Why Clemson Will Win The Sugar Bowl
– So what’s Ohio State’s real issue, beyond just not having all of the personnel on the field? Start with what’s really different from 2019 – not having Chase Young around is a problem.
The Ohio State pass rush is able to generate decent pressure, but Young had 16.5 sacks in 12 games of service last season. Ohio State as a team has 17 sacks in six games averaging over one fewer sack per game. Again, this is hardly a horrible Buckeye pass rush, but Clemson doesn’t give up enough sacks to matter and it’s not bad at keeping the overall plays in the backfield to a minimum.
– Justin Fields has to outplay Trevor Lawrence. Few times has one college football player had more pressure on his shoulders to perform in the biggest of games.
Last year Fields had one interception going into the epic Fiesta Bowl against Clemson. He threw two picks, closing out with the haunting one in the end zone to seal the Tiger victory.
He’s still hitting the big plays down the field, and – sorry to keep bringing this up, but it matters – he was missing Chris Olave in Big Ten Championship and other parts throughout the season, but he has given up five interceptions over the last three games, forced a few bad plays in the win over Indiana, and struggled way too much against Northwestern.
Trevor Lawrence will be fantastic. The narrative is about Fields playing in his redemption game, but Lawrence is looking to play better, too, after struggling a bit – by his ridiculously high standards – in the two College Football Playoff games.
Throw in the mobility – Lawrence ran for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Buckeyes; Fields was held to 13 yards – and add in the two picks from Fields, and Clemson won the quarterback battle and the game the last time around.
And Trevor Lawrence wasn’t Trevor Lawrence.
– The pressure from the Clemson defensive front will be on Fields all game long. It might not seem like it considering all the amazing defensive lines Clemson has had over the last decade, but this has been the most productive pass rushing front in the Dabo Swinney era – at least when it comes to raw stats.
No Tiger D under Swinney has averaged four sacks per game until this one. This group is consistent, it comes from all sides, and it has enough of the key parts in place lock Fields in the pocket and – like last year – keep him form making plays on the move.