Will Heldt isn't going to 'let Clemson beat Clemson' with big Miami opportunity ahead

Will Heldt may not be one of Clemson's picks to click heading into the Miami game, but that should not matter because of his approach on the whole. Heldt may be Clemson's most prolific pass rusher on the team, but his even-keeled nature is exactly what Dabo Swinney would want out of his primary leaders. While Heldt knows about the big opportunity ahead, he sees the larger picture versus Miami.

"Obviously, there will be a lot of eyeballs on it. National TV and all that, but I just think I go into them treating them all the same, prepare for them all the same," Heldt said about the Miami game. "The opportunity of it definitely is exciting, which will be great. I just think we're approaching it like it's any other opponent. At the end of the day, we can't let Clemson beat Clemson, and that's what we're gonna focus on."

For Clemson to pull off the massive home upset of Miami, so much will have to go the Tigers' way. While the most important factor may be how well Gideon Davidson runs the football, a close second might be Clemson being the more tactically sound team. Miami may have a talent advantage over the Tigers, but Mario Cristobal's team will play a little too loose for its own good at times. Heldt knows it.

Will Heldt is serving as Dabo Swinney's mouthpiece for the Miami game

You can take Heldt's comments on the matter in one of two ways. The first would be to take him at face value, believing fully that he is all-in on what Swinney is telling his team how to get a grip on this game. Since Heldt is a team leader, that would make a great deal of sense. However, he does play a position that is designed to blow things up. Would we not want to see him play with a little more edge?

In reality, Heldt seems to realize that even if he sacks Darian Mensah three times on Saturday night, that still might not be enough to knock off the Hurricanes. Jeremiah Alexander and Sammy Brown must be locked in all night at linebacker. Ashton Hampton and Elliot Washington II must do their part in becoming a no-fly zone in the secondary. And that is just what the defense will have to do to win!

Over the course of this season, one thing has become readily apparent with Heldt's game. When he makes one big play, another one is soon to follow. It is why he had two sacks against both Georgia Southern and North Carolina. While Heldt did not push Sam Leavitt or Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele around during the LSU and Cal games, they were not the stages where the big moment was required.

Ultimately, Heldt can be as cool, calm, and collected coming into the game as he wants, so long as he can make a meaningful impact on Saturday night. This will be a home game for the Tigers. While the weather could be a factor coming in, Heldt must embrace the idea of muddying it up for Clemson. If Heldt and the rest of the team is willing to get its hands dirty, Clemson will have its shot at the upset.

For now, we should respect how at ease Heldt seems to be heading into Clemson's biggest game.

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