Virginia
Virginia switched to a spread option offense under Urban Meyer protégé Greg Brandon, but the offense resembles more of the 4 WR spread with option running plays rather than Florida’s single-wing spread option under Urban Meyer.
The offense is directed by Jamelle Sewell, who is nursing a tender shoulder and may not be able to play on Saturday. Back-up QB Mark Verica is out with a concussion suffered in the Miami game, which may force Groh to turn to freshman Riko Small.
Sewell is completing 53% of his passes for 6 TDs and 7 INTs this year, and his favorite targets are Kris Burd and Vic Hall who have combined for 46 catches and 2 TDs. The running game is a mix of Sewell, who leads the team in carries with 109, and running backs Rashawn Jackson and Mikell Simpson, who have combined for 135 carries and 706 yards.
The offensive line, which is usually pretty stout under Groh, has allowed an ACC high 32 sacks. Mainboarder Luke Bowanko (#70) is redshirting this season.
Clemson
The Tigers run a pro-style offense under Dabo Swinney and Billy Napier and like to get the ball in the hands of their tight ends and running backs over their wide receivers. Clemson's 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 54% of his passes, but the redshirt freshmen has looked much sharper in recent weeks, culminating in his best game of the season last week against NCSU.
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 - especially Dye, who has become Ford and Spiller’s favorite target in Halfback and WR-pass plays after hauling in a TD pass from each this season.
Thomas Austin is nursing a sprained ankle and is listed as probable for Saturday’s game. Austin will definitely give it a go in his final home game, but expect Mason Cloy to see a lot of playing time at OG as well.
QB - Advantage Clemson
OL –Advantage Clemson
RB - Advantage Clemson
TE/WR – Advantage Clemson
Overall Offense - Advantage Clemson
Defense
Virginia
The Hoos use a base 3-4 defense under head coach and defensive coordinator Al Groh, but Groh doesn’t bring as much pressure as is typically seen out of a 3-4 system.
The front-three is led by a legitimate werewolf at DE, Nate Collins, who is the most talented defensive lineman the Tigers have faced since seeing Derrick Morgan and Jerry Hughes. The line features a lot of beef but isn’t to be feared outside of Collins.
The linebackers are also big with the OLBers tipping the scales at 255 pounds, but again isn’t a unit that is going to strike fear into an opposing offensive coordinator otherwise.
Virginia’s secondary is the best unit on the entire team and is led by Ras-I Dowling, who many scouts consider to be a potential 1st Round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Chris Cook and Brandon Woods are also very solid players in the Cavalier secondary.
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 DTs Jarvis Jenkins and Brandon Thompson and also DE Ricky Sapp, who tops the Tigers with 4 sacks. DaQuan Bowers is listed as probable for Saturday’s game after missing the last 2 contests with a sprained knee.
Clemson's weakest spot defensively is at linebacker, but against a team that features 4 WR like UVa you can expect Steele to play a lot of nickel. Kavell Conner and Kevin Alexander have both quietly had impressive seasons, and the impact that Alexander has had as a hybrid DE/LB, especially with Cooper’s inconsistent play and Bower’s injury, should be applauded.
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, and Byron Maxwell has come on extremely strong and is playing better than Chris Chancellor, in my opinion.
DL - Advantage Clemson
LB - Advantage Clemson
DB - Advantage Clemson
Overall Defense - Big Advantage Clemson
Special Teams
Virginia
The Cavaliers are last in the ACC in kickoff returns. Punter Jimmy Howell nets an average of 40.5 yards per kick, while kicker Robert Randolph is having an All-ACC caliber season, connecting on all but 2 kicks this season.
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 39.7 yards per kick, while the Clemson kicking game is currently in complete shambles after imploding the last 2 games.
Kick Return - Big Advantage Clemson
Punt Return - Big Advantage Clemson
Punting – Slight Advantage UVA
Kicking – Big Advantage UVA
Overall Special Teams - Advantage Clemson
Closing Thoughts
Virginia has a solid defense, in fact in the same league with Miami and Wake Forest and perhaps slightly better, but the offense has been a train wreck this season, and overall UVA is the 2nd worst team in the ACC behind Maryland.
The only way that this game is an upset in my opinion is if Clemson starts uncharacteristically coughing up the ball in its own territory, giving the Hoos easy scoring chances.
I expect the Clemson defense to limit their offense to less than 2 TDs, and our offense to benefit from a bunch of three and outs by the defense and to cash in on the resulting great field position.
I expect that Tigers to be jacked on Senior Day and to collect their 1st Atlantic Division crown in runaway fashion.
Shout-out to CJ Spiller, Jacoby Ford, Michael Palmer, Thomas Austin, Ricky Sapp, Karvell Conner, Kevin Alexander, Chris Chancellor, Crezdon Butler, Sadat Chambers, Corey Lambert and all the other Tigers running down the hill for the final time. Thanks for the memories!
Clemson 34 - Virginia 10
No comments:
Post a Comment