By Russ Brown
NKyTribune correspondent
LOUISVILLE — The Louisville-Clemson prime time showdown Saturday night in Death Valley shapes up as the proverbial irresistible force versus the immovable object, the former being Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson, the latter the Tigers’ stingy defense.
“Something will have to give one way or another,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says.
Which aspect prevails will likely go a long way toward determining the outcome of the huge game, with the winner getting the inside track for the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Atlantic Division championship and the league’s title game along with bolstered hopes for a spot in the College Football Playoff spot.
Kickoff is at 8:22 p.m. on ABC. Louisville is currently a two-point favorite despite Clemson playing at home.
With the dynamic Jackson at the helm, No. 3/4 Louisville’s explosive offense is averaging 63.5 points per game, a figure that would be an NCAA record if the season ended today, and also leads the nation in total offense at 682 yards per game, yards per play (9.03) and yards per rush (7.81), is third in rushing offense (318.3) and 10th in passing (363.8).
Jackson, the elusive, strong-armed sophomore, has accounted for 25 touchdowns, which is more than just one TEAM in the FBS (Michigan has 28). He leads the country in scoring at 18.0 ppg and total offense (464.0 ypg), is eighth in rushing (131.5 ypg), 12th in passing (332.5 ypg) and third in yards per completion (18.0)
As for Jackson, the elusive, strong-armed sophomore has accounted for 25 touchdowns, which is more than just one TEAM in the FBS (Michigan has 28). He leads the country in scoring at 18.0 ppg and total offense (464.0 ypg), is eighth in rushing (131.5 ypg), 12th in passing (332.5 ypg) and third in yards per completion (18.0).
“He’s Michael Vick, right-handed,” says Swinney. “It’s going to be a huge, huge challenge, as big a challenge as we’ve had around here. I mean, he’s a great player, capable of impacting the game on any snap. He’s one of those hold-your-breath guys when he touches it because he’s got the ability to change the game or impact the game on one play.”
However, No. 3/5 Clemson’s defense will be the best the Cards have faced. The Tigers rank third in total defense, allowing just 218.5 yards per game, 11th in scoring (11.0 ppg), third in pass defense (12.8 yg) and 15th in rushing defense (92.8 ypg). The Tigers are also second nationally in pass efficiency defense (78.44) and yards per play allowed (3.41).
UofL coach Bobby Petrino is especially impressed with Clemson’s defensive line, which checks in at an average of 6-4 1/2, 305 pounds and has helped the Tigers record 3.25 sacks per game, which is 13th in the FBS.
“They’re very physical up front,” Petrino says. “They’ve got big guys. They’ll be the biggest defensive ends we’ve played, or probably will play, the entire year. Their linebackers are smart and they do a lot of things as far as defending plays and defending motions and schemes. Wo we have to make sure we do a good job blocking the front and take our shots and throw the ball deep.”
Of course, in beating Auburn, Troy, South Carolina State and Georgia Tech, Clemson’s defenders haven’t faced anything even remotely resembling Jackson. Not that they seem particularly worried.
In a video interview on TigerNet.com this week, Clemson safety Jadar Johnson said he believes Clemson’s defense is strong enough that corraling Jackson won’t be “much of a challenge” and added that if Jackson tries to hurdle a defender as he did at Syracuse, “I’m going to slam him.”
“That’s No. 8?” Johnson said when asked about Jackson on the video. “I don’t really feel like we have to step out of our element or jump up another notch to stop him. We have the tools and have the skill set to limit him, and I don’t really see any worries with him.
“Not saying he isn’t a good player. He’s definitely a good player. I haven’t really seen a quarterback as versatile as him, but I feel like we have a pretty good defense. So (with) just my confidence in the defense and us as a whole unit, I don’t think it’ll be much of a challenge.”
Said defensive end Clelin Ferrell was a little more reserved, but not much.
“Seeing them do the things they’re doing so far, it’s crazy the numbers they’re putting up,” Ferrell said. “But we’ve got some competitors on our side, so it’s more that we can’t wait to get our chance against them. It’ll show how good we are.”
Naturally, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is much less dismissive of the dangers Jackson presents.
“He’s got a special skill set in both his running and his throwing ability, and his ability to improvise and extend plays can create a lot of problems,” Venables says. “You can do everything right and still be wrong. You can live with that if it happens, but you can’t stress about those kind of things.
“You can only prepare for what you know you’re going to see, or anticipate seeing, and give your guys the best possible plan to win. There’s only so much you can do. This is a guy who doesn’t give you a lot of margin for error. I’m not sure there’s a great plan on how to defend him, but we’ll see.”
Louisville is no slouch on defense itself, allowing just 278.5 yards per game to rank 13th in the FBS in total defense and 11th in sacks (3.75 per game), and Clemson’s struggles with its running game should give the Cards even more confidence. The Tigers are 85th in rushing at 159.5 ypg and running back Wayne Gallman, who averaged 5.40 ypg last year, is only at 4.1 this season.
Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott knows it won’t be easy for Clemson to improve on those numbers against UofL.
“Very disruptive,” Scott says of Louisville’s defense. “They’re not just going to sit back and play base defense. They’re going to move a lot of guys around. You have to be prepared for the different blitzes and different looks you’re going to get. They always play physical, with great effort, and really make you have to work the length of the field.”
Much of the media attention this week has been focused on Jackson going head-to-head with Clemson’s outstanding quarterback, Deshaun Watson, a rival for the Heisman Trophy. Going into the game, Jackson holds a commanding early lead in the USA Today Network Heisman survey, while Watson, who was third in last year’s final voting, is a distant fourth.
But a sub-par showing by Jackson, coupled with a strong performance by Watson, could change things — at least temporarily.
Jackson’s numbers are similar to the ones Watson posted last season in leading Clemson to the ACC championship and national runnerup, highlighted by his 478 yards of offense and four touchdown passes in a 45-40 loss to Alabama in the title game.
But he hasn’t put up big stats this season. He has passed for 996 yards with nine TDs and four interceptions and has rushed for only 120 yards, a 3.4 average per carry, with a long run of 14.
In two games against UofL, Watson has struggled, completing 23-of-36 passes for 194 yards, with two TDs and three interceptions, but Clemson won both games, 24-17 and 20-17. Jackson played only briefly against Clemson last year as a true freshman, completing his only pass for 15 yards.
While Watson’s numbers this season pale in comparison to Jackson, obviously, the 6-3 junior says he’s looking forward to the confrontation.
“If you play this game, all the great ones love the great competition of going against the best,” Watson says. “But we can’t focus on Louisville or Lamar Jackson. We’ve got to do what we do.”
Clemson wide receiver and punt returner Ray-Ray McCloud says he expects Watson to be primed and take his game to a higher level than has been the case so far this season.
“I know he’s the best player in the country,” McCloud says. “For him to go out there against someone who supposedly is the best player in the country as well is just going to get him to a whole other level.”
So the stage is set. It should make for high drama for the national TV audience and the sellout crowd of nearly 82,000 crammed into Memorial Stadium.
“We love it,” UofL defensive tackle DeAngelo Brown says. “We embrace the big stage, that’s what we want. Growing up you want to play in the biggest games possible in college football, so it’s something we all have always wanted to do and we’re really enjoying the moment. It’s gonna be fun.”
