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Clemson is set to open the season Monday night at Atlanta 4 when the Tigers open against ACC foe Georgia Tech.
Dabo Swinney’s team is looking to bounce back after a 2021 season that saw the team finish 10-3, miss the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2014 and see its streak of seven consecutive ACC titles snap.
5 things to watch
1. Quarterbacks: Obviously, any talk of this Clemson football team has to include the play of the quarterback after starting tackle DJ Ugalele suffered through his sophomore campaign. There’s no question about the work the quarterback has done since the end of last season. Now we see all that work pay off. As a freshman, Ugalele hit 70% of his passes. As a secondary, only 56%. Which Ugalele will we see on Monday night?
Then there’s freshman phenom Cade Klubnik. After coming to Clemson as the top-rated quarterback in the country, the coaches were impressed with Klubnik. The staff said he will definitely play next season, but did not commit to how much or how early. A lot of Uiagalelei’s value can only go with how it goes.
2. Cheat line:- Something about this Clemson offensive line just feels different. Outside of true freshman Blake Miller, who will start at RT, this team enters the season with more experience than it did a season ago. And what Miller lacks in experience, he makes up for in knowledge. This team should be off to a great start. Doing so will not only give you some consistency on the offensive side of the ball, but it will go a long way in developing confidence. But, while expectations are high, we just won’t know until we see it.
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Behind enemy lines: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Clemson kicks off its 127th football season in the biggest fashion in school history on Labor Day. The Tigers travel to the home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Sept. 5 for a prime-time ACC matchup against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
On the other side of the ball, the Tigers know what lies ahead. One of the best defensive lines in all of college football. Georgia Tech doesn’t field one of the most experienced offensive lines the Tigers will see this season, so even without an injured Xavier Thomas, Clemson should win this battle.
3. WRU: There is a requirement regarding the receiving game at Clemson. Last season, that requirement was not met. Injuries have decimated the team as the Tigers struggled to keep players healthy. Drops and not being able to create separation were problems a season ago. This is a position group that needs to get better. Moreover, they must be present. While it’s safe to assume that Clemson relies heavily on the run game, the wideouts are needed, and at critical points.
4. New faces in new places: The Tigers will have two new coordinators when they open the season. Gone are long-time assistants Brent Venables and Tony Elliott. Wes Goodwin and Brandon Streeter now fill those roles, and while they got their first taste running their respective units in last year’s Cheez-It Bowl against Iowa State, both now have a full season to put their toes on offense and defense. It will be interesting to see any adjustments, especially on the offensive side.
5. Playing with chips: This Clemson team has something to prove. That’s pretty obvious listening to some of the player talk. Barrett Carter referred to the opener as a “statement game”. Will Shipley says it’s time to “announce the country”. Even Dabo Swinney mentioned that the tournament starts on Monday and ends on Monday, a clear indication that the team has national title aspirations.
The Tigers enter the dome on Monday night with a chip firmly on their shoulder, eager to prove that last season was a bit of a setback and definitely not a sign of things to come.
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