Florida State vs. Clemson Complete Game Preview
Florida State hasn't had troubles putting up points on Clemson the past two years.
Since Brent Venables arrived from Oklahoma and was hired as the Tigers' defensive coordinator before the 2012 season, he has helped the team improve gradually. Last season, Clemson allowed just 22.2 points per game (24th best in the Football Bowl Subdivision).
But FSU has been able to put some impressive numbers on the board. In 2012, FSU shook off a sluggish start to win 49-37 behind EJ Manuel's 380 passing yards and two touchdowns. And last year, in a top-5 showdown, visiting FSU routed Clemson 51-14 as Jameis Winston threw for 444 yards and three touchdowns.
That's 1,232 offensive yards by FSU the past two seasons against the Tigers. Clemson will try again to slow down FSU's offense when the teams face off on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET (ABC).
But the game has added drama now. FSU prepares quarterback Sean Maguire to start in the wake of the suspension of Jameis Winston, which was announced Wednesday as a half-game suspension but extended to a full game on Friday night.
FSU Keys to Victory
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Run Early and Often
A strong running game is the best way to support Sean Maguire. And FSU has plenty of talent at running back, players with speed who can take the pressure off Maguire's shoulders.
FSU struggled to establish the run against Oklahoma State. The Seminoles managed just 106 rushing yards on 31 carries in the season opener, and the lack of a push up front prevented FSU from building on a 17-0 lead in the second quarter.
After rushing for 210 yards against The Citadel, there are fewer concerns. Dalvin Cook led the team in carries (13) and rushing yards (67). With Karlos Williams, Mario Pender and Cook, FSU will need to wear down Clemson's defensive front.
FSU has won the past two games in the series on the passing of EJ Manuel and Jameis Winston. But Georgia ran for 328 yards in a Week 1 win over Clemson, so expect FSU to pound away with the ground attack too.
Don't Let QB Changes Have an Affect
Clemson will play two quarterbacks on Saturday night for a number of reasons. But the best is that utilizing both senior Cole Stoudt and freshman Deshaun Watson will throw enough of a curveball at FSU's defense.
Stoudt is the safe choice, a quarterback who can be effective but is a large drop-off from what the Tigers had in Tajh Boyd the past few years. He will likely start and play often, but Clemson will mix in enough of the dynamic Watson (a play or drive here and there) to see how the Seminoles react.
It's a tough situation for Clemson. Was this a home game, the Tigers might be inclined to use Watson more often. But will he be rattled on the road in front of 84,000 fans?
For FSU's defensive players, they will have to be cognizant of any QB changes in the middle of a drive. This will take preparation and planning on how to align the defense depending on whether Stoudt or Watson is in the game.
Clemson Keys to Victory
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Don't Take Sean Maguire for Granted
Maguire was been put in a very challenging position. But he is at home with a senior-led offense surrounding him. Clemson needs to not enjoy the fact that they won't have to deal with Winston and focus on stopping FSU's playmakers.
Clemson has an experienced, senior-filled defensive front that should try to put pressure on Maguire, especially if end Vic Beasley is able to move around from the right side to the left side and disrupt Maguire's rhythm.
Clemson will try to put pressure on Maguire with its four down linemen, and then things get interesting. Do the Tigers bring more pressure with an added linebacker or safety? Or do they drop into coverage?
The task is tougher now, as FSU has developed more passing targets beyond Rashad Greene and Nick O'Leary. So Clemson will need to keep a close eye on Jesus Wilson and Kermit Whitfield, who could both be big factors on Saturday.
Take the Pressure off Stoudt
Clemson can't put too much of the load on quarterback Cole Stoudt's shoulders. He can sustain drives and isn't mistake-prone, but he lacks the dynamic arm and feet of now-graduated Clemson QB Tajh Boyd.
The Tigers can't win the game by asking Stoudt to drop back and throw 40-45 times. Clemson's line has been shaky, but there are also lingering injury concerns about FSU's defensive front.
Head coach Jimbo Fisher said defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (ankle) would return to practice on Monday and will play Saturday, but how much can Goldman play, and how effective will he be? If Clemson is able to run—and help Stoudt move the chains—that will make the night easier for the offense, and the Tigers will have a chance at the upset.
FSU Players to Watch
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Sean Maguire
A redshirt sophomore, Maguire was No. 4 on the depth chart 18 months ago. But Maguire is in position now to start and put FSU in position to win.
Maguire has a strong, accurate arm and could have started at other Division I programs. He chose FSU, and coach Jimbo Fisher, over a host of other schools (like Penn State, Rutgers, Syraucse, Boston College and Connecticut, per 247Sports). Maguire has completed just 16 of 26 college passes and he must display poise while distributing the ball to FSU's playmakers.
Cameron Erving
This really is the matchup of the game as the All-American left tackle goes up against an All-American defensive end in Vic Beasley. Erving didn't allow a sack in the 2013 matchup, and Beasley was limited to just two tackles.
While Erving has only been an offensive lineman for two seasons, he has developed into one of the nation's top linemen. His decision to stay at FSU for his senior season helps give Winston (and now Maguire) peace of mind.
Ronald Darby/P.J. Williams
The juniors have both been nursing hamstring injuries that have slowed them the past month. Darby has been able to play through it, but FSU gave Williams some rest against The Citadel on Sept. 6.
While Clemson lacks a playmaker in the vein of star Sammy Watkins, who is now off in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, the Tigers have speed and talent at the position: Artavis Scott (eight catches for 205 yards, two touchdowns), Mike Williams (seven catches, 171 yards) and Adam Humphries (eight catches, 45 yards). Scott is a vertical threat, and Williams had a 38-yard grab against Georgia.
Many quarterbacks are reluctant to even test Darby. But expect both Darby and Williams to be busy.
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Clemson Players to Watch
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Vic Beasley
Clemson's senior All-American must be able to put pressure on Sean Maguire and Jameis Winston. Beasley usually lines up on the right side, rushing against the offense's left tackle, but he should also move around to the left side.
He is a game-changing player and had 61 tackles and 13 sacks last season for Clemson. But Cameron Erving held Beasley to just two tackles in 2013, so that will motivate Beasley to make more of an impact this time.
Artavis Scott
The freshman has been quick to make an impact, leading the Tigers with 205 receiving yards. After hauling in a 35-yard reception over a Georgia defender in the season opener, Scott then caught six passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns in a rout of South Carolina State.
Scott is by no means on the level of Sammy Watkins, but he is fast and has chemistry with Stoudt. So while he's still learning, he will be a handful for FSU corners Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams.
D.J. Howard/C.J. Davidson
Clemson doesn't really have a No. 1 tailback at the moment as the Tigers have also struggled to establish a running game. But Howard and Davidson each have two rushing touchdowns this season.
The Tigers can't be one-dimensional and expect to beat FSU on Saturday. So Clemson will need to use a combination of Howard and Davidson—along with designed runs by quarterbacks Cole Stoudt and Deshaun Watson—to keep the chains moving.
What They Are Saying
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FSU Coach Jimbo Fisher
"Did anybody watch (games) Saturday? Does anybody know what anybody is yet? Think about the games that were tight games that really shouldn't have been. Teams that have won big and then got beat. This early in the season, let's put it this way: If you were putting money in the stock market, I'd kind of hold my money out on everybody until it gets a little later in the season. All teams are a work in progress. Of Saturday's games, of all the things that jumped out at me, that jumped out at me as much as anything."
On the Clemson offense after Tajh Boyd's graduation: "They are still just as effective. They throw the ball extremely well. I think their receivers—they are very dynamic at wideout. I think they have good backs, and I think their line has done a good job. And I think (Cole) Stoudt has done a really good job. You go back, he's still running the ball down in different situations and running their counters and powers and quarterback runs and pulling it. And Deshaun (Watson) when he comes in and he has his package and the things he does. I don't see a lot of big difference. I really don't."
"Continued to play a lot of young players in the game (vs. The Citadel). Really excited to see them in the game on offense and defense, and really excited about the future of what they can do. They have got to continue to grow, and that's going to be a big part of how we improve as a team to keep building the depth and the things that we do."
FSU quarterback Sean Maguire
On his conversation with Fisher about starting vs. Clemson: "He said, 'The game plan is not changing. This team is not changing. We are going to go out there in the first half and do everything that we usually would.' He has all the confidence in the world in me. He just expects nothing to change and so do I.''
"You don't wish bad things upon anyone. (Winston) said the same thing to me. It's a blessing for you, to get to go out there and play with the team."
Suspended FSU quarterback Jameis Winston
On his suspension: "I just want to apologize to the university, to my coaches and to my teammates. I'm not a me person. But in that situation, that was a selfish act. That's not how you do things around here. I really want to apologize to my teammates because I have now made a selfish act for them."
"You have to overcome adversity. That's one thing at Florida State we do—we're going to overcome adversity. When I do get my opportunity to play, I'm going to do everything that I can. Because I have to accept that. That's going to eat me up. I want to be out there on the field with my teammates. But I did something, so I'm going to have to accept my consequences. I'm going to apologize to my team. We're not going to think about that. We're not going to think about negative things. We're going to think about moving forward and winning the game."
Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney
"I think that this is a tremendous, tremendous football team in every phase: Great kicking game, all senior offensive line, obviously the Heisman quarterback, great skill, and then defensively just very talented and deep, as well."
"Got experience on experience and that's a great matchup to watch. But you know, they are familiar with each other. These guys have been kind of battling against each other for the last several years, I guess since 2011 when they were all freshmen."
Prediction
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FSU coach Jimbo Fisher will do whatever he can to keep the game plan straightforward and let Sean Maguire be effective. Fisher will surely lean on the ground attack a little more, but Maguire simply needs to complete short- and intermediate-range passes to help the Seminoles sustain drives.
Getting FSU in good field position to at least make some field goals—and a touchdown here and there—will be essential. FSU's best weapon on Saturday could be kicker Roberto Aguayo, who has made 27 of 28 field-goal attempts in his career and was the Lou Groza Award winner (nation's top kicker) in 2013.
Clemson is still figuring things out on offense. Quarterback Cole Stoudt has been effective at times and has some talent around him. But an anemic ground attack will likely be the Tigers' downfall.
FSU may struggle to run against a tough Clemson defensive front, but the Seminoles will be able to throw to move the chains. Clemson will manage a few touchdowns, likely more than the 14 points the Tigers scored last season versus FSU, but it won't be enough. Expect a close game but, even with Maguire, FSU should be able to escape with a win.
FSU 27, Clemson 20
Bob Ferrante is the Florida State Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Stats courtesy of Seminoles.com and Clemsontigers.com. Follow Bob on Twitter. All recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.
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