Clemson football: Scouting report vs. the Citadel
The Clemson football program gets a slight break from their tough schedule with a matchup versus FCS foe, the Citadel.
When? Saturday, November 18, 2017, 12:00 pm ET.
Where? Memorial Stadium (Death Valley, South Carolina)
2016 Record: 10-2 (8-0 SOCON)
Head Coach: Brent Thompson (2nd season)
Returning starters: 9 total, 3 offensive, 6 defensive.
The Citadel was one of the top FCS programs in the country a season ago, finishing the year 10-2. Unfortunately, they were ousted in the first round of the 2016 playoffs and their fortune has yet to improve. The Bulldogs sit 5-5 through the first 10 games of this season.
Thoughts
The biggest concern for Clemson entering this matchup is their health. With all due respect to the Citadel, they are severely out-manned coming into this one. The Tigers play in the trenches gives them a clear advantage over the Bulldogs.
At the moment, Clemson has a few key players banged up, mainly Kendall Joseph, Dexter Lawrence, and Ryan Carter, among others. The Tigers can’t afford to come out of this weekend with more injuries than they already have.
The Citadel has one of the top rushing offenses in the FCS ranks, posting 308.6 yards per game. I don’t expect them to replicate this success against Clemson. They employ a triple-option attack similar to Georgia Tech and the Tigers were able to hold the Yellow Jackets to just 10 points and 168 rushing yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs can hold their own against the run. In order to pull off this massive upset, stopping the run is vital. Clemson’s offense is heavily predicated on running the football. Kelly Bryant and their deep stable of running backs, average 220 rushing yards per game. Given Bryant’s inability to throw the ball down the field as of late, the Tigers won’t have a leg to stand on if they can’t run the football.
Next: Where will the Tigers land in the 3rd CFB Playoff rankings?
At the end of the day, Clemson’s superior talent should control this football game. The Citadel will come out swinging, but, the Tigers should wrap this one up fairly quickly.