Tiger offense will have their hands full against Aggies

The No. 1 Clemson Tigers may have a limited history with this week's opponent — the No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies — with Saturday's game (3:30 p.m., ABC) being only the sixth meeting between the two schools.

CLEMSON — The No. 1 Clemson Tigers may have a limited history with this week's opponent — the No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies — with Saturday's game (3:30 p.m., ABC) being only the sixth meeting between the two schools.

But they are very familiar with their head coach, former Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, and their defensive coordinator Mike Elko, formerly at Wake Forest.

"Obviously have a lot of respect for them, a very good program," co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said. "Very strong defense, their defensive coordinator Mike Elko is one of the best in the business. We played him several years at Wake Forest, 2014 to '16, and then obviously last year Texas A&M. They finished the year last year third in the country in rush defense. I know after one game, they're No. 6 in the country in rush defense already. 

"So, they do a really good job upfront. Put a lot of pressure on your offensive line and tight ends. They are very long and athletic, can run. They've had to replace a few guys on that front seven, but very talented guys."

It is not only their front seven that has Scott concerned, it is also a secondary that according to the coaching staff is the best one they will face all season.

"The other thing that stands out is their secondary is one of the best we will play all year. Very long," Scott said. "Their top five corners are all 6-2, 6-3 — so very long, athletic guys that will challenge you. So, that will be a big matchup for us going into the game. But our guys are excited and I think we're ready to get into the routine of normal game week and ready to put all our focus on A&M.

"They're going to be a group that can challenge us and we're going to have to play with great technique and work on our releases. Because they are physical and long, they can really run and it will really be huge matchup in this game."

The Tigers and the Aggies both won their opening games of the 2019 season, the Tigers by a 52-14 margin over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Aggies beating up on Texas State by a final score of 41-7. However, according to Scott, the Tigers' advantage lies in who they played and not the score of the game.

"There's no doubt we're playing one of the best teams on our schedule, right here, early on," Scott said. "I think the fact that we were able to open up with a conference opponent Game 1, and I think we know a little more about ourselves after Game 1. Obviously, we're still early in the year. There's no doubt that's an advantage for us."

Last season, Tiger starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence played very sparingly in the game at College Station — as former Tiger quarterback Kelly Bryant played the majority of the game.

But Scott does not expect for Elko's defense to be anything other than who they are this week, even when facing a Heisman Trophy candidate, a pressure team that will look to confuse the sophomore and cause him to make quick decisions.

"Trevor didn't play a whole lot in that game, if you really go back and watch it. He just got thrown in there a few series kind of early in his freshman year," Scott said. "I think they played us very similar to how Coach Elko's played us in the past. Whenever he was at Wake Forest, they liked to bring a little more pressure whenever they play us and try and get the ball out. I think they've got a really good secondary that they feel confident in the back end.

"I expect them to be very confident in their defense and come in and be who they are. It's going to come down to the fundamentals: blocking and tackling, and throwing and catching and defending pass and all those things."