Scouting Florida State: how the Tigers win...

Study the tape, find weaknesses, exploit breakdowns, spread the ball around

Clemson's Sammy Watkins runs for a 24-yard touchdown pass against Florida State.

Clemson's Sammy Watkins runs for a 24-yard touchdown pass against Florida State.

How Clemson Wins...

1. Study Wake Forest: Even though the Deacons got hammered, they give the Tigers a more valuable on-film look at Florida State than do the Seminoles' opening games against FCS opponents Murray State and Savannah State. Nobody's solved FSU's defense yet, so the Tigers are on their own in that regard. Nevertheless, studying film of the Seminoles' game against the Deacons should prove to be of value, building on what Clemson's coaches already know about FSU's personnel, which is plenty.

2. Find And Attack Vulnerabilities: No team - not even one as talented as FSU - can lose players like Greg Reid and Brandon Jenkins without missing a beat. With FSU's defense dotted with veteran performers, the Tigers give themselves their best shot by picking on more untested players. The Seminole defense has to crack sometime, and Clemson will need to win some one-on-one matchups - offensive vs. defense - to leave Tallahassee with a victory.

3. Spread The Ball Around: If FSU learned anything from watching Clemson against Auburn and Ball State, it's that the Tigers have plenty of ways to move the football, even with Sammy Watkins on the bench. With Watkins back on the field, the Tigers have a chance not only for more big plays, but to unleash an even broader array of weapons. If Nuk Hopkins, Charone Peak, Adam Humphries and Andre Ellington keep making the plays they've been making, the Tigers will be a real headache even for one of the nation's best defenses.

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Comments » 1

TrevorT writes:

Keep FSU under 200 on the ground and don't turn the ball over. We walk out with a W.

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