Welcome to the first edition of Paws Up, Paws Down. The Tigers defeated Georgia Tech by a score of 52-14 last Thursday night to begin the season 1-0. Let’s take a look at some of the good and bad from the season opener.
Paws Up: Clemson’s defense is still elite
Much of the talk about Clemson this past offseason regarded the replacement of the defensive talent that was all moving onto the NFL. Gone are the likes of Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, Austin Bryant and Trayvon Mullen, and in come former backups like Xavier Thomas, Justin Foster, Niles Pickney and Freshman Tyler Davis. The secondary returned Tanner Muse and K’Von Wallace, so much of the talk resided on the defensive front. Well, the Tigers recorded three sacks and held Georgia Tech to 157 rushing yards. The new defense obviously has some rust from the offseason, but we give it a check for week one. Kellen Mond and Texas A&M will provide a greater challenge this weekend, however.
Paws Down: Trevor Lawrence’s quiet night
There is no reason for any Clemson fan or media member to hit the overreaction button after Trevor Lawrence’s rough start against the Yellow Jackets. The sophomore did have an unusual night, finishing just 13-for-23 with 168 yards and one touchdown. Lawrence also threw two interceptions, one that puzzled every fan watching. Although Lawrence did not have the explosive game fans are used to seeing out of him now, there does not seem to be a reason to be worried. Week one is a time for players to dust off the cobwebs and get used to playing outside competition again. Keep in mind that Lawrence has not been hit by a defender since January; he is going to be just fine heading into this weekend’s matchup against the Aggies.
Paws Up: Travis Etienne’s big night
Although Lawrence had a quiet night, his running back Travis Etienne was there to pick up the slack. Etienne rushed for 205 yards on just 12 carries (yes, you read that correctly), and the junior scored three of Clemson’s five touchdowns on the ground. Etienne continues to emerge as the nation’s best running back and will be a potential Heisman Trophy finalist once December rolls around as long as he keeps producing at the current level of efficiency. Having a weapon like Etienne is a blessing for Head Coach Dabo Swinney, and Thursday night was the biggest example why. While Lawrence was struggling to connect with receivers, Etienne stepped in and dominated the Tech defense by himself. His 90-yard score in the first quarter tied the longest run by any Clemson player ever.
Paws Down: Penalties and turnovers
Clemson committed six penalties for 43 yards and turned the ball over three times against the Yellow Jackets. Yes, it was week one, but that is very uncharacteristic of a team that focuses on clean play and keeping possession of the ball. Two of the turnovers were just lousy plays; Etienne fumbling the ball and Lawrence forcing a downfield throw that did not need to be made. The Tigers will need to clean that up this weekend against Texas A&M.
Paws Up: The turnout by Clemson fans for a Thursday night game
It should not come as a surprise, but Death Valley was alive and well for a Thursday night game, something the stadium had not seen in six years. A raucous crowd met the Tigers when they ran down The Hill and kept the energy throughout most of the game. The student section, including The Hill, was pretty full 30 minutes before kickoff. Much of the crowd did file out in the second half to get back home earlier, but for a Thursday night kickoff in August, Clemson fans get an A+ on showing up. It was an incredible atmosphere for the defending champs.
Paws Down: The Fourth Quarter Video
Maybe this is a little harsh, but the fourth quarter video this year stands in the shadow of last year’s video. It might be because of the introduction of Strength Coach Joey Batson’s now-famed spill about championship rings last year, but it just did not seem to get the crowd amped like in recent times. Maybe it was the fourth-quarter blowout; maybe it was because the game was on a Thursday night instead of Saturday. Nevertheless, it was still a fourth-quarter video that was good overall. It should come to circle this weekend in a more riled-up environment.
Overall, a great first week for the Tigers. Not one person should complain about a 38-point win over their cross-division rivals. Bring on the Aggies.
