CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
Clemson picked up three turnovers and scored touchdowns after all three to keep a comfortable margin most of the night.

Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh


by -

No. 2 Clemson cruised into a fourth-straight College Football Playoff appearance with a 42-10 win over Pittsburgh over the weekend.

Brent Venables’ defense rebounded by holding the Panthers to single-digits in passing yards and Clemson rolled to over 300 yards of rushing to put the game away.

This season the ‘Second Look’ features the TigerNet staff grades for Clemson averaged as a group and offers some different perspectives on the action each week. Here’s our look at the ACC Championship:

Offense

A fast start and a strong finish were more than enough to get the job done versus the overmatched Panthers.

The Tigers ground game struck a chord from the opening play - a season-long 75-yard touchdown rush from Travis Etienne - to help propel Clemson to a fifth game of over 300 yards rushing (301). To put that rushing success in perspective, they topped 300 rushing yards five times total from 2015-17 (and not once in 2016).

Clemson freshman QB Trevor Lawrence hit some key connections passing, finding Tee Higgins twice in the end zone - and one a nice toe-tap on the sidelines. Overall, however, Lawrence hit a season-low in completion percentage (50) and tied another in yards per pass attempt (4.9). In addition to some tough weather conditions, Pitt played its role in those figures as they played a physical brand of football that challenged Clemson’s receivers and had them in place for four pass breakups from the cornerbacks.

Lawrence continued to show his overall development with his running game, displaying some moves in the open field to move the chains.

Following up a 744-yard effort last week, the overall effort didn’t look quite as sharp in comparison, but with a game never in doubt, Clemson executed as much it needed to - plus a little more - to keep its momentum going into bowl practice. -- Brandon Rink

TigerNet grade: B+

Defense

Pitt had two scoring drives early in the ACC Championship that covered a total of 15 plays and 101 yards, leading to 10 points. Take those two drives away and the Panthers ran 49 plays for 99 yards the rest of the game. That includes eight passing yards – you read that right – eight passing yards.

Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett was a woeful 4-of-16 for those eight yards. The Panthers ran the ball 49 times for 192 yards, an average of four yards per carry. However, Pitt averaged just 3.1 yards per play, suffered three turnovers that led to 21 Clemson points, and the Tigers racked up two sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.

Leading the way in the TFL department were Isaiah Simmons (2.5), Dexter Lawrence (2.5) and Clelin Ferrell (1.5).

A week after giving up way too many yards to an average South Carolina offense, Brent Venables’ defense responded in a big way against the one-dimensional Panthers. -- David Hood

TigerNet grade: A

Special teams

Will Spiers connected on his longest punt of the season with a 63-yarder Saturday evening. However, take away those 63 yards and Spiers had 188 yards on six punts for an average of 31.3 yards per punt. Included in that number was a 15-yard punt in the first quarter.

Clemson had five punt returns for zero yards (every punter the Tigers face has an All-American night), didn’t have any kickoff returns, but covered both punts and kickoffs well.

The Tigers didn’t attempt a field goal but hit all six extra point attempts, all by Greg Huegel. -- Nikki Hood

TigerNet grade: B

Ultimate Level LogoUpgrade Your Account

Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.

Upgrade Now
Comment on this story
Print   
Send Feedback to TigerNet Staff: Email | Comment
FIRST LOOK: Clemson Basketball Dancing in March Bobblehead unveiled
FIRST LOOK: Clemson Basketball Dancing in March Bobblehead unveiled
4-star lineman picks up Clemson offer on visit
4-star lineman picks up Clemson offer on visit
WATCH: Clemson coordinators talk spring progress, break down latest scrimmage
WATCH: Clemson coordinators talk spring progress, break down latest scrimmage
No. 2 Tigers take on Hurricanes
No. 2 Tigers take on Hurricanes
Post your comments!
Subject (Replies: 23) Author
spacer TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
TigerNet News®
spacer Re: TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
Blizzake1979
spacer Re: TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
Calhoun2
spacer Re: TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
RCcola
spacer Re: TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
stltiger59
spacer Agree, I would like to see their punter be rushed!***
tigeron®
spacer A thousand times YES. Are they afraid of a RTK penalty?
mhuyser
spacer Re: TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
dannyboard
spacer Re: TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
Ridgeland Booster®
spacer And even the long punt was ineffective, into the end zone
tigeron®
spacer Re: And even the long punt was ineffective, into the end zone
clemsonbluejay
spacer Re: TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
Dugatiger®
spacer My take
PioneerG
spacer Spiers remains woefully inconsistent, how about trying
tigeron®
spacer Re: Spiers remains woefully inconsistent, how about trying
Dugatiger®
spacer Re: Spiers remains woefully inconsistent, how about trying
Teletiger73
spacer Re: Spiers remains woefully inconsistent, how about trying
ddclemson
spacer Tthe Tigers had several
FORESTTIGER
spacer Re: Spiers remains woefully inconsistent, how about trying
clemsonbluejay
spacer Punting is our Achilles heel
vandalay
spacer Re: Punting is our Achilles heel
clemsonbluejay
spacer You lost some credibility with that Special Teams B rating
RU4GOD2
spacer Re: TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
TigersO
spacer Re: TNET: Second look: Grading Clemson versus Pittsburgh
jdtiger98