Miami football faces Clemson defense full of playmakers

When Miami plays at Clemson on Saturday the Hurricanes will face a Clemson defense full of playmakers. Ten players on Clemson have 30 or more tackles, 11 have multiple tackles for loss and seven have two or more sacks. Offensively the Miami football team will face a Clemson defense that is difficult to game plan for.

Linebacker Trenton Simpson leads the Clemson defense with 56 tackles. Defensive end Myles Murphy paces the Clemson defense with 10 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. The Miami football team will be challenged with three starters on the offensive line expected out against an elite Clemson defensive line.

K.J. Henry is the other Clemson defensive end with Brian Breese and Tyler Davis as the defensive tackles. Clemson is third in the ACC allowing 111.60 rushing yards and 3.57 yards per carry this season. The Tigers lead the ACC with 79 TFLs and are sixth with 23 sacks. Clemson is tied for 11th nationally with a 9.1 percent sack rate.

Miami is tied with Clemson for third in the ACC with 52 TFLs allowed and the Hurricanes are seventh in the conference permitting 25 sacks. The Hurricanes are tied for 51st nationally with a 16.6 percent stuff rate offensively and 55th nationally with a 5.5 percent sack rate against them.

Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and safety Jayln Phillips are right behind Simpson with 54 tackles. Clemson is deep and extremely talented defensively. Backup DT Ruke Orhorhoro is another player to watch on the Clemson defense with six TFLs and two sacks. The ability of quarterback Jacurri Brown could counter Clemson defensively.

Brown is a mobile, dual-threat QB with 151 rushing yards in the last two games and 205 in six games this season. Clemson has at least four TFLs in every game this season. Notre Dame held Clemson to their season low of four TFLs in a 35-14 Fighting Irish win. The Tigers had one sack versus Louisiana Tech and Notre Dame.

Notre Dame who has losses this season to Marshall and Stanford ran for 263 yards averaging 5.6 YPC against Clemson. The Fighting Irish had a blocked punt and an interception return for TDs. If Miami is going to be competitive against Clemson they will have to neutralize the Tigers’ defensive playmakers.

Miami will likely have to come up with a big play on their own defense and/or special teams. Miami has one kickoff return for a TD and two interception return TDs including one for 99 yards by Kamren Kinchens last week. Expect Miami to try and establish the run and to get their playmakers in open space.