By Will Vandervort.
By Will Vandervort
CLEMSON — Here is a position-by-position breakdown of Thursday’s game: No 13 Clemson at Wake Forest.
Quarterback: Is Tajh Boyd hurting? Or is his mechanics really off? One thing is for sure, we should get the answer to those questions tonight. Boyd has struggled throwing the football the last two weeks, but head coach Dabo Swinney, offensive coordinator Chad Morris and Boyd himself say his problems have little to do with him being banged up and everything to do with his mechanics. Wake’s Tanner Price is completed just 50 percent of his passes for 1,327 yards. You wonder if those numbers don’t come up with Michael Campanaro now back on the field. Advantage: Clemson
Running back: It seems as if Clemson running back Andre Ellington is about to bust off a big-game at any minute. Will it be tonight? Ellington ranks second in the ACC in rushing yards and rushing yards per game. Wake’s Josh Harris is averaging 4.2 yards per carry and has rushed for 432 yards and four touchdowns. Advantage: Clemson
Wide receiver / Tight ends: Sammy Watkins finally got his last week and DeAndre Hopkins continues to make plays, but it seemed as if Boyd forgot about throwing the ball to Jaron Brown, Brandon Ford and Adam Humphries last week. With the kind of defense Wake will employ tonight, look for Boyd to try and get everyone involved. With Campanaro’s return, Wake Forest will have a serious playmaker on the field for the first time in three weeks. Advantage: Clemson
Offensive line: It was not a great week for the Tigers O-Line last week as they gave up 5 sacks and only rushed for 3.0 yards per carry. But when you look at the overall body of work, Clemson’s offensive line has a better resume. Wake has had its issues protecting Tanner against speed rush teams, while running backs are averaging just 3.4 yards per carry. Advantage: Clemson
Defensive line: Clemson’s defensive line played a whole lot better last week. Josh Watson and D.J. Reader combined for 12 tackles and a tackle for loss as defensive tackle, while defensive Corey Crawford also registered a tackle for loss and had seven tackles. The Demon Deacons, who play a four man front, but move around a lot, got a big jolt on the defensive line with the return of Nikita Whitlock from a torn ankle ligament. Advantage: Clemson
Linebackers: Spencer Shuey might be the best answer at the right time at middle linebacker. Besides recording fifteen tackles, which included two behind the line of scrimmage, Shuey appears to get the defensive line lined up in the right place. Strong side backer Quandon Christian has also stepped up his game and is playing the way he did when he was a sophomore. Jonathan Willard has been consistent all season. Wake gets linebacker Mike Olson back after a suspension and that will help a Wake defense that is giving up 405 yards per game. Advantage: Clemson
Secondary: The Deacons get Merrill Noel back in the secondary. Swinney says Wake Forest has one of the best units in the ACC as they rank fifth in the conference in pass defense and sixth in pass efficiency defense. Clemson ranks second in the ACC with 10 interceptions, however, starters Darius Robinson (broken ankle) and Bashaud Breeland (abdominal pain) are out. That leaves Clemson with Xavier Brewer moving from safety to play corner on one side and sophomore Garry Peters to take the other spot. Freshman Cortez Davis will be their backup with Humphries playing in an emergency role only. Advantage: Wake Forest
Special teams: Chandler Catanzaro had made 20 kicks in a row, while Spencer Benton seems to have things handled on punts and kickoffs. The return units have appeared to sure up their loose ends as well. Wake’s Lovell Jackson is averaging more than 10 yards per punt return. Ched Hedland won the job at kicker (3-3 on the year) after Jimmy Newman opened the year missing six of his first eight kicks. Newman is also in charge of kickoffs. Advantage: Clemson
Prediction: This has the potential to be a scary game for Clemson, but the reality, even with its depth problems in the secondary due to injuries, the Tigers have more talent and that should be the deciding difference when this game is decided. Look for Boyd to have another big day with his feet and he will need to be patient in the passing game and take what the Wake Forest defense gives him. Wake’s Harris is a good running back and Campanaro definitely adds something to their playmakers. But no one outside of those two could start in Clemson’s offense. Clemson is clearly the better team and will win this game. No. 13 Clemson 33, Wake Forest 24