FSU football: Top 5 major keys to defeating Clemson Tigers
By Kelvin Hunt
Red Zone Opportunities and Touchdowns
One thing we’ve seen a decrease in the last two games is the number of times the FSU offense has entered the red zone.
FSU has only entered the red zone six times and scored five touchdowns. The Noles averaged five red zone trips in their first three games against Power 5 competition and struggled to score touchdowns at an elite rate.
They scored touchdowns 83 percent of the time in the red zone in the last two games, but they haven’t gotten there near enough.
It’s one of the prime reasons they have scored 38 points in the last two games combined. Clemson’s defense allows touchdowns 55 percent of the time against Power 5 competition. As you can tell, most of these keys center around the FSU offense-making plays.
The plays have been there all year, but they’ve failed to execute in critical situations in the last two games. The Noles had success rolling Jordan Travis out of the pocket in the passing game last year. The wide receivers are better than last year despite all the drops in the last game.
It’s an area Clemson’s defense has been vulnerable, so moving Jordan Travis in the pocket should help negate the Clemson pass rush a little. I wouldn’t mind seeing more running back, and wide receiver screen plays in this game as an extension of the running game.
Whatever it takes to move the ball offensively, FSU must find a way to do it.
Next. How Clemson Fared Against Common FSU Opponents. dark