Clemson and South Carolina, the second-longest running rivalry (103rd straight game) in college football, will kick-off at 7:45 p.m. on ESPN Saturday night in primetime. BTW, the longest running uninterrupted college football rivalry is Wisconsin/Minnesota (105 straight games) better known as the “Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe”. Rivalry games bring out special performances from individuals that will live in the laurels of their universities’ history forever. There will be many one-on-one battles that will define the winner of this game throughout the four quarters. Here are three individual battles that will have a profound impact on the outcome of this intense in-state contest.
Phillip Price (Clemson Left Tackle) versus Melvin Ingram or Jadeveon Clowney (USC Def. End)
A quarterback’s blindside is a very integral component of any football team’s success throwing the football. Clemson’s Tajh Boyd found out last week how valuable a Left Tackle’s absence can impact a quarterback’s ability to stand in the pocket and deliver the football to his receivers. Senior Phillip Price sat out the N.C. State debacle with a sprained MCL injury to his knee suffered in the Wake Forest game. Without the stability of the former walk-on, Price, Clemson’s o-line surrendered six sacks against the Wolfpack. In the previous two games, Georgia Tech & Wake Forest, Clemson’s o-line yielded only one sack. Also Tajh Boyd’s accuracy has declined since the Tigers demolished UNC back on October 22nd. Up until the Georgia Tech game, October 29th, Boyd had thrown four interceptions in eight games. In his last three games, the sophomore quarterback has thrown six interceptions and that number could be significantly higher had opponents not dropped easy would-be-interceptions. This statistic signifies that opposing teams are getting pressure on Boyd when he drops back to pass. USC’s d-line excels in harassing the opposing quarterback this season. The defensive end combination of Ingram & Clowney will play a vital role in impeding the Clemson passing game Saturday night. Against an injured Phillip Price, USC’s pass rushing duo of Ingram & Clowney off the right side of the line of scrimmage should wreak some havoc against a limited, less-mobile Clemson left tackle. Ingram and Clowney rank one & two for Sack Leaders this season for South Carolina. It is imperative that Clowney and Ingram disrupt Boyd’s timing by forcing the Tigers quarterback out of the pocket and making it uncomfortable for Boyd to find open receivers.
Dwayne Allen (Clemson Tight End) versus Antonio Allen (USC Spur)
My second most pivotal battle will involve two Allen(s): Clemson’s Tight End Dwayne Allen & USC’s Spur Antonio Allen. In the first eight games, Allen compiled 33 receptions (four receptions/game), 432 receiving yards (54 yards receiving/game) and five touchdowns. Over the last three games, the junior tight end’s production has dropped dramatically with only 11 receptions (3.6 receptions/game), 108 receiving yards (36 receiving yards/game) and zero touchdowns. Last week against NC State, Allen only recorded three receptions for 18 yards. One of those receptions covered 16 yards, so his other two catches netted Allen a total of two yards! USC’s Antonio Allen has been rock solid at the Spur position during his senior campaign. The Ocala, FL native leads the team in tackles with 74 while recording three interceptions. The USC Pass defense suffered tremendously in the loss at Arkansas when Antonio Allen sat out the game with a neck injury. His replacement, Damario Jeffery, was exposed for multiple touchdown receptions by Razorbacks’ receivers. Antonio Allen will need to be at his best Saturday night because the depth behind him is young, inexperienced (redshirt freshman Sharrod Golightly) or injured (Damario Jeffery). Clemson’s tight end Dwayne Allen is Boyd’s security blanket, and if USC’s Antonio Allen can negate the big tight end’s role on Saturday night then USC’s chances for victory increase exponentially.
Sammy Watkins (Clemson Wide Receiver) versus Stephon Gilmore (USC Cornerback)
Clemson freshman wide receiver has exploded onto the college football scene this year. The Florida native has compiled 69 receptions (6.9 receptions/game), 1,040 yards (104 yards/game) and ten touchdowns. Watkins is blazing fast and a very physical wide receiver. Watkins injured his shoulder against Wake Forest and did not participate in the NC State game. Without Watkins, the Clemson wide receiving corps is very pedestrian. Watkins will impact the passing game for Clemson because opposing teams will have to respect his speed to stretch the field deep. In the last two games, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest, Watkins had 15 receptions, 221 receiving yards and one touchdown. NC State was able to zero in on Tajh Boyd because the Wolfpack did not respect the other elements of the Clemson passing game without Watkins. Watkins will make a difference in the USC game if his shoulder holds up. USC’s Stephon Gilmore is a fast, physical cornerback. Gilmore likes to play man-to-man and “body up” his wide receiver opponent. The key for Gilmore to win more one-on-one match-ups is to disrupt Watkins at the LOS (line of scrimmage) and force Watkins out of his timing running his route. This factor will aid the USC d-line in hopefully getting to Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, as Watkins is probably the pre-snap passing option for Boyd. Gilmore cannot allow Watkins to get off the LOS without jamming the freshman wide receiver. If Watkins is allowed to run free from the LOS, then USC’s secondary is in for a long night and Boyd & Watkins will play pitch & catch all night long. Gilmore has recorded 41 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass break-ups on the season. IMHO, the junior from Rock Hill, SC will see several opportunities to increase those statistics on Saturday night.
Clemson is a pass first, run second offensive team. If South Carolina can control the Tigers passing game then USC wins a double digit game. The three elements I just previewed will influence the outcome of Saturday night’s game tremendously.
My next blog will be Friday when I reveal my five keys to a USC victory.
Go Gamecocks!
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