Two years ago, Clemson went to Raleigh fresh off a 58-0 massacre of Miami.
Most folks thought the Tigers would continue rolling in their eighth game, but they found themselves in an ambush situation against an N.C. State team that was playing well and salivating for a landmark victory.
On several occasions, Clemson used explosive plays to free itself from difficult situations.
Down 13-7, here came a touchdown over the middle to Hunter Renfrow:
Down 20-19 and in danger of going into the half facing a deficit, here came a chunk play to Artavis Scott on a beautiful back-shoulder throw by Deshaun Watson:
Followed by a deep ball to Charone Peake on the very next play:
Midway through the third quarter, matters were still very much in doubt with Clemson up 33-27. And here came a deep ball to a freshman named Deon Cain:
And later, a kill shot on a double-move by Ray-Ray McCloud:
You get the idea. The feeling at the time was this offense could do just about anything it wanted, and the play-calling was fast and loose in large part because you had a generational quarterback who was in such a groove.
Another key: On all of those above throws, Watson has a clean pocket and isn't remotely threatened. That N.C. State defensive line was not the one Clemson will face Saturday.
Clemson piled up eight passing plays of 20 yards or more that Halloween day at Carter-Finley. Over the brilliant 30-game stretch in 2015 and 2016, it was the second-highest number of such plays in a game. The first? Nine passing plays of 20 yards or more against Alabama in 2015.
An interesting side note to that passing barrage against N.C. State: According to Joe Giglio of the News and Observer of Raleigh, it brought a revelation to coach Dave Doeren about the importance of size at the receiver position.
On National Signing Day a few months later, Doeren said this about his receivers: "You can't teach height or length."
Bottom line, the Wolfpack was going to have to become more imposing on the outisde if it was going to challenge Clemson and Florida State for division (and conference) supremacy.
In the 2016 class, Doeren signed six receivers or tight ends who were 6-2 or taller. Included was Kelvin Harmon (6-3, 213), who has provided a major boost to the Pack's offense this season. Harmon has 43 catches for 644 yards and is averaging 14.9 yards per catch. Add in Stephen Louis (6-2, 217) and Jakobi Meyers (6-2, 203), and N.C. State has been much more dynamic and powerful at that position.
Really, it complicates the task for defensive coordinators. Of course, the biggest objective is finding a way to limit all-around menace Jaylen Samuels (5-11, 228), who lines up just about everywhere. But now they can make you pay for devoting too much focus on him.
Consequently, the Wolfpack have become more explosive. They rank 33nd nationally in passing plays of 20 yards or more with 32. They ranked 45th in that statistic last season, 82nd in 2015 and 86th in 2014.
Shifting back to Clemson and explosive passing plays, the Tigers rank 83rd nationally in 20-plus-yard plays with just 22.
Here are their totals through eight games over the past six seasons:
2016: 38
2015: 33
2014: 38
2013: 33
2012: 37
2011: 35
The offense did show some improvement in explosive plays last week against Georgia Tech, totaling three after producing just one against Syracuse.
The Tigers also showed that you don't necessarily have to go vertical to produce an explosive play.
On the second play from scrimmage, Georgia Tech brings a six-man pressure and the corner on Cain gives him cushion. Easy throw, and Cain spins away for a 38-yard touchdown:
In the third quarter, the Tigers produce a sight for sore eyes by setting up and executing a screen well. Hunter Renfrow gets a good block at the point, and the offensive linemen also give McCloud enough space to weave around for 22 yards:
The Tigers did go down the field on the touchdown to Milan Richard, a play that Jeff Scott said they drew up for Richard going in.
The Jackets are playing what looks to be quarters coverage behind two linebackers who get sucked in by the run action. The single safety has his attention on the trips receivers to the field, and the boundary corner gives Richard plenty of space to run by and make the easy catch:
The open date gave this staff a chance to take a long and constructive look at itself, and producing more explosive plays was an item on the list of desired improvements.
In the coaches' mind after Georgia Tech, the important part was that they tried a number of deep shots. They were close to connecting, and the feeling is they're on the verge of having more success on the deep balls.
One of the mistakes against Syracuse was not even trying. Though the Orange were playing a two-high safety look for the most part, there are ways to go vertical even against that structure.
As Scott said yesterday, even when you don't connect on as many deep balls as you like it's important to take those shots on a regular basis so defenses know the capability is there and have to adjust their looks accordingly.
It's important to note that Georgia Tech has been stingy at allowing big passing plays. They have yielded just 17 of 20 yards or more this season, ranking 11th nationally.
N.C. State is considerably less stingy, ranking 71st nationally with 26 allowed.
It's totally reasonable to say Clemson really needs to have some explosive plays in the passing game in Raleigh.
Doing so could go a long way toward helping the Tigers leave Carter-Finley with their playoff hopes alive.
Most folks thought the Tigers would continue rolling in their eighth game, but they found themselves in an ambush situation against an N.C. State team that was playing well and salivating for a landmark victory.
On several occasions, Clemson used explosive plays to free itself from difficult situations.
Down 13-7, here came a touchdown over the middle to Hunter Renfrow:
Down 20-19 and in danger of going into the half facing a deficit, here came a chunk play to Artavis Scott on a beautiful back-shoulder throw by Deshaun Watson:
Followed by a deep ball to Charone Peake on the very next play:
Midway through the third quarter, matters were still very much in doubt with Clemson up 33-27. And here came a deep ball to a freshman named Deon Cain:
And later, a kill shot on a double-move by Ray-Ray McCloud:
You get the idea. The feeling at the time was this offense could do just about anything it wanted, and the play-calling was fast and loose in large part because you had a generational quarterback who was in such a groove.
Another key: On all of those above throws, Watson has a clean pocket and isn't remotely threatened. That N.C. State defensive line was not the one Clemson will face Saturday.
Clemson piled up eight passing plays of 20 yards or more that Halloween day at Carter-Finley. Over the brilliant 30-game stretch in 2015 and 2016, it was the second-highest number of such plays in a game. The first? Nine passing plays of 20 yards or more against Alabama in 2015.
An interesting side note to that passing barrage against N.C. State: According to Joe Giglio of the News and Observer of Raleigh, it brought a revelation to coach Dave Doeren about the importance of size at the receiver position.
On National Signing Day a few months later, Doeren said this about his receivers: "You can't teach height or length."
Bottom line, the Wolfpack was going to have to become more imposing on the outisde if it was going to challenge Clemson and Florida State for division (and conference) supremacy.
In the 2016 class, Doeren signed six receivers or tight ends who were 6-2 or taller. Included was Kelvin Harmon (6-3, 213), who has provided a major boost to the Pack's offense this season. Harmon has 43 catches for 644 yards and is averaging 14.9 yards per catch. Add in Stephen Louis (6-2, 217) and Jakobi Meyers (6-2, 203), and N.C. State has been much more dynamic and powerful at that position.
Really, it complicates the task for defensive coordinators. Of course, the biggest objective is finding a way to limit all-around menace Jaylen Samuels (5-11, 228), who lines up just about everywhere. But now they can make you pay for devoting too much focus on him.
Consequently, the Wolfpack have become more explosive. They rank 33nd nationally in passing plays of 20 yards or more with 32. They ranked 45th in that statistic last season, 82nd in 2015 and 86th in 2014.
Shifting back to Clemson and explosive passing plays, the Tigers rank 83rd nationally in 20-plus-yard plays with just 22.
Here are their totals through eight games over the past six seasons:
2016: 38
2015: 33
2014: 38
2013: 33
2012: 37
2011: 35
The offense did show some improvement in explosive plays last week against Georgia Tech, totaling three after producing just one against Syracuse.
The Tigers also showed that you don't necessarily have to go vertical to produce an explosive play.
On the second play from scrimmage, Georgia Tech brings a six-man pressure and the corner on Cain gives him cushion. Easy throw, and Cain spins away for a 38-yard touchdown:
In the third quarter, the Tigers produce a sight for sore eyes by setting up and executing a screen well. Hunter Renfrow gets a good block at the point, and the offensive linemen also give McCloud enough space to weave around for 22 yards:
The Tigers did go down the field on the touchdown to Milan Richard, a play that Jeff Scott said they drew up for Richard going in.
The Jackets are playing what looks to be quarters coverage behind two linebackers who get sucked in by the run action. The single safety has his attention on the trips receivers to the field, and the boundary corner gives Richard plenty of space to run by and make the easy catch:
The open date gave this staff a chance to take a long and constructive look at itself, and producing more explosive plays was an item on the list of desired improvements.
In the coaches' mind after Georgia Tech, the important part was that they tried a number of deep shots. They were close to connecting, and the feeling is they're on the verge of having more success on the deep balls.
One of the mistakes against Syracuse was not even trying. Though the Orange were playing a two-high safety look for the most part, there are ways to go vertical even against that structure.
As Scott said yesterday, even when you don't connect on as many deep balls as you like it's important to take those shots on a regular basis so defenses know the capability is there and have to adjust their looks accordingly.
It's important to note that Georgia Tech has been stingy at allowing big passing plays. They have yielded just 17 of 20 yards or more this season, ranking 11th nationally.
N.C. State is considerably less stingy, ranking 71st nationally with 26 allowed.
It's totally reasonable to say Clemson really needs to have some explosive plays in the passing game in Raleigh.
Doing so could go a long way toward helping the Tigers leave Carter-Finley with their playoff hopes alive.
