Miami Comes to Death Valley: Can Clemson Shock the World?

Miami Comes to Death Valley: Can Clemson Shock the World?

Jacob Donald – I Bleed Orange Sports Network

Well, well, well Tiger fans. We have finally made it to a time where Clemson football feels like it has something real brewing.

It is Week 5 and our Tigers are 3-1. Clemson is undefeated in ACC play, we still control our own destiny, and after beating Cal and UNC in back to back weeks, this team has finally started to find a rhythm.

And now?

We get Miami.

The No. 4 team in the country is coming into Death Valley.

Mannnn, what a game this is going to be.

After that brutal 51-10 loss to LSU in Week 1, there were a lot of questions about this Clemson team. The offensive line struggled, the offense could not run the football and everything seemed to be put on the shoulders of true freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds.

But over the last two weeks, something has changed.

Clemson has finally found a running game, and it starts with future star Gideon Davidson. And when I say STAR, I mean STAR.

Davidson has given this offense something it desperately needed. He has been making plays on the ground and, just as importantly, has taken some pressure off Tait.

The offensive line has also started to figure some things out. Grant Wise, Easton Ware, Collin Sadler and Brayden Jacobs have all started playing better football, and that has allowed Clemson to become much more balanced.

That is going to be extremely important against Miami.

And speaking of Tait, I think we all know where Clemson stands at quarterback now.

Tait is our guy.

No more splitting reps with Christopher Vazzina.

We have won two ACC games with Tait at quarterback and he has started to find his rhythm. At this point, you have to roll with it.

Tait has a very high ceiling. He has the bigger arm, he is a much better athlete and you can see the talent every time he gets outside the pocket.

But he is also a true freshman.

There are going to be mistakes. There are going to be moments where he looks like a freshman. That is part of the process.

The more reps he gets, the better he is going to become.

Now comes the biggest test yet.

Miami.

The Hurricanes are ranked No. 4 in the country and are absolutely rolling.

Mario Cristobal has this Miami team loaded. They revamped the offense by bringing in Duke standout quarterback Darian Mensah. They have Malachi Toney, arguably the best receiver in the country, and Mark Fletcher Jr. at running back.

They have talent everywhere.

Mannnn, they have dudes.

But here is the thing.

So does Clemson.

And this is where Clemson's defense has to show us what it really is.

The Tiger defense under Tom Allen has easily been the brightest spot on this team all season. They have played fast, physical football and have made plays when Clemson has needed them.

Aston Hampton has been ELITE. He has looked like one of the best corners in the country and is going to have a major job Saturday night.

Eliot Washington has also stepped up in a huge way, coming up with game sealing interceptions in back to back ACC games.

Will Heldt has continued to be a physical force up front, while Sammy Brown has been flying all over the field making tackle after tackle.

Now they get their biggest challenge of the season.

And that brings us to the biggest question.

Did Clemson actually get better?

Did the Tigers really find something after that LSU beatdown?

Or did we just beat two ACC teams in Cal and UNC that Clemson had more talent than? We are about to find out.

Saturday night.

7:30.

Death Valley.

Miami.

Clemson.

This is why you play college football.

And believe it or not Tiger fans, Clemson has a real chance in this game.

There is something different about a night game in Death Valley, especially when Dabo Swinney is an underdog.

Miami is a great football team. They have talent everywhere and had an incredible run last season.

But let's remember something.

Miami has never won the ACC.

Not once.

Even last year, they did not make the ACC Championship Game.

They have all the talent in the world, but now they have to walk into Death Valley and take down Clemson in its own house.

So what does Clemson have to do?

Run the Football

I am not asking Gideon Davidson to run for eight yards every time he touches the ball. That is not realistic against this Miami defense.

But Clemson has to get three or four yards.

You cannot constantly be sitting in second and eight, second and nine and third and long. That puts way too much pressure on Tait.

Let Davidson run. Let the offensive line get some confidence and keep Miami honest. If Clemson can establish even a decent running game, it changes the entire offense.

Win at the Line of Scrimmage

This might be the biggest key of the game.

The offensive line has to continue playing the way it has the last couple weeks. Get push, open lanes and protect Tait.

But it goes both ways.

Clemson's defensive line has to get after Darian Mensah.

If Mensah sits in the pocket all night with all day to throw, it could be a long night in the Valley. Make him move. Make him uncomfortable. Make him make difficult throws.

Do Not Let Malachi Toney Beat You

I am serious.

Do whatever you have to do.

Double him. Bracket him. Make somebody else beat you.

Miami has too many weapons to completely shut down, but you cannot let Toney take over the game.

Stop the run and make Mensah beat you with somebody else.

Can he do it?

We will find out.

Get Tait Comfortable

Give Tait easy throws early.

Slants. Curls. Quick throws.

Get the ball into the hands of your playmakers and let the kid settle into the game. Then let Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore do what they do.

Those two guys are as talented as anybody in the country. Get them the football and put them in space.

If Clemson can run the football, protect Tait, pressure Mensah, limit Toney and get Wesco and T.J. Moore involved, this game could get very interesting.

At the end of the day, Miami is filled with talent. There are dudes all over that roster who are going to play on Sundays.

But Clemson has dudes too.

Wesco.

T.J. Moore.

Sammy Brown.

Will Heldt.

Aston Hampton.

Eliot Washington.

This team has enough talent to make this interesting. Now they have to go out there and prove it.

Because this is Death Valley.

The lights are coming on.

The crowd is going to be rocking.

The most exciting 25 seconds in college football is waiting.

And Dabo Swinney has another opportunity to remind everybody what Clemson football is all about.

Miami is coming into the Valley.

Let's see what happens when they walk into Death Valley.

Shock the world, Tiger fans. GO TIGERS!