10 Reasons Clemson Football Will Make the CFB Playoff in 2017

10. A veteran offensive line

Clemson football returns four starters on its offensive line.

This team, under coach Robbie Caldwell, has been well-versed and extremely conditioned. While it has been inconsistent at times, the one area that the offensive line seems to have come through is in the fourth quarter.

They have gone up against some of the best defensive lines in the nation and have come out victorious and should, without a doubt, take a step forward this season.

All five of Clemson’s starters- LT Mitch Hyatt (302), LG Taylor Hearn (321), C Justin Falcinelli (304), RG Tyrone Crowder (338, and RT Sean Pollard (307)- weigh in at healthy 300+ pound weights.

That’s going to be huge for the Tigers as they break in a new quarterback.

Dabo Swinney has bragged that this is the best OL he has had in his time at Clemson and knowing that you have a formidable offensive line will only make the entire offense better. Obviously, we forget it, but every offense’s success starts with the offensive line.

This particular offensive line has the chance to be the best Clemson football has had in over a decade and that bodes well for the Tigers, who are going to be looking to run QB Kelly Bryant and create holes in the run-first spread offense.

I’m interested to see the chemistry along this line as the Tigers will be replacing center Jay Guillermo, who did an outstanding job last year, and that could take some time to build, but this group seems to be nasty and it can’t hurt that they are going up against what may be the best defensive line in the country every day in practice.