Front Porch FootballCotton Bowl: Clemson vs. Notre Dame
by Chris Paschal
The last time these two teams got together, one of the greatest games of the 2015 season occurred. In the middle of a Hurricane, the Fighting Irish came roaring back in the fourth quarter and were only a two point conversion away when Ben Boulware met Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer at the goal line and prevented the game tying score. Will the same type of theatrics be present in this game or will either Notre Dame or Clemson handle their opponent from the start?
Player to Watch
We saw a Clemson defensive backfield get shredded by South Carolina in this year’s Palmetto Bowl, so I am going to say the “players to watch” will be the Clemson defensive backfield. We knew going into the season that this team had some deficiencies in the back end of the this defense, and if Notre Dame quarterback, Ian Book, has time in the pocket, he may pick apart this defense. Clemson has had time to study Book and implement a personalized scheme, so if the Tigers play their best game in pass defense, this could be a Clemson blowout.
Key to the Game
Who is able to establish the run? This game features two of the nation’s best scoring defenses. Notre Dame’s Ian Book and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence are excellent quarterbacks that both orchestrate dynamic passing attacks, but the rushing attack will be the key to the game. Enter Notre Dame’s Dexter Williams and Clemson’s Travis Etienne. Both of these backs are absolute studs. I thought early on that Etienne would be a Heisman Finalist in New York, and while he ultimately didn’t make it to the ceremony, it was more an indictment on Clemson’s schedule than his rushing numbers.
Dexter Williams almost gained a thousand yard rushing in eight games. (Williams did not play in Notre Dame’s first four games.) Williams is averaging over 6.5 yards per carry, and at 5-11, 215 pounds, he has the body needed to play against this Clemson defensive line. Both of these offensive lines will have their hands full. If one of these teams can get to 175 yards rushing, I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the team that wins the game.
Stat of the Game
For most of these previews, the stat of the game was an interesting statistic, trend, or observation we made heading into the matchup. This is going to be different. I am going to predict a stat of the game. Ian Book will throw for less than 250 yards for the first time this season. This is the best pass rush he will face all season. It will create major issues in the Notre Dame passing attack. South Carolina’s Jake Bentley was elusive in this year’s Clemson game, and Gamecock Offensive Coordinator, Bryan McClendon called a brilliant game. It’s rare that a team is able to have time to take deep shots down the field. Clemson will make sure Notre Dame isn’t afforded that opportunity.
Conclusion
Everyone is freaking out about Dexter Lawrence being suspended for this game. First of all, Clemson fans should be grateful that they didn’t test the whole team, because I would not be surprised if this failed drug test was not a mishap by someone on the Clemson staff. As a coaching staff and as a football administration, you have to fully examine how this happened. The buck stops with you. Talking to former athletes at South Carolina, Wofford, and Clemson, all of them told me you have to know what is going into your body. If these guys did not take something outside of the Clemson diet program, then someone either purposefully or negligently let this drug infiltrate the building. Again, and most Clemson fans I have talked to agree with me, Clemson is lucky they didn’t administer a drug test to more players.
That being said, I don’t give a dang who plays at the nose technique, Clemson’s defense is going to be locked in and ready to roll. Albert Huggins would start for most college football teams. Ferrel, Bryant, and Wilkins are all still in the lineup, and Xavier Thomas adds great depth.
Clemson will establish the run, and Lawrence will make enough throws. This will be close for the first half, but the Tigers pull away in the second.
