Clemson football: Hurricanes believe they can hang with Tigers

Clemson football will host the Miami Hurricanes later tonight in Death Valley.

This will be the first time in a decade that Clemson football and Miami will play a football game at Memorial Stadium. They have met just twice since 2010, the 58-0 embarrassment in 2015 and the 38-3 2017 whooping in the ACC title game.

Miami is coming in and they feel really confident that they can hang with the Tigers under second-year head coach Manny Diaz. They believe that they can score with the Tigers Saturday night. The question becomes can a defense that gave up more than 500 yards to a terrible Louisville team and more than 300 to an atrocious FSU team that has no identity actually stop the Clemson football offense?

We had an opportunity to talk to our brother site at FanSided, Canes Warning, and they gave their thoughts on today’s prime time matchup.

Rubbing the Rock: What has been the biggest change in year 2 under Manny Diaz?

Canes Warning: Culture and the offense. The players seem to trust the new coaches on offense. Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, OL coach Garin Justice, and WR coach Rob Likens are all former OCs and seem to relate better to players of this era. They have not talked down to the Miami players. Lashlee, Justice, and Likens are on the same page for what Miami needs to do to succeed offensively.

The up-tempo spread that Lashlee has installed for Miami has completely transformed them offensively. Miami has become a big-play offense and the opposing defense has tired out because of the tempo.

Rubbing the Rock: D’Eriq King is getting a lot of the headlines but who else has stuck out to start the season?

Canes Warning: Cam’Ron Harris and Brevin Jordan. Harris has become an explosive runner. Harris is the only player in college football with two runs of 60 or more yards this season. Jordan is the go-to receiver for Miami. Jordan is a matchup problem for most college football teams without the size and athleticism to cover him.

Rubbing the Rock: Miami has been outscored 96-3 in their last two meetings with Clemson, why will this time be different?

Canes Warning: Those games were a different era. No one is left from the 58-0 shellacking in 2015 and only a few remain from the 2017 loss in the ACC Championship Game. This game will be different largely because of the Miami offense. The Hurricanes finals have an offense that can score with Clemson.

Rubbing the Rock: OC Rhett Lashlee said “Clemson is notorious for stealing signs”, does it worry anyone that he poked the nation’s best defensive coordinator, Brent Venables?

Canes Warning: Lashlee followed up the comment about sign stealing by saying it happens with every team. It came across as more of a compliment and half-joke than a poke. As far as Venables being the best DC. That’s subjective. Clemson showed they are vulnerable last week allowing 416 yards against Virginia and in the loss to LSU in the National Championship game.

Rubbing the Rock: Miami upsets Clemson if they ______________.

Canes Warning: Keep penalties to a minimum, pressure Trevor Lawrence, have a few explosive plays on offense, and potentially force multiple turnovers.