Clemson football: 3 biggest 2021 offseason questions for Tigers

1. Can the defense play better against elite competition?

Clemson’s last two outings in the College Football Playoff were two blowout losses. There is an argument that Clemson ran into two buzzsaws in LSU and Ohio State, the Tigers were not supposed to get blown out in either game. The Tigers surrendered a total of 91 points their last two games in the playoff. Against LSU, Joe Burrow threw for 463 yards and five touchdowns.

What was troubling about that game was how LSU’s dynamic duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson abused Clemson’s defensive backs. They combined for 18 receptions and 327 yards and two touchdowns. That was against a secondary that featured two defensive backs (A.J. Terrell and K’Von Wallace) that are on NFL rosters.

This past season in the national semifinal, Justin Fields torched Clemson for 385 yards and six touchdowns. He spread the wealth against Clemson with Chris Olave leading the charge with six catches and 132 yards and two touchdowns.

What’s most troubling in both games was the lack of pressure the defense was able to get on either quarterback and how poorly the secondary played against two top pass offenses. Though Burrow was sacked five times, many of those were when the game was out of reach and came when Clemson brought extra pressure.

The secret sauce in today’s game is getting pressure with four; Ohio State proved that against Clemson this year. It will be interesting to see how the upgrade in talent will improve Clemson’s defensive play against playoff-level talent.