College Football
Clemson at Texas A&M: College Football’s Premier Matchup
It didn’t take long for college football to find a 2018 matchup that would have everyone talking. The Clemson Tigers come roaring into Kyle Field on Saturday to face the Texas A&M Aggies. Fresh off a 48-7 trouncing of Furman, the Tigers face an Aggies team fresh off a 59-7 trouncing of Northwestern State. It’s a battle that has been circled on the calendar ever since Jimbo Fisher accepted the A&M job. The circled date is a matchmaker’s dream. The Tigers versus the Aggies, college football could ask for nothing more in the second week of 2018.
Texas A&M Aggies Offense
As Trayveon Williams goes, so go the Aggies. Williams’ 240 yards and three touchdowns are a precursor to what the Tigers can expect. A&M put up over 600 offensive yards in week one. Granted, it was Northwestern State, but you have to beat the teams placed before you.
It was an offense that showed more unpredictability and then of course it was predictable as ever. Offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey knows what Jimbo FIsher likes in an offense. Dabo Swinney knows what Jimbo Fisher likes in an offense. Heck, college football knows what Jimbo Fisher likes in an offense.
A&M likes to run because Fisher likes to predicate his offense off the run. A&M likes to throw the ball to a tight end because Fisher likes to throw to a tight end. Swinney knows it, the Tigers know it and all of college football knows it. Can anyone stop it?
Clemson Tigers Offense
The Tigers ripped and clawed their way through Furman last week. Gone are the days of up-tempo Deshaun Watson; instead, it’s grind it out time. Oh sure, there were flashes of up tempo, but three scoring drives resulted in nine play drives or more. It’s that quick strike capability with the ability to grind it out that will keep A&M guessing. Austin Bryant and Trevor Lawrence, co-quarterbacks, spearhead an offense that has weapons at every position.
Austin Bryant, who started every game last year, used both his arm and legs in the opener. Bryant went 11 of 17 for 132 and a scoring strike. He also threw in a 35 yard touchdown run.
Trevor Lawrence, a true freshmen, opened his Clemson career 9 of 15 for 137 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The backfield duo of Lyn-J Dixon and Travis Etienne was a dynamic force in their first effort together. Combining for 152 yards on 17 carries, they gave the Tigers a healthy pick-up of 8.9 yards per carry. Can anyone stop them?
The Final Battle
The final battle will be won or lost in the trenches. Texas A&M features an experienced offensive line that is one of the tops in the SEC and the nation. A&M starts all five returnees from last season. This is just as important as the return of offensive line coach Jim Turner. Turner, of the Mike Sherman era, had four consecutive years of first round offensive linemen drafted into the NFL. Add to that fact that now, A&M plays to the strength of their run blockers.
The Clemson Tigers feature the best defensive front in the nation. All seven of the Tigers front line gladiators return for another run at a national title. They showcase four players who are likely to be NFL first round draftees. What other team can boast a return of 100 percent of defensive line tackles, 76 percent of linebacker tackles, and 73 percent of defensive back tackles? The front four weigh in at 1,195 pounds of offense-crushing flesh.
Who stops who determines the winner of college football’s premier matchup this week.
Photo credit to John Glaser via Flickr
