Ohio State Football: 3 keys to victory in 2019 Fiesta Bowl vs. Clemson
By Shane Lunnen
1. Justin Fields and Co. must be perfect
Quarterback Justin Fields has been nearly perfect in his first season as the signal caller in Columbus. The sophomore made it an easy transition from Dwayne Haskins and the Buckeyes did not miss a beat. Now Fields will have to deliver perhaps his best performance to date.
There was little question about LSU’s Joe Burrow winning the Heisman, but Fields finished a close third in the voting behind Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts. His stat line was most certainly Heisman worthy. Over 2,950 yards, 40 touchdowns and only one interception. A 40-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio is insane. He also found the end zone ten times on the ground.
Fields will need to deliver another flawless performance against Clemson. The good news is plenty of NFL caliber talent surrounds Fields. Running back JK Dobbins is amazing, with 1,829 yards and 20 scores. The offensive line is one of the best in the country and much better than the one eaten alive by the Tigers in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl.
The receivers, led by Chris Olave and KJ Hill, are dependable and fast. The team is a well rounded offensive machine which averaged just under 49 points per game this season.
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The Clemson defense is number one in the country in total defense. It barely gives up 10 points per game. However the Tigers have not faced any thing close to what it is about to face in the Ohio State offense. If Fields and the Buckeyes can move the ball and sustain scoring drives, they will have more than a fighting chance in this one.