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Big Weekend: Clemson vs Florida State

The undefeated Clemson Tigers began the week as the number 1 team in the new playoff Poll.

That’s fine, Somebody had to be number 1. But, before getting too excited and throwing a party, just remember that they have to play Florida State on Saturday.

I realize that nobody respects Florida State and especially not SEC Analyst Paul Finebaum. But, let me just remind the reader that Florida State just won the last BCS Championship and was one of four teams in last year’s first playoff. The Seminoles are 46-4 over the last four seasons and nobody else in the nation has done better.

Sure, they have not been playing that well lately, but over the last few seasons Florida State’s football recruiting classes have been equal to or better than anyone else out there, including Alabama. I know Alabama fans won’t agree with that, but it is true if you look past the SEC bias and look at the actual players signed by each school and do your own analysis.

The same is true with Ohio State. The masses do not respect the Buckeyes right now because of their weak schedule, or whatever, but Ohio State has recruited as well as anyone since 2013. It will continue showing up on the field at Ohio State and at Florida State.

Florida State is just loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.

Not only that, but Florida State joined the ACC back in 1992 and they play Clemson every season. They have played more times than just those seasons and the Seminoles own a 20-8 record against the Clemson Tigers all time.

The Florida State Seminoles have beaten Clemson 3 straight times, 4 out of the last 5, and 5 out of the last 7 games.

Of course, before that, Clemson won 3 straight. But, that was during a time when Florida State was a little down as a program, and they are one of the top teams in the country this season.

Clemson will have it’s hands full.

 

But, this is also not the same Clemson as in year’s past.  Clemson has also recruited extremely well in recent seasons.

Two years ago, Clemson Quarterback Deshaun Watson was the number one ranked Dual Threat Quarterback recruit in the country out of Gainesville, Georgia. I placed Watson on my true freshman All American team and he definitely lived up to billing. However, he was injured for parts of his freshman season.

In 2015, Watson has been healthy and he has impressed. He has completed over 70 percent of his passes for 1,936 yards and 20 Touchdowns.

He has also run for nearly 400 yards and another 4 Touchdowns. Watson also seems to have assumed a leadership role with the Tigers which is something he obviously lacked last season as a true freshman.

Fellow Georgian, Running Back Wayne Gallman has been a huge part of the Clemson offense this season running for nearly 900 yards on the season, so far. The speedy Gallman led the Tigers in rushing last year as a freshman, but has stepped it up this year.

Catching passes from Watson, the Clemson receiver groups took a huge hit in game one with the loss of super Wide Receiver Mike Williams when he had an awful collision with the goal post. However, Artavis Scott is one of the top receivers in the country and freshmen receivers Deon Cain, Ray-Ray McCloud and former walk on Hunter Renfrow have stepped up big time.

Big Tight End Jordan Leggett is one of the nation’s better players at that position.

The Clemson Offensive Line is also a team strength and I wrote about true freshman Left Tackle earlier in my blog: Mitch Hyatt

This stellar Offensive unit will go up against a pretty solid Florida State defense.

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But, the team’s absolute best defensive player is Cornerback Jalen Ramsey. He is a game changer and a future first round draft pick.

Florida State’s offense has been hot and cold all season. But, I believe the play of Sean Maguire at Quarterback last week should earn him the starting job this week and top Running Back Dalton Cook will be back and ready to play.

Maguire just seemed to make the offense work against Syracuse and that was without Cook in the lineup. I don’t know if Maguire or Everett Golson is going to start, but I know I would go with Maguire. Last I checked, Jimbo Fisher didn’t read my blog or call me to ask for my opinion. If he does, I will be prepared to promote Sean Maguire at Quarterback and he is also 1-0 against Clemson as a starter.

Dalvin Cook is turning heads and certain analysts are saying that they might take Dalvin Cook over much more heralded Leonard Fournette. Cook is certainly explosive and a threat to go all the way at any moment or at any location on the field. He is a blue burner that runs well both inside and outside.

The Seminoles have seemingly always had talented Wide Receivers and Tight Ends and this season is no different.

Wide Receivers Travis Rudolph, Kermit Whitfield and Bobo Wilson are tough to cover. Tight Ends Ryan Izzo and Mavin Saunders are not adequate replacements for Nick O’Leary, but they are up and coming national players.

Up front, the Seminoles only returned sophomore Left Tackle Roderick Johnson from last year. The new and inexperienced replacements have been hit and miss, but they seem  to be improving. Seminole Offensive Line coach, Rick Trickett, is one of the best in the country and his troops look better now than they did earlier in the season, I believe.

This is where it gets good for Clemson and bad for Florida State. Clemson has one of the very best defenses in the country and currently ranked fourth in total yardage.

The Tigers upgraded their defense when they brought in Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables from Oklahoma. Venables should be on some head coaching job search list by now.

Linebacker Ben Boulware leads the team in tackles, but fellow Linebacker B.J. Goodson is having a banner year as well.

The Clemson Defense is loaded across the board, but the best players are Defensive End Shaq Lawson and Cornerback Mackensie Alexander.

I believe the two best Cornerbacks in the country will be playing in this game with Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey and Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander and that’s not to take anything away from Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III, or anyone else. But, these guys are true shut down Cornerbacks and the best of the best.

Clemson Defensive End Shaq Lawson is just a beast. In the Clemson Tiger’s earlier game against Notre Dame Lawson gave Notre Dame All American Tackle Ronnie Stanley fits all night long, and Stanley is as good as his All American status would imply.

Everyone is picking Clemson to make the Playoffs right now. Personally, I am not all that confident that they win this game. Plus, if Florida State wins, will they then be in the Playoff talks?

Clemson beat Notre Dame in a game that could have gone the way of the Irish as well as the Tigers. If Notre Dame is in the discussion for a playoff spot, then if Florida State just happens to beat Clemson on Saturday I am saying that Florida State deserves a long look.

I don’t know how any level headed, fair minded person could dispute that.

I’m not personally even worried about the Playoffs and kind of wish people would cut way back on that talk. I especially wish announcers would stop hijacking every college football game with their opinion on who their top 4 would be. Write a blog, or something, fellas.

I don’t know who will be in the playoffs and there are way too many games left to be played to get all out of sorts over it.

All I know is that I plan on being in front of my television set on Saturday when these two giants face off and if you are a college football fan, I recommend that you are watching as well.