Virginia Tech set to look into the crystal ball in ACC Championship Game date with Clemson

After a tantalizing blowout victory over rival Virginia, the Hokies completed their regular season with a 9-3 record and earned a date with the vaunted Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship Game. The Tigers have only lost one regular season game since 2015 and pose a daunting task for a game Hokies squad.

Mike Williams leads a Dynamic Clemson Offense

In many ways, Clemson mirrors exactly what Justin Fuente wants his program to become. The Tigers' running game is similar structurally to the Hokies', although the Tigers run more inside zone and power. Running back Wayne Gallman (No. 9, R-JR, 6-0, 210) runs hard downhill. He is a better version of the running backs Tech faced against Duke, and his quickness in the hole will challenge the Hokies soundness with gap fits. Deshaun Watson (No. 4, JR, 6-3, 215) is a run threat on par with Jerod Evans. Although, to keep him healthy Clemson has ran fewer designed quarterback runs this season than in 2015 where Watson rushed 207 times for 1,105 yards and 12 TDs. Watson is a capable runner as demonstrated on this inside zone read.

Given how Bud Foster has schemed against the quarterback keeper on a zone read this season, you can expect that Terrell Edmunds and Chuck Clark will account for the quarterback most plays. That defensive strategy presents Clemson the opportunity to dial up another staple of its (and Virginia Tech's) offense, the deep slant off of play-action.

The run fake draws South Carolina safety Steven Montac (No. 22) forward and keeps him fixated on Watson. Wide receiver Mike Williams (No. 7, R-JR, 6-3, 225) has outside leverage, catches the ball in stride, and carries some baggage in end zone.

Clemson's route design is also rather similar to Virginia Tech's. Most of the passing structure features one quarterback read and a quick throw. Watch a little bit of Clemson football and you'll quickly become familiar with double quick outs, double slants, slant off of play-action, and go routes. The Tigers love to feature WRs Artavis Scott (No. 3, JR, 5-10, 190) and Ray-Ray McCloud (No. 34, SO, 5-10, 180) on screens. Hunter Renfrow (No. 13, R-SO, 5-11, 180) will work the intermediate parts of the field around the Hokies' linebackers. Tight end Jordan Leggett (No. 16, SR, 6-5, 260) is a weapon in the red zone that Clemson loves to target on wheel routes. Yet at the end of the day, Williams is the difference maker of their receiving corps. Perhaps most frightening is his ability to win on isolation go routes against man coverage.

When Clemson has struggled offensively, much of the time it was the byproduct of turnovers. The Tigers have kept Watson in the pocket more this season, and being fooled by the coverage on his initial read has contributed to the lion's share of his 14 interceptions.

On this play against Pitt, Panthers corner Ryan Lewis (No. 38) shows outside leverage in man coverage. When Lewis' man breaks to the inside, he stays put in a deep third zone. Watson's primary read is a wheel route to Leggett.

When Leggett breaks behind the Pitt linebacker Mike Caprara (No. 30), Watson believes that the Lewis has cleared out due to what he thinks is man coverage on the post route. He throws to Leggett without ever seeing Lewis, who gets an easy interception.

No defense has completely shut down Clemson's offense all season. The Hokies' offense will need to help its defense by controlling time of possession and scoring touchdowns in the red zone. The Tigers' have been less effective offensively against defenses that could keep their safeties deep and still minimize the damage in the running game. The Hokies had success against Virginia keeping the running game contained with their front six, and the lack of the threat of the quarterback run allowed Foster to crash his defensive ends to stop the tailbacks. If Clemson doesn't choose to feature Watson in the running game, they will be doing the Hokies defense a huge favor.

Is the Clemson defense as good as its reputation?

Clemson's front-four is regarded by pundits and analysts as one of the best in college football. As I watched the tape, I was surprised to see both Pittsburgh and N.C. State had success running against said vaunted group.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables' scheme shares a ton of similarities to Bud Foster's. Venables loves to bring designer blitzes to get pressure on passing downs.

In pass coverage, Clemson's corners use similar leverage techniques that the Hokies featured under former DB coach Torrian Gray. All-ACC CB Cordrea Tankersley (No. 25, SR, 6-1, 200) is the best man corner I have watched all season. His ability to find the football when he turns and runs with a deep receiver is unparalleled amongst ACC DBs. Clemson safeties Van Smith (No. 23, SO, 5-11, 195) and Jadar Johnson (No. 18, SR, 6-0, 210) fly up into the box in run support. However, they have been a liability in coverage, particularly against double moves, wheel routes, and shovel passes. Pitt RB James Conner (1), FB George Aston (2), and TE Scott Orndoff (2) combined for five touchdown catches against Clemson's safeties and linebackers.

On Pitt's initial score against Clemson, Conner (on the jet sweep fake) froze LB Dorian O'Daniel (No. 6, R-JR, 6-1, 215) and LB Kendall Joseph (No. 34, R-SO, 6-0, 230) over-pursued. Aston easily took a shovel pass to the house.

In many games, the Isaiah Ford matchup has been critical to the Hokies moving the football. Against Clemson, I believe that Cam Phillips, Sam Rogers (as a receiver), Steven Peoples, and C.J. Carroll will need to have huge days. I don't anticipate much being open on the outside. If Ford and Bucky Hodges can make some plays against Clemson's corners, it will be a bonus.

Up front, Clemson's scheme is built around a huge defensive line and small fast linebackers. Mammoth Christian Wilkins (No. 42, SO, 6-4, 310) starts at left defensive end. Dexter Lawrence (No. 90, FR, 6-5, 340) is a twitchy behemoth at defensive tackle. Former Benedictine HS product Clelin Ferrell (No. 99, R-FR, 6'5, 265) is a strong bull rusher and very effective bending inside on stunts.

Teams that had success running against Clemson found ways to block its big front one-on-one and then get downhill quickly on the Tigers' small and very quick linebacker group. Ben Boulware (No. 10, SR6-0, 235), Joseph, and O'Daniel do not do a great job of getting off blocks, as demonstrated by the touchdown above and this zone run by N.C. State RB Matthew Dayes.

Wilkins, who has received a ton of media attention, in large part due to such a huge man playing an edge position (and being used as a runner and a receiver on offense) underwhelms on film. He does a good job of jamming up plays, but as N.C. State demonstrated, he can be reached on outside zones and influence blocked out of position. Lawrence on the other hand will be a nightmare for the interior of the Hokies' offensive line. It is critical for Virginia Tech to wear out Clemson's starting d-line unit and get blockers on those linebackers at the second level. Clemson is very susceptible to play-action, but the running game has to be a credible threat. Designed inside runs like Fuente and Brad Cornelsen featured against Virginia will be the ticket. The linebackers and safeties are too fast for the jet sweeps to be anything more than window dressing for deep shots.