Clemson football could have trouble with the Pittsburgh defensive line
The Clemson football team will celebrate Senior Day Saturday afternoon in Death Valley with a matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers.
The Tigers enter the game as a 26.5-point favorite over the Panthers, but there’s don’t that they’ll have to show up ready to play and completely focused on the task at hand.
Pitt has improved immensely in its passing game and the Panthers boast one of the top defensive fronts in the ACC. That unit could present some troubles for the Clemson football offensive line, which has struggled at times this season.
Pittsburgh is No. 1 in the country in team sacks with 38, No. 1 in tackles for loss and No. 8 in the country in total defense. Those are some gaudy statistics and a perfect picture of what that Panther defensive front has been this season: Dominant.
Clemson football has to hope for a better offensive line performance
Patrick Jones II, David Green, Tyler Bentley, Devin Danielson and Rashad Weaver are all guys who have the ability to get into the backfield and create plays.
Clemson is going to need its offensive line- especially the interior- to get a push and to limit how many times we see Pitt in the backfield.
In today’s College Football, the most successful defenses are those who create turnovers and negative plays. Pitt does an excellent job- they lead the nation- in getting into the backfield and putting teams behind the chains.
If Clemson doesn’t want to be frustrated throughout the afternoon, it’s all going to start up-front with the offensive line showing better protection in passing downs and getting a much better push on rushing plays.
It’s easier said than done, but that’s where this game will be won and lost.