Clemson Football Opponent Scouting Report: Kent State
The Clemson football program is set to open up the 2017 regular season vs. Kent State this Saturday. Here’s an in-depth look at the Golden Flashes leading up to game day.
When? September 2, 2017, 12:00 pm ET.
Where? Memorial Stadium (Death Valley)
2016 record: 3-9 (2-6 MAC)
Head Coach: Paul Haynes (5th year)
Betting line: Clemson by 38
Returning starters: seven on offense, six on defense.
Kent State must travel to Death Valley and face the Tigers without fifth year head coach, Paul Haynes, who will be out for two to three weeks on medical leave of absence according to CBSSports.
Strengths:
Kent State was outstanding in the turnover department in 2016, forcing 24 takeaways on the year. This could spell trouble for a Clemson football team that was careless with the ball at times last year.
Once Kent State forces you to turn the ball over, there is little hope of getting it back. The Golden Flashes were extremely cautious on offense in 2016, turning the ball over just 13 times.
Perhaps Kent State’s biggest strength is their ability to limit explosive plays. While they gave up nearly 30 points per game in 2016, those points resulted from sustained drives, rather than chunk plays. The Golden Flashes ranked 26th in the nation in opponent long scrimmage plays, allowing just 47 plays of 20+ yards; better than Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson.
Newly appointed starting quarterback, Kelly Bryant, must be patient with the football and make smart decisions. There will be opportunities for shots down the field, but, Bryant must not force it.
Weaknesses:
While Kent State is a disciplined football team, they lack the explosive playmakers to threaten Clemson’s talented defense.
The Tigers were able to pitch a shutout against J.T. Barrett and Ohio State, because of the Buckeyes’ inability to throw the ball down the field. Kent State has those same issues offensively. The Golden Flashes’ offense was stagnant a season ago, averaging just 20 points per game, while throwing for 141.7 yards per game.
Running the football was a strength for Kent State, but, they weren’t necessarily intimidating on the ground compared to the rest of the country.
Against an aggressive defensive coordinator like Brent Venables, becoming one-dimensional is the last thing that Kent State wants to do. If Venables does not respect Kent State’s vertical passing attack, he will begin to dial up the pressure, essentially constricting the Golden Flashes offense.
Next: 5 Storylines to watch vs. Kent State
Clemson should defeat Kent State fairly easily, due to their superior talent. In order for Kent State to make things interesting, they will need to win the turnover battle and create explosive plays down the field.