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Clemson Football: 3 areas Trevor Lawrence must improve to win Heisman

By Briley Hughes

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. Clemson defeated Notre Dame 30-3. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. Clemson defeated Notre Dame 30-3. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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CLEMSON, SC – SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers is helped from the field after taking a hard hit from the Syracuse Orange during the football game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC – SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers is helped from the field after taking a hard hit from the Syracuse Orange during the football game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

1. Protecting his body on runs

Early in the second half of his first-ever start, Trevor Lawrence took a big, awkward hit and left the game with an injury. If not for the heroics of backup Chase Brice, Clemson’s dream season of 2018 might have been just that – a dream.

Though he didn’t miss any more time due to injury, Clemson fans held their collective breath several other times during the season following a run and a nasty hit on Lawrence.

Generally, a tall and gangly quarterback will struggle getting his body to the ground before defenders collapse with bone-crushing hits, and Lawrence was no exception. Whether he was pushing for extra yardage or even trying to slide to avoid a hit, Lawrence routinely took unnecessary hits when he carried the ball.

Because having Lawrence keep the ball in RPO situations is integral to the success of their ground attack, the coaching staff needs to sharpen the star quarterback’s sliding technique. It should also emphasize that, though he should remain a willing runner, Lawrence should slide or scoot out of bounds before defenders arrive instead of taking a hit for a few extra yards or even a first down.

dark. Next. Clemson Football: Are lofty Trevor Lawrence expectations fair?

As draft experts are wont to do, Lawrence has been compared to Peyton Manning because of their similar physical characteristics. Though much more mobile than Manning, Lawrence should take a page out of the Hall of Famer’s playbook and avoid contact at all costs.

Clemson’s season, and Heisman hopes, depends on it.

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