Clemson Football: Lawrence, Etienne combine for lethal backfield
Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne combine to make up what should be an extremely lethal backfield for Clemson football during the 2019 season.
Pick your poison.
That’s the nature of the game for opposing defenses when they attempt to stop the 2019 Clemson football offense.
The Tigers are led by two of the nation’s best in Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. Depending on who you listen to, Lawrence is rated as either the No. 1 or No. 2 quarterback in the nation and Etienne is listed as the No. 1 or No. 2 running back in the nation.
No other program in the nation has a backfield with as much talent as Clemson football.
When you look at that backfield, it’s clear that opposing defenses are going to have to pick their poison in 2019.
They can choose to stack the box and sell out to stopping the run. They can bring blitzes and attempt to slow down Etienne. The problem? Trevor Lawrence isn’t afraid of pressure and has the strongest arm in the nation.
Lawrence not only has the accuracy and arm power to get the ball out, but he also has plenty of talented wide receivers to make plays, led by Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross.
Opposing defense could decide to put an extra defensive back on the field to deal with the Clemson passing game.
Then, they will have a bit more size and speed to deal with Lawrence and all those talented wide receivers. The problem? The Clemson football coaches have shown they have no problem pounding the defense if it’s not going to stop the run. So, if the defense decides they’re going to sell out to stopping the pass, Travis Etienne (and Lyn-J Dixon) will just eat yards and methodically move the Tigers down the field until they break off a big play.
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No matter what an opposing defense decides to do, Clemson is going to have options because of the lethal backfield comprised of QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne.