A game that saw them rack up 500 yards of offense, with 326 coming through the air courtesy of quarterback Joey Aguilar. It was an efficient performance, albeit against FCS competition, but make no mistake, App State will be coming to Clemson to win. And this is a program that has proven time and again it is capable of knocking off the big boys. Just ask Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina or Texas A&M.

While App State is once again expected to field a really good team in 2024, the Mountaineers just don’t recruit on the same level as the Tigers, and this is one of those games that should come down to the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. Emphasis on the word “should.”

Having said that, we all saw what we saw last week, and that was more of the same out of an offense that continued to sputter. The Tigers finished the regular season last year by failing to score an offensive touchdown against the rival Gamecocks and opened the regular season this year again failing to hit paydirt.

Can this offense finally get on track Saturday night? App State gave up 183 yards on the ground in its win over ETSU and if that offense can have that much success running the ball against the Mountaineers, so should Clemson.

Expect a heavy dose of Phil Mafah early and often Saturday night. The Tigers can not afford to play off-schedule and behind the sticks as often as they did in the first half against Georgia. The best way to avoid that is to turn to your running back that has already proven he is capable of carrying the load.

Clemson’s offensive line held its own against the Bulldogs in Atlanta so there is no reason why they can’t win the battle at the line of scrimmage in this game. Get that running game going and maybe, just maybe, Cade Klubnik and that passing game can start to find some consistency.

It’s probably safe to assume we start to see more of the freshmen receivers after Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore combined for just 18 snaps in the opening loss. Moore did not see the field until late, once the game was already decided, and Wesco only sparingly got on the field. Those guys have to get opportunities to show what they can do, and these are the types of games that they need to get on the field and show why they were 5-star talents during the recruiting process.

Wes Goodwin’s defense should also come in itching to get back at it after their second half meltdown last weekend. Clemson allowed Georgia to score four touchdowns on their first five drives coming out of halftime and this writer isn’t buying into the theory that they just tired out due to being left out on the field too long. Time of possession was almost identical between the two teams in the second half.

Goodwin’s unit just needs to play better. For all of the talk about a lack of adjustments, there were too many instances of flat-out breakdowns. Guys missing tackles, getting caught with their eyes in the wrong spot, being a half second slow to respond and taking bad angles. That has to change starting Saturday night.

Clemson opened as a 16.5-point favorite and on the surface you would think that is a number they would cover. To do that, this offense will actually have to find the end zone a few times and the defense will need to play to its potential.

I do believe the defense responds, and plays well. I also believe the offense will start to have some success behind a big night from Mafah. However, it could take it a little while to get going and it just might be the second half before the Tigers really put App State away.

Clemson 31 App State 13

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