For a defensive coordinator, a season opener against a top-tier opponent is the ultimate chess match. For Clemson's Tom Allen, the "thrill of Week One" against LSU is all about preparing for the unknown.
First, there's the known threat: LSU's elite wide receivers.
"Twitchiness," Allen said when asked what stands out. "They got guys that really do a great job with the ball in their hands and yards after catch and the ability to stretch the field... they'll expose you real fast."
But the bigger mystery is how LSU will deploy those weapons. Head Coach Brian Kelly has been coy about whether he'll favor 11 personnel (3 WR, 1 TE) or a more run-focused 12 personnel (2 WR, 2 TE).
"At the end of the day, we don't really know what they're going to do personnel-wise," Allen admitted. "You look at how their roster has been built, they have the ability to do both... You'll probably determine how much they do or don't get into 11 or 12 personnel based on how we're able to handle what they put out there."
That means the first few series will be critical for making adjustments, a task Allen feels prepared for from his post in the coaches' box.
"It's going to be the first few drives, you're going to have a lot of adjusting going on," Allen said. "That is, no doubt, the thrill of Week One opponents, especially this high of a level."