If Clemson wants to beat rival South Carolina this weekend, the defense is going to have to stop LaNorris Sellers from taking over the game. In last year’s matchup, Sellers ran all over the Tigers’ defense.
He had 16 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns in his first start in Memorial Stadium. No one on the Clemson defense seemed to be able to tackle Sellers. Guys were either slipping off of him or just whiffing trying to dive at him.
The Tigers defensive front was able to put a good amount of pressure on Sellers. It didn’t help much though when they couldn’t get him to the ground. That will be the challenge this weekend. In order for Clemson to slow down Sellers, it must force him to stay in the pocket and actually get him to the ground.
While Sellers obliterated the Tigers on the ground, he couldn’t do much against them through the air. He completed just 13 passes of 21 attempts for 164 yards and an interception in last season’s Palmetto Bowl.
Sellers has improved as a passer this year. He comes into this game with a 61.8% completion percentage for 2,056 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions. His best attribute is still his running ability though. He is the second leading rusher on the team with 137 carries for 268 net yards and five touchdowns
He’d have more rushing yards if he wasn’t sacked so many times this season, which is the way to slow him down. It’s what Clemson needs to be able to do this Saturday.
Sellers has been sacked 37 times for over 300 yards this season. The Tigers need to drive those numbers up in Williams-Brice Stadium this weekend. They need to keep Sellers in the pocket, defeat one-on-one pass blocks, wrap him up, and put him on the ground. The last two steps were what the Tigers struggled with last year.
Tom Allen’s emphasis on tackling in the offseason needs to show up big time this weekend. Even if the pass rush doesn’t get to Sellers every time though, they must make him throw from the pocket.
Sellers is still not a great pocket passer. He is at his best when he is using his legs, even in the passing game. If he can’t scramble around or run sprint out passes, he becomes limited.
So, Clemson must keep Sellers inside the pocket and get him to the ground as much as possible to limit his playmaking ability.