Clemson Tigers Aim to Bounce Back in Week Two
Clemson, SC - Do not give up on this Clemson Tigers team just yet. It was the first game of the season against the number-one team in College Football. Georgia was expected to win the game, maybe by not as much as they won by, but still the clear favorites. The race to go to Charlotte at the end of the season is still very much attainable. With Florida State and Virginia Tech both losing in their season openers, the ACC is open for the taking. The Miami Hurricanes do look like the team to beat in the conference, after destroying the Gators in the Swamp. NC State defeated Western Carolina in a rather ugly game but still finished victorious. They have a tough matchup against Tennessee this upcoming weekend, and they have a chance to pull off a major upset. All in all, the Tigers haven’t started conference play so they will have time to fix what is needed before the more important games begin.
The Tigers were highlighted by players such as Antonio Williams, Wade Woodaz, and Peter Woods. Antonio Williams is the clear number-one receiver on this team. He finished with six receptions for 76 yards, averaging 12.7 yards per catch. A good portion of those yards came from a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch along the sideline while being swarmed by star corner, Daylen Everette. With the run game struggling to come along, Williams was a bright spot on the Tigers’ offense. The offensive line took a step in the right direction, as well. They limited the Bulldogs’ defense to just two sacks but couldn’t get enough of a push to get Phil Mafah going.
Wade Woodaz is a name a lot of people are unfamiliar with but is an exceptional linebacker. Woodaz finished with a team-high, eight tackles, and had one tackle-for-loss. He stepped up big time as Barrett Carter did not have his best performance. Woodaz was flying all over the field and his freak athleticism is an important trait that will prepare him to have a crucial role on this defense. Speaking of freak athleticism, Peter Woods was the only Tiger to record a sack. Woods finished with six total tackles, two and a half of them were tackles-for-loss. Woods and Woodaz are going to be highlighted figures on this top-ranked defense.
A key for the Tigers in next week’s game against App State is to get the ball to your freshman wide receivers. Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore hardly saw the field against Georgia. In the 52 total offensive plays, Wesco only played 12 snaps while Moore played six snaps. Meanwhile, Cole Turner played 29 snaps and only recorded one catch for one yard. Troy Stellato logged 19 snaps and didn’t even record a target. The entire game, the WR core struggled to get separation from the Georgia defense. Jake Briningstool is a weapon that needs to be unleashed and I am confident that he will be, it’s just going to take more time than what was expected.
Week Two is of utmost importance as you take on the “giant killers” of App State. A little info nugget, Garrett Riley, the Offensive Coordinator of the Clemson Tigers, used to be the running back’s coach at App State. This isn’t a “revenge” game by any means but there is a familiarity with the program. With the ACC Huddle in attendance, the Tigers will have primetime coverage on the ACC network. It is the perfect time to make a statement and rebuild that sense of confidence that you are the better team, no matter who you face.
