Major Test Approaching Clemson's Defense: a Look at Florida State

Photo courtesy of Hector Alejandro

Hello, inhabitants of the blogosphere! Today I wanted to take a look at what could be the pivotal game in the ACC Atlantic this season. That match-up is between the Clemson Tigers and the Florida State Seminoles. This will be the first major game for the Seminoles, who had two snooze fests against Murray State and Savannah State. Clemson faced a supposedly tough Auburn defensive line in week 1, but after Auburn gave up 38 points to Mississippi State, that “quality” win is beginning to look suspect. Clemson, however, redeemed themselves by overpowering a Ball State team known for its precise, up-tempo offense.  The first team offense and defense put on a terrific show, rolling to a 45-10 lead by halftime. As for the meeting with FSU, the game should be a Top 10 match-up and  should draw College Gameday.

But I wanted to get some things out of the way for Clemson fans. Obviously, barring some catastrophic injury, Florida State will be favored going into the game. There are  some reasons why Florida State will be the favorite, and thus Clemson players will need to step up to ensure a favorable lead in the ACC Atlantic.

• EJ Manuel, QB: EJ Manuel has been the  “quarterback to watch” for a few years now, mostly because he has the physical characteristics of a pro quarterback and always starts off powerful. However, something always goes wrong to keep him from achieving the perfect season. Last season, an injury against Oklahoma kept him out, but as long as he remains healthy, Florida State will be a force to be reckoned with.
• Who Needs to Step Up: Clemson’s defensive line will have to step up and get pressure on Manuel to keep him off balance. They don’t necessarily need to blitz constantly, but always getting some pressure in the backfield will be key. Watch for the defensive ends bursting and trying to out-maneuver FSU’s offensive line.

• FSU’s Receivers: Florida State’s receivers are a diverse bunch, similar to Clemson’s corps. They have receivers ranging from 5’9″ to 6’5″, and among the tallest is Kelvin Benjamin, a freshman who Florida State will probably rely heavily on.
• Who Needs to Step Up: I’ll be watching for Clemson’s defensive backs to make some standout plays, especially Rashard Hall. Bashaud Breeland had some problems with pass interference penalties against Ball State, but he could redeem himself with a solid performance against FSU.

• The Running Game: Florida State might not have a lot of big-name running backs on their roster, but don’t let that fool you. FSU will be ready to run, and with Clemson’s spotty run defense, this could be their best bet at making this a good game.
• Who Needs to Step Up: Travis Blanks. This kid has been a monster over the past few weeks. He has the intangibles that every defensive coordinator wants in his players. He keeps a keen eye on the entire field and never gives up on a play. This could be the day that he vaults himself into the national spotlight as one of the freshmen of the year.

Clemson-Florida State is almost always an exciting match-up, and will be this year with a night game in a very tough road environment. This game will be a pivotal in the ACC race, and it may even have implications for a national championship. But we won’t know until we see the game.

Until next week, God Bless, and Go Tigers!