Will Ohio Condition get revenge on Clemson? Opposing coaches crack down School Soccer Playoff semifinal

Ohio Point out enters its Higher education Soccer Playoff semifinal matchup with Clemson as a 7½-point underdog. Currently being a unique underdog is a new part for Ohio State, which entered its matchup with Clemson last year as a two-stage underdog.

Ohio Point out managed a great deal of that match past year, scoring on 4 of its very first five drives. Eventually, red-zone failures, Trevor Lawrence’s legs and the dynamism of Travis Etienne catching the ball out of the backfield finished up undoing Ohio State. (Buckeye lovers will be brief to remind you that the officials did not enable.) 

So what can Ohio State do this 12 months to pull the upset? We spoke to 10 coaches and scouts familiar with Ohio State and Clemson to see how this model of Ohio Condition matches up with this edition of Clemson.

Here’s a search by means of the eyes of the gurus at the crucial matchups, staff troubles and X-factors that will decide the activity.

1. Acquire up entrance on defense

In Trevor Lawrence’s a few seasons at Clemson, this roster has the minimum total of expertise from 1-44 on the two-deep. No put is that extra evident that the offensive line, which has substantial-conclusion left tackle Jackson Carman and 4 other pedestrian gamers.

Ohio State’s defensive entrance lacks a Bosa-like disruptor and definitely misses Chase Young’s edge rushes, but the Buckeye front four gives OSU a unique advantage. The Buckeyes are heading to attempt to prevent the run like Notre Dame did in keeping Travis Etienne to 28 carries on 18 yards in those teams’ 1st matchup.

The important for Ohio Condition will be defensive tackle Haskell Garrett, who has less sacks and tackles than fellow tackle Tommy Togiai but has been extra disruptive. “I thought Garrett was explosive and violent and performed with wonderful leverage,” claimed an opposing assistant. “He popped out on film, persons had a truly tricky time blocking him.”

Ohio State plays much more zone than earlier seasons, as they flash Protect 3, Cover 1 and blend in some gentleman, in accordance to coaches. But any path to victory starts off up front. 



a group of football players on a field: Clemson Tigers QB Trevor Lawrence (16) is pressured by Ohio State Buckeyes DT DaVon Hamilton (53) during the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)


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Clemson Tigers QB Trevor Lawrence (16) is pressured by Ohio Point out Buckeyes DT DaVon Hamilton (53) in the course of the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)

2. End the obvious

The two most effective gamers on the industry Friday will be in the Clemson backfield – Lawrence and Etienne. The crucial for Ohio Point out will be restricting them in the ancillary roles that they starred in through this recreation final season – Lawrence as a runner (107 yards, like a 67-property TD) and Etienne as a pass catcher (three catches for 98 yards and two TDs).

That’s straightforward to compose and considerably additional complicated in truth. Ohio State’s glaring defensive weak point is at security, and it will be exciting if real freshman protection Lathan Ransom gets far more snaps following his essential move breakup sealed the sport versus Northwestern. Does the OSU personnel have faith in him plenty of to thrust him into a bigger function?

So how do you gradual Etienne in the go activity and control Lawrence’s functioning? (And it’s clear that Clemson is far more inclined to run Lawrence in high-leverage games like this than against, say, Furman.)

“You don’t want to bracket Etienne, but in get to slow him down you have to have to set a protection or nickel on him,” mentioned an opposing assistant. “You really don’t want to place a linebacker on him. Some teams have long gone Cover and put a security on him.”

As for Lawrence, the crucial point for Ohio State’s defensive front will be to keep in their hurry lanes. That will consider self-control and possibly effects the efficiency of the move rush, but the Buckeyes discovered the tough way last time what transpires when he escapes.

Ohio Point out also needs a improved functionality that they’ve gotten from Shaun Wade this year. Wade’s NFL stock has fallen as he’s struggled to regulate to guarding players on the outside the house. Just one NFL scout claimed Wade is enjoying like he’s “afraid to get hurt” in its place of “turning it loose.”

The excellent information for Ohio Point out is that Clemson’s receiver expertise is a large dip from Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins, who the OSU defensive backs constrained very last period with press guy protection.



a man running on a baseball field: Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence hands the ball off to Travis Etienne during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest on Nov. 16, 2019. (AP)


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Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence palms the ball off to Travis Etienne in the course of the first 50 % of an NCAA college soccer activity from Wake Forest on Nov. 16, 2019. (AP)

3. Get Justin Fields on track

Simply place, Justin Fields hasn’t performed nicely in 2020. In the two game titles from groups that will end rated, he threw 5 interceptions and just two touchdowns.

Fields has played sometimes many thanks to OSU’s staccato plan, and there’s been trouble getting in rhythm mainly because of all the variations on the offensive line and players lacking at vast receiver.

But Fields has appeared missing at times. His selection-earning has been suspect and he’s been susceptible to significant-threat passes that would make a jayvee mentor wince.

How can Fields get on monitor? Jogging the ball will be a start out. (A secure prediction is that the two quarterbacks have double-digit rushes.) Fields had a single 100-property speeding activity in OSU’s six game titles this season. OSU lacks quarterback depth and knowledge, which has often manufactured OSU mentor Ryan Working day hesitant to operate Fields.

But with Clemson’s defensive line a shell of the device two several years back and the Tigers’ linebacking crew a usually middling bunch, seem for OSU to choose edge of Fields’ legs. That could help open up things up on the outside, as Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who is returning from a COVID-19-associated absence, have the capacity to be dynamic playmakers for Fields. “He has not been in rhythm,” an opposing mentor said. “When he finds his rhythm, he’s really terrifying.”

Can Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables get in Fields’ head and rattle him? That’ll be the tale of the early element of the match.



a group of football players on the field: Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson on Dec. 28, 2019. (AP)


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Ohio Condition quarterback Justin Fields (1) for the duration of the initially fifty percent of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college or university football activity versus Clemson on Dec. 28, 2019. (AP)

4. Will Trey Sermon continue to keep rolling?

1 of the most outstanding performances of the entire year came when Sermon rolled as a result of Northwestern’s protection for an Ohio Condition-file 331 yards in the Massive Ten title video game.

The basic tension for Ohio State is whether that performance was a blip or the start off of a pattern. “I assume they last but not least identified a functioning back again,” claimed an opposing assistant coach. “Master Teague is a great participant. But he’s not like [Sermon].”

Whilst Sermon does not have the 12 months-in-year-out efficiency of Etienne, who is the ACC’s all-time main rusher, he does existing issues.

Day frequently errs on the side of aggression with his participate in-calling. Could we see a gameplan that is based on jogging driving a few elite interior offensive linemen – guards Harry Miller and Wyatt Davis and heart Josh Myers? (That could occur with some “sugar huddling,” which would slow tempo, in buy to prevent Ohio State’s signals being stolen as we dove into yesterday.) 

5. Can Ohio Condition exploit Clemson’s secondary?

It is appealing that Clemson safety Nolan Turner will be out for the 1st 50 percent of the Ohio Condition recreation due to the fact of a concentrating on penalty. If not for a miscommunication, Turner could have finished up the goat of previous year’s semifinal in between Ohio Condition and Clemson.

But Olave ran the incorrect way on Ohio State’s last offensive play, and after he slipped to the floor Turner ended up with an easy interception in Clemson’s 29-23 win. Olave experienced already burnt Turner for a fourth-quarter touchdown, and Working day appeared to be calling for that matchup yet again. But Olave ran the incorrect way, and Turner’s can-of-corn select ended up as one of the game’s defining performs.

So with no Turner, a second-crew All-ACC protection, be expecting Ohio State to pick on his replacement. Both sophomore Joseph Charleston or sophomore Lannden Zanders is expected to step in, and each will probably be tested by Day’s perform-contacting typically in the 1st fifty percent.

Opposing coaches level to cornerback Derion Kendrick as the only positive-fireplace defensive first-round pick for Clemson in the approaching draft. It is a talent-light group when compared to some earlier Clemson editions. But Venables’ creativeness has compensated for the lack of expertise, as a person NFL scout pointed out.

“They just rotate so numerous fellas,” he claimed. “They enjoy like 20 guys on defense and they all perform 100 miles for every hour and blitz a ton and throw a good deal of things at groups. That is the style suitable now in that 3-3-5. He’s done extra with considerably less this yr than ever. He’s ordinarily got far more expertise.”

Additional another mentor: “There’s usually fellas open on movie. But the offense never sees them. There’s often a [defensive] male coming unblocked and free. When I check out their protection, occasionally it does not look audio. But it’s tremendous-efficient.”

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