CLEMSON — After a two-week break from conference play, Clemson begins a stretch of six straight games against ACC competition, starting with a prime-time home matchup against Virginia Tech on Saturday.
The Tigers (4-2, 2-1 ACC) have won seven straight in the series, dating back to 2011, and this will mark the Hokies’ (5-2, 2-2) first trip to Death Valley in 14 years and just the second since Dabo Swinney has been head coach.
This game could prove to be crucial when it comes to the league standings, seeing as the Tigers are currently one of five ACC teams with one loss or fewer.
Clemson leads the all-time series 24-12-1 and holds a 9-6-1 all-time edge in home games against Virginia Tech.
5 Things to Watch For
1. Beating a Dead Horse: It gets said every week, but one of the biggest keys to Clemson coming out of this thing with a win is the play of the offensive line. Virginia Tech is one of the best teams in the nation when it comes to getting after the quarterback. The Hokies lead the ACC and are sixth nationally with 3.29 sacks per contest. They are 11th nationally in havoc rate.
The Tigers struggles up front have been well-documented, particularly on the right side, which has been by far the weakest link. Easton Ware is now at right guard, and the unit was serviceable last weekend but that was against a bad Charleston Southern team.
Chad Morris spoke on Wednesday about the players around Tait Reynolds needing to step up and help out the freshman quarterback more. That is especially true this week.
The Hokies also come in with one of the best run defenses in the country, allowing just 87.4 yards per game. That ranks 10th nationally.
Pass protection and run blocking will have to be on point.
2. Make Grunkemeyer Uncomfortable: While the Va Tech defensive line has been really good, the same can’t be said for it’s offensive line. The Hokies rank just above Clemson in sacks allowed at 119th nationally. Of the 19 sacks allowed, eight of those have come in the last two games.
With that kind of pass protection, Will Heldt, London Merritt and Jahiem Lawson should have opportunites to put some pressure on quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer. Making him uncomfortable might actually be the biggest key to winning this game.
The Penn State transfer is completing an impressive 73% of his passes, while throwing 15 touchdowns and just two inpterceptions. If he is that effective on Saturday night, it might make for a very long night.
3. Win the Margin: The Tigers are -4 in the turnover margin and haven’t won the turnover battle very often this season. Adding to Grunkemeyer’s interception total or creating a fumble or two would go a long ways towards tilting this thing in Clemson’s favor.
As good as the Tigers have been on the backend of the defense, the defense has still only picked off four passes in six games.
4. Receivers Must Bouce-Back: The receivers didn’t have their best games last week against Charleston Southern. It’s not that they weren’t getting open, it’s that they just couldn’t do the most basic thing a wideout must do and that is catch the football. T.J. Moore was hit in his hands three times in the end zone and failed to catch any of them. Bryant Wesco had a critical drop.
With a freshman quarterback that tends to, at times, hold onto the ball a little long, or even worse, not seeing wide open guys, it’s very possible there’s been some frustration with the receivers. But when the ball is in your hands you have to do your part and help the freshman out.
The struggles of this passing game have been well-documented. While some of it is certainly due to breaking in a freshman quarterback and the offensive line issues, the receivers have also played a part. Seeing as there is no shortage of talent at the top of depth chart, these guys have to step it up, and that has to start Saturday.
5. Attack Weak Link: As good as the Hokies are up front on the defensive side of the ball, the secondary has some question marks. While Tech mostly stuffed the Georgia Tech running game last weekend, Albert Mendoza sliced up that secondary to the tune of 335 yards while completing 76% of his throws. And that is despite Mendoza being sacked three times.
There are going to opportunities in the passing game for Reynolds and those receivers. The freshman quarterback keeps saying the offense, especially the passing game, is going to pop. The time for that is now.
