By Will Vandervort.
ACC notebook
Clemson’s defensive line has to be chomping at the bit when watching the Louisville offensive line.
So far this season, the Cardinals’ quarterbacks have been sacked 19 times, the 13th worse figure in the ACC. That’s an average of 3.2 sacks allowed per game.
In case you are wondering, the Tigers, who will host Louisville at 3:30 p.m. in Death Valley on Saturday, are averaging 3.2 sacks per contest. Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley leads the ACC with seven through the first five games of the year.
Last week, Beasley and the Tigers sacked NC State quarterback Jacoby Brissett three times and forced him to fumble the ball twice, while also pressuring him countless other times. One fumble set up a Clemson touchdown, while the second was returned 16 yards for a score by Beasley.
“I thought our guys did a tremendous job this past week,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “I mean, every play was contested. There just wasn’t a lot – they had to earn everything they got, and I’m really proud of just how hard they prepared and their attention to details.
“Our front is playing outstanding. They’ve done a good job all year.”
Be careful throwing the ball. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is off to a great start in his career, but the true freshman will really get a chance to prove how special he really is against Louisville on Saturday.
Louisville safety Gerod Holliman leads the nation in pass interceptions this week with seven picks in six games. As a whole, the Cardinals lead the country with 12 interceptions over all in six games.
“This is the most aggressive secondary we have played,” Swinney said. “They will attack you downhill. Their safeties really want to be involved. They are very physical at safety.”
The Cardinals (5-1, 3-1 ACC) can be that way on the back end of their defense because they have recorded 21 sacks this year, which ranks third in the ACC.
He has also passed biology. When asked if the coaches started to think they might not have Watson after his junior season at Clemson if keeps at the pace he has been going at, Swinney responded, “It is amazing what he has done already. He hasn’t even passed freshman biology yet.”
The true freshman has passed every test so far as a quarterback in the ACC, though. He is 2-0 as a starter, has been named ACC Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week (three times overall) for both performances, and now leads the nation in yards per attempt (11.1) and is second in passing efficiency (197.9).
In his two games as a starter Watson has completed 44 of 65 (68 percent) passes for 702 yards and eight touchdowns. He has added another 90 yards rushing on 26 carries and has scored twice. And for the record, it was pointed out to Swinney after his statement that Watson has in fact passed freshman biology. It was one of the courses he took in his first semester when he came to Clemson in January.
Stingy group. Louisville is allowing just 10.7 points per game on the road this season. The Cardinals haven’t allowed a touchdown in their last 13 quarters dating back to their, 23-21, loss to Virginia on Sept. 13.
The Cavaliers scored on a Grayson Lambert 10-yard run in the third quarter for the last touchdown allowed by Louisville. The Cardinals have allowed just five field goals over the last 13 quarters. In the red zone this season, Louisville has allowed their opponents to score just five touchdowns in 16 opportunities.
Florida could use either one of these guys. Boston College’s game this Saturday at NC State will feature two starting quarterbacks who began their careers at the University of Florida and both are thriving in their new locations.
BC’s Tyler Murphy, who transferred to the Heights after graduating at Florida, is the leading rushing quarterback in the nation (115.8) and has led the Eagles to rank 5th nationally in rushing offense (316.8 yds/gm). NC State’s Jacoby Brissett, who transferred to the Wolfpack and sat out last season, is third in the ACC in passing efficiency (150.0) and third in total offense (261.0 yds/gm).
It is a family thing. With Kendall Fuller’s touchdown on an interception return at North Carolina last week, all four Fuller brothers have now scored touchdowns for Virginia Tech. Vincent Fuller scored two non-offensive touchdowns and Kyle Fuller scored on a blocked punt against Appalachian State in 2011. Corey Fuller – the lone offensive player of the four –scored six touchdowns for the Hokies. Vincent spent eight years in the NFL, while Kyle starts for the Bears as a rookie and Corey is playing receiver for the Lions.
True road warriors. Florida State, which travels to Syracuse on Saturday, is averaging 37.9 points per game in ACC road games under head coach Jimbo Fisher. In 17 ACC road games since 2010, FSU has scored 40 or more points eight times and 30 or more points 14 while outscoring opponents 645-342.
Atlantic Division ACC Home Away Overall
Florida State 3-0 3-0 1-0 5-0
Louisville 3-1 3-0 2-1 5-1
Clemson 2-1 3-0 0-2 3-2
Syracuse 0-1 1-2 1-0 2-3
Boston College 0-1 2-2 1-0 3-2
Wake Forest 0-2 2-0 0-4 2-4
NC State 0-2 3-1 1-1 4-2
Coastal Division ACC Home Away Over
Georgia Tech 2-0 3-0 2-0 5-0
Virginia 2-0 4-1 0-1 4-2
Virginia Tech 1-1 2-2 2-0 4-2
Pittsburgh 1-1 1-2 2-0 3-3
Miami 1-2 3-0 0-3 3-3
Duke 0-1 3-0 1-1 4-1
North Carolina 0-2 2-1 0-2 2-3
Saturday, October 11
Duke at Georgia Tech ACC 12:30
Florida State at Syracuse ESPN Noon
Cincinnati at Miami RSN Noon
North Carolina at Notre Dame NBC 3:30
Boston College at NC State RSN 3:30
Louisville at Clemson ESPNU 3:30