Clemson has made the CFP for the past 5 years in a row, and will play for their 3rd National Championship.. And have done so, without a dominant offensive line. I would go as far to say Clemson has been relatively average up front.
If you go back and look at all their playoff games vs Alabama (4 of them) and then the SF game vs Ohio State on Saturday. Clemson could not run the ball in the traditional way with their Inside Zone and G Schemes. Etienne had 36 yards on 10 carries vs Ohio State.
What Clemson has had for 4 of the past 5 years is a transcendent duel threat QB. The one year they did not? 2017 with Kelly Bryant. That team was upset on the road at Syracuse. And Alabama whipped them like a yard dog in the playoffs.
However, the Clemson Co OC's Scott & Elliott "schemed" a run game on Saturday by using Lawrence on the QB draws, and Lawrence keeping on the Zone Read. And even though the running back Etienne was rendered virtually useless on the ground. They masterfully used him in the passing game with the screen pass and the Play Action circle route out of the backfield on the Game Winning drive.
For all the non stop bloviating by the star gazers about guys like Ross, Higgins, Rodgers.
Clemson wins because they get all world QB play and really clever coaching. When you go back and look at Clemson's 2 wins over Alabama and now 2 wins over Ohio State in the past 4 seasons.
I think 3 things.
1.Great Defense
2.Great QB play
3.Great Coaching
ND has a defense to play on this stage now, thanks to Kelly and Clark Lea
ND can put better O-Lines on the field then Clemson
ND is getting the skill necessary to compete at this level
ND has the coaches to create "schemes"
The only question is, when will ND find and develop THE QB. I can tell you right now. If Ian Book was Clemson's QB on Saturday. Clemson and ALL their 5 star players would have gotten run off the field by 30 points.
If you go back and look at all their playoff games vs Alabama (4 of them) and then the SF game vs Ohio State on Saturday. Clemson could not run the ball in the traditional way with their Inside Zone and G Schemes. Etienne had 36 yards on 10 carries vs Ohio State.
What Clemson has had for 4 of the past 5 years is a transcendent duel threat QB. The one year they did not? 2017 with Kelly Bryant. That team was upset on the road at Syracuse. And Alabama whipped them like a yard dog in the playoffs.
However, the Clemson Co OC's Scott & Elliott "schemed" a run game on Saturday by using Lawrence on the QB draws, and Lawrence keeping on the Zone Read. And even though the running back Etienne was rendered virtually useless on the ground. They masterfully used him in the passing game with the screen pass and the Play Action circle route out of the backfield on the Game Winning drive.
For all the non stop bloviating by the star gazers about guys like Ross, Higgins, Rodgers.
Clemson wins because they get all world QB play and really clever coaching. When you go back and look at Clemson's 2 wins over Alabama and now 2 wins over Ohio State in the past 4 seasons.
I think 3 things.
1.Great Defense
2.Great QB play
3.Great Coaching
ND has a defense to play on this stage now, thanks to Kelly and Clark Lea
ND can put better O-Lines on the field then Clemson
ND is getting the skill necessary to compete at this level
ND has the coaches to create "schemes"
The only question is, when will ND find and develop THE QB. I can tell you right now. If Ian Book was Clemson's QB on Saturday. Clemson and ALL their 5 star players would have gotten run off the field by 30 points.
