Scouting Report: Clemson Tigers
Syracuse, N.Y.-- With the non-conference slate in the rearview, Syracuse begins its ACC schedule with a battle against the Clemson Tigers. Following their seventh ACC Title in the last eight seasons, Clemson comes in with a 2-2 record and both losses in conference play. The Orange are one of five teams left in the ACC with a perfect record, and have the opportunity to get revenge against a rival with a win.
Here’s what you need to know!
THE BASICS
Clemson University is an original member of the Atlantic Coast Conference when it was formed in 1953. The program has a 127-year history with 3 National Championship, 21 ACC Titles, and six undefeated seasons, including the first ever 15-0 season in 2018. Clemson earned their 12-straight 10-win seasons in 2022 after going 11-3 on the campaign. They beat UNC 39-10 in the ACC Championship game before losing in the Orange Bowl to the Tenessee Volunteers.
Head Coach Dabo Swinney is one of the most well-known coaches in all of college football. He took over a respected program in 2008 and has made Clemson a juggernaut over the last 15 years. Swinney has a 163-41 overall record with the Tigers and a 99-21 regular season conference record. His two national championships in 2016 and 2018 over Alabama make him just one of 25 coaches in history to have multiple as a head coach.
Since 2011, Clemson (142-24) is second to Alabama (151-16) with the most wins during that span. From 2015-20 when the Tigers won six-straight conference championships, Clemson went 67-5 in ACC play. That milestone is still an NCAA record for the highest win percentage.
The Tigers have come back down to Earth over the last few seasons in comparison to their domination from a few years ago. So far they find themselves battle-tested in 2023, with conference losses to Duke and Florida State last weekend in overtime. Even with those setbacks, Clemson still has the 21st-ranked offense and eighth-best defense in college football.
Even though their ultimate goal of a national championship is out of the picture, Clemson showed two years ago, after a 2-2 start, that they could turn the ship around by finishing the year 10-3. Saturday against the Orange is step one to make that happen again.
MATCHUP vs. CUSE
Clemson holds a significant lead in the all-time series, 9-2. Syracuse won the first-ever meeting between the two schools back in 1995. That season Cuse went 9-3 and 5-2 in the Big East, earning a spot in the Gator Bowl. QB Donovan McNabb led Syracuse to a statement 41-0 victory over No. 23 Clemson to finish 19th in the final AP Poll.
Since joining the ACC in 2013, Syracuse has been outscored 339-159 against Clemson. However, four of the last six meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less. Syracuse stunned the #2 Tigers in 2017 with a 27-24 win inside the JMA Wireless Dome. In 2021, kicker Andre Szmyt missed a game-tying 48 field goal with 38 seconds left in the 17-14 loss.
The stakes were high last season between the unbeatens in Death Valley. Fifth-ranked Clemson and No. 14 Syracuse played on October 22nd for SU’s biggest test of the season. Clemson opened the scoring before 21 unanswered points by the Orange, including a 91-yard scoop-and-score by Ja’Had Carter to take the lead. “The Mob” forced four turnovers, leading to DJ Uiagalelei for current starter Cade Klubnik.
Syracuse became stagnant offensively, and penalties racked up for the defense with multiple personal fouls. Clemson stormed back in the second half stemming from a season-high 293 rushing yards to win 27-21. The loss was the first of five straight losses for Syracuse, and they want to ensure that doesn’t happen again in 2023.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Will Shipley: Remember how I said Clemson had nearly 300 yards on the ground last time these teams played? That’s because it was the Will Shipley show. The 5’11 210 pound running back had 27 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns. That game wasn’t some sort of fluke.
Shipley is a Preseason All-American and became the first player ever to be First Team All-ACC at three different positions in the same season (running back, all-purpose, and specialist). The Weddington, North Carolina product had 114 rushing yards against Duke in the season opener but hasn’t finished with more than 73 in a game since. His 15 catches rank second on the team and is tied for first with three total touchdowns (one rushing, two receiving).
College Football Hall of Famer CJ Spiller has played a huge role in Shipley’s development over his college career. Now in his third season as running backs coach, Spiller also knows a thing or two about being a standout player in the Clemson backfield. Spiller and Shipley are both on the short list of players in college football history to run for 1,150 yards, 200 receiving, and 300 kick return yards in a season.
LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: Most times when your father is a former NFL All-Pro, you end up being pretty good too. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. certainly lives up to that expectation. The junior 6’0” 230 pound linebacker processes elite instincts and is a freak athlete. Trotter Jr. was a 2nd-team All-American last season in his first full season as a starter. “Axe Man Jr.” started all 14 games, compiling a team-high 92 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss (13.5), and tying the team lead with 6.5 sacks.
The former seventh-overall recruit in the 2021 class was labeled the top returning linebacker in the country, according to PFF. He was the only Power Five linebacker with 80-plus grades as a pass-rusher and in coverage, showing his versatility at the position.
During 2023, Trotter Jr. leads the team in snaps played (193), total tackles (23), tackles for loss (5), and quarterback hurries (7). Coach Swinney has produced 17 first-round draft picks since starting at Clemson, and it’s safe to say Trotter Jr. has the skills to join that list.
INTERESTING STATS
-Clemson might not have the same elite push rush we are accustomed to seeing. The Tigers had five sacks against the Orange last season, which was their highest total for a game all season. Through four games this year, Clemson has just six total, ranking them 104th in the country.
-Cade Klubnik hasn’t played to full potential so far this season. Looking at QBR across all quarterbacks in the ACC, Klubnik ranks 12th and 90th in the country at 46.8. For Syracuse, Garret Shrader is 4th in the conference and 16th in the NCAA at 82.3. The former five-star recruit has to be more efficient if Clemson wants to turn their season around.
-Shoutout to the Clemson Athletic communications staff for this one. Clemson is 7-8 all-time on September 30th. It is the only time this season where Clemson has a game that the Tigers are under .500% on that day.
-Clemson enters 2023 having earned a bowl berth in each of the last 18 seasons. That’s the longest streak in the ACC and the fifth-longest in the nation. The next highest streak in program history is seven straight from 1985-91.
WATCHING TAPE
I’ve watched Clemson against Duke and Florida State this year but thought it would make more sense to go to last year’s film against Syracuse. Coach Swinney said in his Tuesday media availability that he completely forgot about how poor the Tigers played in that game and that they were lucky to walk away with a win. Cuse’s offense was very reminiscent of their scheme this season against Purdue: let Garrett Shrader cook.
In their first half, Shrader had multiple designed run plays but also scrambled well out of the pocket and used his legs when he had to. No play was a better example than in the red zone on third down, escaping the rush and diving for the pylon to make it a 21-7 SU lead. Sean Tucker wasn’t getting his normal usage up the gut but was utilized in the passing game. I’d expect LeQuint Allen to have the most catches he’s had so far this season against the Tigers to open up more for the offense.
Clemson stuck to doing their damage in between the tackles and didn’t shy away from it. Especially after Army was able to control the game against the Syracuse front seven last week, Clemson will want to exploit that weakness as well. If defensive coordinator Rocky Long wants to stick with his base 3-3-5 defense, Syracuse will have to send their linebackers to blitz more often than they already do. Last year, DJ Uiagalelei started to have turnover troubles when pressure was coming right up the middle late in the first quarter.
In the second half, Clemson went tempo and made it impossible for Cuse to sub in reserves on the defensive line. Syracuse abandoned the run even with the lead and couldn’t find much fluidity, resulting in quick drives that made things even harder for the defense. After forcing a field goal to make it 27-21, Shrader had an impressive two-minute drill going.
Tight end Oronde Gadsden II made a catch at the 30-yard line, and on the next play, Shrader threw an interception into a tight window that ended the game. His footwork in the pocket made it seem as if he was nervous and felt pressure, forcing a throw into traffic with three defenders in the area. The Garrett Shrader I’ve seen so far this season wouldn’t make a mistake like that again.
HOW TO WATCH
Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the JMA Dome on Saturday. The game will be on ABC nationally with alum Dave Pasch calling his first Syracuse Football game at home since 2001. It will also be available on the Syracuse Sports Network Learfield, and locally on WAER 88.3 FM.
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