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Clemson football: Eight boxes the Tigers must check-off in 2020

By James Bostic

CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 28: Travis Etienne #9 of Clemson University scores a touchdown during a game between Clemson University and University of North Carolina at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 28: Travis Etienne #9 of Clemson University scores a touchdown during a game between Clemson University and University of North Carolina at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 28: Trevor Lawrence #16 of Clemson University takes the snap during a game between Clemson University and University of North Carolina at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

Clemson football has its sights set on another national championship, here are three more areas to target.

3. 70 percent passing from TL16

Trevor Lawrence came into the 2020 season with a 65.5 percent passer completion. The statistics say 2019 was quite the year for Clemson offensively. Upon closer review (rewatching every game from 2019) the offense never lived up to its full potential.

While achieving 70 percent completion percentage is not wholly on Trevor, his receivers have to do their part. The emergence of the tight end group will make defenses have to respect the entire field. 70 percent passer completion in 2020 means the Tigers offense is not just winning in analytics but bringing home the golden scepter in January.

4. Kickoff Return for TD

If my research is correct it has been since Sammy Watkins’ record-setting performance against Maryland that Clemson has had a kickoff return for a touchdown. That seems unfathomable given the success of the program during the last 10 years.

If there has been an overall chink in the Clemson rise to prominence it has been special teams. Rule changes and the ability of more kickoff specialists to kick the ball into the endzone make this more difficult today’s game. It would be nice to see the Tigers put pressure on kickoff teams while asserting their domination.

5. 90 percent or better FG

There has never been a question if Clemson Kicker BT Potter has the leg strength to kick long-range field goals. Coming off a 13-21 (61.9 percent) year, Potter was locked in and on point Saturday night going 3-3 including drilling a 52 yarder at the end of the first half last Saturday.

There will come a point where Potter’s leg will be key and his ability to make a crunch time kick could be the difference between winning comfortably or sweating one out (insert UNC 2019).

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