Clemson Football was victorious on Labor Day Monday against Georgia Tech 41-10. The score makes it look like the Tigers were in full control of the game and they were heads and shoulders above the Yellow Jackets.
Looks can be deceiving. With four minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Clemson led 14-10. The Tigers did score soon after, but it took nearly forty minutes of football for Clemson to put some space between them and the Ramblin’ Wreck.
Coach Swinney has been doing this a long time, and even though his staff has some new faces in new roles, I think they are experienced enough to know that they can’t let this team get to caught up in the final score. Thank goodness they have that experience, because it will be important to keep this team focused on reality over the next three weeks, instead of hype.
Clemson’s defense and special teams eventually wore their opponent down, but Georgia Tech put up a heck of a fight. The honest truth is that even if people weren’t overconfident about Clemson, most just didn’t think Tech would be a very good team. Many observers had them ranked sixth out of seven teams in the Coastal Division. If it wasn’t for the belief that Duke is a major rebuilding project this season for new head coach Mike Elko, many would have Tech dead last.
If the Tigers focus too much on the final score, which included two touchdowns following punt blocks that gave the offense a short field, and a late garbage-time touchdown for freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik, the players could walk away with a false sense of security.
This is even more of a concern considering the upcoming schedule. Clemson hosts FCS opponent Furman this coming Saturday. They then host Louisiana Tech from Conference-USA, who is also rebuilding following a coaching change at the end of the 2021 season. If expectations for Georgia Tech were conservative, they are even more so for the Paladins and the Bulldogs.
It is realistic to believe that Clemson will look very good in the next two games. I fully expect the defense to be dominant when the starters play. I also expect the offense to perform better than on Labor Day. I think the offensive line will function better, thus creating more opportunities for the running game. I think quarterbacks & receivers play will improve.
I don’t necessarily think we will see these things because the team will drastically improve over the next two weeks of practice. I think we will see these things because Furman and Louisiana Tech don’t have the kind of size and talent to compete with Clemson. I think the Tigers will have the games in hand early and even when they put their 2nd and 3rd string players in the game, the Tigers will be in control of the game.
Clemson football needs to remember that what they will see in the next two weekends isn’t what they will see rest of the season.
The Tigers will feel in control for the next two weeks, which is why it’s important the coaching staff reminds them that for 40 minutes Monday night, they weren’t in control. Their opponent, who was supposed to be inferior, stood up to them and wasn’t intimidated.
Clemson needs to remember this because in three weeks the Tigers will go on the road to play the defending Atlantic Division champions, Wake Forest. The weekend after that they will host NC State. Neither team will roll over for Clemson, and the Tiger squad that took the field on Labor Day Monday could easily be beaten by both teams.
Clemson needs to remember that what they will see in the next two weekends isn’t what they will see rest of the season. I think the defense has enough leadership on the field to keep their heads on straight. I think Coach Swinney and the staff will have to stay on top of the offense and keep them grounded.