The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clemson wants to limit Jackson's running SATURDAY’S GAME
Swinney: Tigers’ offense can help by avoiding turnovers.
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson saw it all last year from Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson.
He came into Clemson a year ago with gaudy stats and plenty to prove against one of the country’s best defenses.
Jackson did not quite live up to the hype in the first half; the Tigers’ defense bottled him up as Clemson took a 28-10 lead. Then Jackson led five straight scoring drives, giving Louisville a 36-28 advantage with seven minutes to play.
Clemson rallied and went on to win the game 42-36 and later the national title. It was one of many impressive performances by Jackson, who walked away with the Heisman Trophy.
Now third-ranked Clemson (2-0) gears up for another shot at Jackson when the Tigers play Saturday night at No. 14 Louisville (2-0, 1-0) in an Atlantic Coast Conference game.
Clemson defensive coordi- nator Brent Venables doesn’t
like to show his players high- lights of Jackson too long.
“Some of it’s fun,” he said, “and then the more you see of it, the more sick you get.”
Jackson made a lot of Clem-
son coaches, players and fans son had 319 yards with three ill with his second-half per- touchdowns and one sack. formance a year ago. After Jackson and the Cardinals totaling just 138 yards with no were knocking on the door of touchdowns and four sacks a game-winning score when the first two quarters, Jack- receiver James Quick came No. 3 Clemson at No. 14 Louisville, 8 p.m., ABC
up a yard short at the Clemson 3 on fourth-and-12 with 33 seconds left.
Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell said those who went against Jackson last year are more wary this time.
“Obviously, you know what he can do with his feet. He can make any move you want, all the juke moves,” Ferrell said. “You’ve really got to gang-tackle a guy like that.”
That’s what Clemson did in the opening half.
Where the Tigers went wrong after halftime was giving Jackson too many opportunities, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. The Tigers threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles. Two of the picks came in the second half and led to touchdowns.
“Hopefully, we can do a little better job of taking care of the ball and maximizing our opportunities when they present themselves,” Swin- ney said.
Clemson cornerback Ryan Carter said Jackson hurt the Tigers when he broke from the pocket and made plays on the run. It will be essential, Carter said, to keep him behind the line and force him to pass.
“We know what he can do when he tucks it and runs it,” Carter said.
Jackson has accounted for 1,010 yards and eight touchdowns in wins over Purdue and North Carolina this season.
He became the second player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to record consecutive games of 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing.
“Lamar is amazing,” Louisville offensive tackle Geron Christian said. “It helps you out a lot because you know he can make plays. He keeps people in line and the defensive front at home.”
Clemson has had strong start defensively, getting 11 sacks in shutting down Auburn last week.
The Tigers have given up just nine points this season — Louisville has scored more than that in five of eight quarters — and are second nationally with just 118 yards allowed per game.