Georgia Tech vs. Clemson: 10 Things We Learned in Tigers' Win
Clemson handled its business against Georgia Tech in impressive fashion with a 55-31 win over the Yellow Jackets. The offense produced more than 500 total yards and at least two touchdowns in each of the final three quarters, while the defense did a nice job of shutting down the triple-option offense. The win improves Clemson to 9-1 on the season and keeps those BCS bowl hopes alive.
But what did we learn from the victory?
Well, we learned that a star quarterback is banged up, Georgia Tech is out of the race for an ACC title and conference records have fallen.
Ben Boulware Was Ejected
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Ben Boulware was ejected in the second half for a hit on kickoff return coverage. Because the ejection took place in the second half, the freshman won't be allowed to play in the first 30 minutes of next week's game against Citadel.
That's likely not going to matter much against a 4-6 team that lost to Wofford and Chattanooga, but Boulware is one of Clemson's best special teams players.
He has 10 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and an interception on the season.
Clemson's Defense Is Pretty Solid
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Folks who look at the box score aren't going to be happy. Clemson did allow 440 yards, 22 first downs and 31 points to a middle-of-the-road ACC team.
However, numbers don't always tell the whole truth.
Clemson's defense rose to the occasion and did a fabulous job of defending the triple-option. Usually a style of play that gives defenses trouble, Clemson's defenders were flying to the football and often stopping the ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage. At the end of the first quarter, Clemson had six points and Georgia Tech had three yards.
It's also important to note that 21 of those 31 points came in the second half when Clemson pretty much had the game on cruise control.
The Tigers defense has improved drastically.
Robert Godhigh Is Underrated
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Where has this guy been hiding?
Robert Godhigh won't get much credit for his performance in a losing effort, but the senior running back did his thing under the bright lights. He carried the ball 12 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 103 yards.
Talk about putting the offense on your back.
It was Godhigh's 65-yard touchdown run that reminded me a little of Darren Sproles. He isn't the biggest back at 5'7", but he's tough and can certainly fly down the field when given an opportunity. Godhigh is somebody to keep an eye on moving forward.
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Sammy Watkins May Be the Best NFL Eligible Receiver
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I was extremely high on USC's Marqise Lee as the top receiver entering the season, but Sammy Watkins is starting to rub off on me a little more.
He finished second on the team with five receptions, 104 yards and two touchdowns. It was his 44-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter that had me sold. We all knew he was fast, but the second gear he was able to hit to break free of defenders was simply jaw-dropping. He has that "it" factor that makes him a guaranteed first-round pick.
It was always questionable with Watkins. Some had him high on draft boards, while others still had a few questions with him. After his performance against Georgia Tech, Watkins has convinced me he may be the first receiver taken next year in the draft.
But Martavis Bryant Isn't Too Shabby, Either
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It's simply unfair how many playmakers Clemson has on offense. With Watkins being the most popular, Martavis Bryant can sometimes fly under the radar.
Not in this game.
Bryant caught five passes and set a career high with 176 receiving yards. He also may have had the play of the game with a 76-yard touchdown reception. He stands in at 6'5" and has incredible straight-line speed.
The junior wide receiver is just another Clemson player who will soon receive some serious love from NFL draft scouts.
Tajh Boyd May Be the Best ACC QB Ever
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Tajh Boyd had a flawless performance.
How does 340 passing yards and four touchdowns sound? If that wasn't enough, he also rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown.
On top of it being just another day at the office, Boyd now has 17 career games with at least 300 passing yards, which is just one game shy of Philip Rivers for the most in the ACC. He also set a conference record for most career touchdown passes.
Boyd is by far the best quarterback in Clemson history, but it may be time to throw his name around as possibly the best to ever play the position in the ACC.
But He's Hurt
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Every fan in Memorial Stadium held their breath at the same time when Tajh Boyd went down with what looked to be a shoulder injury. He stayed down for several minutes before jogging off the field and into the locker room.
The good news is that there aren't any broken bones, according to Joe Schad of ESPN. In fact, Boyd came back just a few minutes later and looked like he wanted to go back into the game. He snapped his helmet back on and began warming up his arm.
It's great that this doesn't appear to be a serious injury. However, will he miss any time because of it? With Citadel coming up, Boyd could afford to take a week off if needed. It'll be interesting to see how the coaching staff plays this situation.
Clemson's QB Situation Is Alright
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Whether it's Tajh Boyd or Cole Stoudt who plays next week, Clemson will be just fine at the quarterback position. When Boyd left the game with the injury, Stoudt stepped in and completed both of his two pass attempts, including a 29-yard pass. He also ran for a 13-yard touchdown to give Clemson a 48-24 lead.
The junior quarterback has shown he's more than capable of leading this team. Although much of his playing time comes in garbage minutes, he has the athleticism to make and extend plays with his legs. He also has impressive accuracy for somebody who doesn't see much playing time.
Clemson will be alright.
Georgia Tech Is out of the Race for the ACC Title
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Georgia Tech entered the matchup with hopes that it could still win the Coastal Division. Granted, it would have still needed help from other teams, but the possibility of leapfrogging Virginia Tech, Miami and Duke was there.
Not anymore.
Virginia Tech now controls its own destiny for a spot in the ACC Championship Game and will likely clinch that spot with wins over mediocre teams in both Maryland and Virginia.
The Yellow Jackets needed this win desperately to have a shot. This loss ended that.
Clemson Is Still in the Hunt for BCS Bowl
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The Tigers may be out of the running for the national championship, but a BCS bowl berth is still very much alive. They improve to 9-1 on the season and will likely win their 10th next week against Citadel. If a win can come against South Carolina in the season finale, the Tigers will be a possible Top Five team that is impossible to ignore.
A BCS bowl berth would be the program's second in the last three years.
Whether it's the Orange Bowl again or a chance at an at-large bid, the Tigers have positioned themselves nicely for a chance at a prestigious bowl game with the win over Georgia Tech.
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