The Football Brainiacs

Image via USA Today

We’re still several weeks out from the actual game, but I still wanted to offer up some of my initial thoughts on the match up. I will start by saying I haven’t seen a ton of Clemson this year. I’ve watched most, if not all, of their games with Florida State and North Carolina. Which, to be fair, I think are easily the two best games by which to judge Clemson on. The other being Notre Dame, of course, but the weather was such a factor in that game I’m just not entirely sure how much there is to be truly evaluated there.

With that said, here are a few of my initial thoughts.

– If anyone is still making comparisons to last year’s game in Orlando — other than the simple fact one team will still have an OU logo on their helmet and the other a tiger paw — just stop. Those comparisons are stupid.

Both of these teams are drastically different and will feature any number of players who were either somewhat limited in last year’s bowl game or didn’t play at all.

It’s the same two programs, not the same two teams.

– Not exactly breaking news here in proclaiming the big key/s from an OU defensive standpoint will be limiting both Deshaun Watson and Wayne Gallman for Clemson. Watson will be in NYC this weekend for a reason, and he’s exactly the type of dual-threat quarterback that has given Mike Stoops (and before him Brent Venables) defenses fits for years. Though to be fair, the same could be said for just about every other defense in the country when facing a talented, mobile QB.

As with any match up against a quarterback like Watson, discipline from OU’s front seven will be critical to their success. Maintaining leverage and your rush lanes to prevent creases for which Watson do run through could prove to be the difference in this game.

You may be less familiar with Gallman, but believe me when I tell you the kid is legit. He’s rushed for over 1,300 yards so far this season and is explosive with the ball in his hands. From what I have seen, Clemson will often get creative in moving him around pre-snap to find ways to get him the ball in space.

Tackling is a key in any game, but it will certainly be an added point of emphasis with both Watson and Gallman capable of making game-changing type plays out on the edge.

– While Watson will EASILY be the best overall quarterback OU has faced this season, he certainly won’t be the most dynamic passing threat this Sooners defense will have seen. Don’t get me wrong, Watson is more than capable as a passer. But he’s probably not someone that is just going to stand in the pocket and pick you apart.

Again, limited sample size, but from what I’ve seen Clemson really likes to run a lot of short, quick passes to their WRs and force you to come up and tackle to prevent yards-after-catch. They seem to take the occasional shot deep to keep the defense honest, but that doesn’t appear to be a fixture of their offense.

– #18, Jordan Leggett, will be a name to know and a guy to keep an eye on when Clemson is on offense. He’s a big flex TE, very similar to OU’s own Mark Andrews, who the Tigers have started to get more involved in their offense over the latter half of this season. Another guy they’ll move around quite a bit to try and exploit match-ups.

My assumption is Steven Parker will draw this assignment, on most downs, for which I firmly believe he’s more than capable. But the size mismatch between the two will definitely present a challenge for OU’s standout second-year player.

– From a Clemson defensive standpoint, it’s pretty much OU fans have become accustomed to seeing from a Brent Venables led squad. They’re going to be aggressive and try to force you into mistakes. But with the unique perspective of being so familiar with an opposing defensive coordinator, OU fans know better than anyone how that aggressiveness can make you vulnerable.

To that point, Clemson’s rush defense over their final six games has been highly suspect. Through those first seven games, Clemson’s defense allowed a respectable average of about 105 yards on the ground. Over these last six games, however, that number has jumped up to and average of 156 rushing yards allowed per game.

It’s one thing to give up nearly 200 rushing yards to Florida State and Dalvin Cook, it’s another entirely to allow Syracuse to put up 242 yards or South Carolina to gain 181.

Ed. Note – Sorry, I meant to include the following in the original and it slipped my mind before hitting ‘post.’

Now maybe that is a product of their defense wearing down over the course of Clemson playing for 10 consecutive weeks, all of which will be cured now with the layoff prior to the game in Miami. I can’t really say for certain.

What I can say for certain, however, is if this recent string of games is in fact an indicator for NYE, Samaje Perine & Joe Mixon will be more than happy to take exploit it.

– From what I can gather the primary concern from an OU offense vs. Clemson defense standpoint appears to be talented Tigers’ CB Mackensie Alexander. The match up between Alexander and Sterling Shepard should be something to watch.

OU fans certainly do not need to be reminded just how vital Shepard is to Oklahoma’s ability to move the ball successfully through the air, and Alexander has excelled this year in limiting opposing teams’ top wide receiver.

Clemson has proved to have no qualms moving Alexander around, even straight shadowing one guy if the situation dictates it. And one would have to presume, with OU’s continued emphasis when it comes to Shepard in the passing game, that will again be the case NYE night in Miami.

Now it’s also important to note that while Alexander has faced, and more often than not won the individual match up with, some talented wide receivers this season, few, if any, truly compare with that Shepard brings to the table.

—

That’s it for now. I know I’ll have some more thoughts in the coming weeks as the actual game gets closer, and I suspect the other TFB guys will have plenty to share as well. But for the time being, hopefully this will help to tide you over, at least a little bit.