Clemson - NC State Preview

Offense

North Carolina State

NC State utilizes a pro-style offense under Dana Bible and focuses a lot of attention on working the ball to the TEs and RBs. NCSU uses a lot more of the field vertically than FSU. Bible's offense is directed by dual-threat QB, Russell Wilson who leads a balanced attack that throws and runs at almost the exact same clip (49% to 51% run to pass). Wilson completes roughly 60% of his attempts focusing a lot of attention on TE George Bryant who has 35 catches for 6 TDs and WR Jarvis Williams and Owen Spence who combine for 53 catches and 10 TDs.



State's running game is led by Toney Baker who averages over 5 YPG, but the real wildcard is the running ability of Russell Wilson who has picked-up large chunks of yardage with his legs both on designed runs and scrambling when the pocket collapses.

Clemson

The Tigers run a pro-style offense under Dabo Swinney and Billy Napier, and like NCSU get the balls in the hands of their tight ends and running backs over their wide receivers. Clemson offense is balanced (55% to 45% run to pass) and leans heavily on Heisman Trophy candidate C.J. Spiller and emerging playmaker Andre Ellington to grind out yards on the ground.

Kyle Parker comes in to the game completing 53% of his passes, but the redshirt freshmen has looked much sharper in recent weeks with the emergence of Michael Palmer and Dwayne Allen as primary targets.

Clemson's WR are still a liability outside of speedster, Jacoby Ford, but both Xavier Dye and Terrence Ashe have improved their level of play in recent weeks.

The Tigers have played much better offensively in recent weeks and will need to maintain that high-level of play on the road in Raleigh.



QB - Advantage NCSU
OL – Push to Slight Advantage Clemson
RB - Advantage Clemson
WR - Advantage NCSU

Overall Offense - Advantage NCSU

Defense

North Carolina State

The Pack use a base 4-2-5 defense under Mike Archer that is similar to Vic Koenning’s scheme last year at Clemson. NCSU bring more pressure than Clemson brought under Koenning, but the base defense is similar.

The front-four is the strongest component of their defense led by SR defensive end, Willie Young and SR defensive tackle, Michael Allen-Cash. The Pack have had success stopping the run, but it isn’t a unit that will strike fear into the opposing team.

The back 7 has been hit hard by injuries (Nate Irving, Ryan Cheek, Ray Micheal, Javon Walker, Rashaad Smith) and is lacking in both talent and experience. The Wolfpack play 3 SO linebackers and 3 FR in the secondary and teams have routinely gashed this group both on the ground and through the air.

Clemson

Clemson uses a 4-3 with a base 1-Robber Man or base Cover-2 Man, but Kevin Steele likes to mix in more fronts and bring a variety of pressure.

Clemson is stacked on the defensive line led up the middle by DT's Jarvis Jenkins and Brandon Thompson and Ricky Sapp who tops the Tigers with 4 sacks, but DaQuan Bowers will be out again this week with a knee injury.




Clemson's weakest spot defensively is at linebacker, but Steele's plays a lot of nickle bringing in an extra DB. A key for the Tigers will be keeping Wilson in check in the running game and place that Clemson has issues with in losses to TCU and Maryland.

The defensive backs are led by safety DeAndre McDaniel who is first in the nation in interceptions with 8. Crezdon Butler has prospered in the switch from zone to man defense under Steele, but Chris Chancellor has struggled a bit giving up some chunk plays. Back-up CB, Byron Maxwell has really elevated his play in recent weeks.

The biggest issue defensively will be whether or not the defense comes to play on the road. The defense has been outstanding at home, but hasn’t performed up to their capabilities on the road.



DL - Big Advantage Clemson
LB - Advantage Clemson
DB - Big Advantage Clemson

Overall Defense - Big Advantage Clemson

Special Teams

North Carolina State

The Pack are average at kick and punt returns especially with T.J Graham out with a leg injury. Punter, Jeff Ruiz nets an average of 38.8 yards per kick while kicker, Josh Czajkowski is very good having nailed 16 of 19 FG and 100% of his extra points.

Clemson

Clemson has returned 5 kicks for TDs including 3 KOs and 1 PR, by the best return man in the nation in C.J. Spiller. Most teams have started kicking away from Spiller giving Clemson excellent field position as a result.

Punter, Dawson Zimmerman nets an average of 40 yards per kick while Clemson kicking game is currently a mess after imploding during the Florida State game. Spence Benton will start over Richard Jackson.

Kick Return - Big Advantage Clemson
Punt Return - Big Advantage Clemson
Punting - Push
Kicking – Advantage NCSU

Overall Special Teams - Big Advantage Clemson

Closing Thoughts

NCSU is a mirror image of FSU with good offenses and bad defenses. NCSU has a better DL, while FSU has a better OL (R.J Mattes and Danzelle Good are out for NCSU), so this should be a similar game to last week and might actually be a bit tougher considering it is on the road.

The scariest part of this game is going on the road following a big win at home and coming out flat, but Clemson's offense has improved and their defense has been phyical while creating momentum changing plays, which bodes well for the Tigers avoiding a letdown.

If the Tigers avoid a letdown out of the gate and play up to their potential then the game will not be close, but if Clemson plays down to the competition and it will give the Pack a chance to win the game late.

I think the game will be close until the Tiger’s pull away in the 4th quarter due to superior depth across the depth chart.

Clemson 31 - NCSU 21