Miami vs Clemson: Four Questions That Help Determine the Winner
Article photo of Miami kicker Andres Borregales; credit to Brian Smith.
The Miami Hurricanes and Clemson Tigers will battle inside of Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night. Both of these squads possess big-time players like Miami’s James Williams and Clemson’s Will Shipley that can change a game with a single play.
There’s also the statistics for both football teams that show how each can be dominant. This game will still come down to a few basic scenarios like turnovers that each college football game does, plus the following four questions being prime factors as well.
1) Miami or Clemson plays better special teams?
The biggest difference between the two teams would be with the field goal kickers. Do not forget point, and here's why. Miami has Andres Borregales. He’s one of the nation’s best field goal kickers, going 10 of 11 from his field goal attempts this season.
Meanwhile, Clemson kicker Jonathan Weitz is just 3 of 6 on the year, including a huge miss versus Florida State towards the end of regulation. Miami holds a decided edge between the two field goal kickers. Then, there's the other key aspects of the kicking game.
The hidden yardage game with net punting, kickoff returns, and not committing bad penalties when a return man hits a big play during a punt or kickoff return.
This could be a game where one team is solid while the other squad simply makes that one gigantic error like a block in the back penalty that has nothing to do with the actual return man’s running lane. That yellow flag laying on the ground can take six points off the board – or at least eliminate enviable field position – in a heartbeat.
2) The quarterback that’s more accurate on third downs will be?
Looking back at each team’s six games prior, Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik can each be a big-time passer. Consistency is the question.
Sometimes Van Dyke gets too greedy and throws late down the middle. For Klubnik, he’s just the opposite. Clemson is not a team that throws down the field often enough and the passing game can be pedestrian at times.
Each signal caller will be going against fast and aggressive defensive units. It starts with making good decisions about where to throw the football. Then, it’s either Van Dyke or Klubnik that makes the money throws on third downs, even against a good pass rush, that changes the scoreboard and helps dictate the winner.
3) Which offensive line pass protects the best?
To bring point No. 1 to fruition, the offensive lines must be ready for really good defensive fronts that challenge quarterbacks. Miami has several talented defensive ends like Rueben Bain, Jr. and Nyjalik Kelly among others, and Clemson has plenty of speed and athleticism up front as well, including defensive ends TJ Parker and Xavier Thomas.
It might only be two or three additional plays that Van Dyke or Klubnik receives top-notch pass protection. Those extra moments to scan the football field and allow wide receivers, tight ends and running backs to get open could very well be the difference in the outcome.
4) Both teams will try to run the football, but which football team will be more effective with first down runs to set up manageable second down situations?
Four yards. That’s the bare minimum a team wants to gain during a first down run to set up manageable second down situations.
Look for Miami’s Henry Parrish, Jr. and Clemson’s Will Shipley to receive the most carries for each team, and the running back – and offensive line that helps set him up – that provides more consistency to be the offense with a leg up in this contest.
This is especially true during the third and fourth quarters when defensive lines are tired from the constant body blows. Van Dyke and Klubnik will be far better and could even put up big numbers if their rushing attacks get stronger as the game moves along. That starts with first down rushing success.
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