Clemson Football: Reviewing the 5 Keys to Beating the Oklahoma Sooners
By Dan Kelley
Dec 29, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cole Stoudt (18) runs the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Key #1: Clemson must run the ball
With Watson absent and Stoudt taking the snaps, I thought Clemson would need to rely on Wayne Gallman and the running game to score points.
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As it turned out, that was completely wrong.
As previously discussed, the defense contributed a score on a pick six and Stoudt threw three touchdown passes. In fact, Stoudt also had Clemson’s only rushing touchdown.
But Clemson’s running backs not only failed to reach the end zone, they had very little to do with Clemson’s ability to consistently move the ball down the field.
Gallman carried the ball 19 times for 55 yards, for just 2.9 yards per carry. As a team, the numbers were even worse. Clemson managed only 1.6 yards per carry for the game, gaining 68 yards on 42 rushing attempts.
Of course, this shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise. Oklahoma was 10th in the nation in yards per rush allowed and Gallman’s success towards the end of the year game against a series of very bad run defenses.
I considered the running game to be the single most important key to the Clemson football team’s success in the Russell Athletic Bowl not so much because I expected it to thrive but because I thought it would have to.
With Stoudt starting at quarterback, the Tigers’ odds of winning the game with their passing attack looked bleak. And as tough as the Oklahoma run defense was, it still seemed more likely that Clemson would find more success on the ground than through the air. I never would have predicted the performance that Stoudt was able to put together in his final game for Clemson.
Sometimes it feels very good to be wrong.
Next: Cole Stoudt, Defense Lead Clemson Football to Rout of Oklahoma