Clemson Football: 5 keys for successful 2019 season

5. Improving and empowering Trevor Lawrence

The idea that a quarterback who just recorded one of the best statistical seasons from a freshman needs to improve sounds a bit ridiculous on its head.

So why is improvement from Trevor Lawrence a key for Clemson’s 2019 success?

First: Clemson’s 2019 defense projects to be good, but will likely fall short of the historically great performance of the 2018 unit. The simple fact is that the Tigers’ margin for error will be slightly tighter than last year if the defense isn’t as good. Of course, none of this may matter if the offense continues to score at the same clip it did with Lawrence under center in 2018 – a blazing 42 points per game.

Now that teams have a full season of tape and a full offseason to study it, opponents will better understand how to adjust their defensive game plan to stopping – or at least slowing – Lawrence’s production. This maxim holds true in the world of college football: if you aren’t improving, you’re falling behind. Opponents will now be more willing to throw exotic schemes against the rising-sophomore as they key in on perceived weaknesses. Learning to handle the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach from defenses will be the necessary step Lawrence must take.

Expectations and pressure can’t be ignored in this equation, either. It won’t be enough to put up the same numbers from his freshman season. Lawrence is expected to lead Clemson to back-to-back championships and win the Heisman.

If Clemson finds its way back into the College Football Playoff, Lawrence will still be questioned unless he’s putting up bigger numbers and flashier plays. Fair or not, the best way to avoid these distracting questions is to improve and outperform his freshman self.