Lawrence, Clemson pose many problems for hopeful Hokies
There isn’t much that rattles quarterback Trevor Lawrence, which is understandable given what he has to work with at Clemson and what his future has in store.
Today, he’ll make his first trip to Virginia Tech and Lane Stadium, which gained a reputation in the past for representing unfriendly confines for visitors. But this season isn’t like most.
Yes, it’ll be a night game, an element in Blacksburg that, combined with nearly equal parts
adrenaline and alcohol, usually produces one of the most rabid atmospheres in college football. This season, the coronavirus pandemic has emptied the stadium of all but 1,000 fans per game, muting the audience that jumps for joy while Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” blasts through the video board before kickoff.
As if the absence of fans isn’t
enough to make the scene inside Lane Stadium positively serene, Virginia Tech’s three-game skid and 4-5 spiral that has called into question the future of coach Justin Fuente makes the place even less daunting, but Lawrence isn’t your usual visiting quarterback. A Heisman Trophy candidate with a national championship already under his belt for Clemson (8-1, 7-1 ACC), which is fourth in the Associated Press rankings and third in the College Football Playoff rankings, Lawrence insists he’s bummed about missing out on the vintage Lane Stadium days.
“It is a cool place,” Lawrence said. “I wish it was going to be packed out because I heard it’s a really cool environment, but I’m just really excited to go up there. Maybe it’ll snow — the first snow game I’ll be a part of, if it does.”
Though it might break Lawrence’s heart, there’s no snow in the forecast for tonight. Just temperatures in the mid-to-upper 30s.
From Tech’s perspective, the cold might be a welcome factor. It might be one of the most effective allies Tech (4-5, 4-4) has in trying to throw Lawrence out of rhythm.
While Tech is coming in off a much-needed off week after playing nine consecutive weeks, it remains to be seen if the Hokies can be any more effective defensively than they were two weeks ago in a 47-14 loss at Pittsburgh.
Only four of the 127 Football Bowl Subdivision programs playing this season are giving up more pass plays of 10 yards per game than Tech (10.9), while only four FBS programs are averaging more pass plays of 10-plus yards per game than Clemson (13.6). Tech has also surrendered more run plays of 10 yards per game (6.7) than all but six FBS programs.
With a running and pass-catching weapon like running back Travis Etienne (40 plays of 10-plus yards, seventh among FBS players) at Lawrence’s disposal, Tech’s defense has its hands full. That’s leaving wide receivers Amari Rodgers (ACC-best 58 catches for 813 yards and six touchdowns) and Cornell Powell out of the conversation.
“The quarterback and running back,” Tech defensive tackle Jarrod Hewitt said when asked what makes Clemson’s offense so good. “They have good receivers, got a great (offensive) line, but at the end of the day, they have, I think, possibly the first pick in the draft in Trevor Lawrence. You’ve got a guy that’s as explosive as anybody I’ve ever seen playing running back, Travis Etienne. ... They’re great talents.”
After missing more than a month because he was out with the coronavirus, followed by Clemson’s off week and a postponed game at Florida State, Lawrence returned last weekend against Pitt and passed for 403 yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 52-17 win.
It was the kind of game Lawrence needed to quickly revive his Heisman hopes — and to further grab the attention of a coach trying to spark a 22.5-point underdog against Lawrence and a
Tigers program looking to stay in the CFP picture.
“Every now and again you come up against a guy, or see a guy or get a chance to coach a guy you really say, ‘There’s nothing this guy can’t do,’ ” Fuente said. “You look at Trevor, what he’s been able to accomplish, the efficiency of his play, his ability to run the ball basically when they need him to, deliver the ball down the field and run the offense, and by all indications he seems to be a great leader as well. He’s probably going to be the No. 1 pick in the draft, and deservedly so. ... I can’t imagine a guy with a higher ceiling than what his potential is, moving forward.”
No. 4 Clemson (8-1, 7-1 ACC) at Virginia Tech (4-5, 4-4)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Lane Stadium. TV/RADIO: WVEC/790 AM. THE FAVORITE: Clemson by 22.5.
THE BUZZ: Few teams needed a break more than Tech did last week, but will the Hokies have enough left in the tank to try to pull off a monumental upset and put them in position to avoid a losing season? Quarterback Hendon Hooker (1,332 passing yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions,
627 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) and running back Khalil Herbert (924 rushing yards and six touchdowns) can help Tech move the ball, especially on the ground, against Clemson, but the Hokies have to be more effective on third-down plays (converting 35.5%, third-worst in the ACC). Slowing down quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne, who is the nation’s best pass-catching running back, will be dependent upon the Hokies’ ability to apply pressure with defensive ends Justus Reed (6.5 sacks) and Amare Barno (5.5 sacks). Tech is a 22.5-point underdog, and it hasn’t been a bigger underdog at home since 1988 (+23 against West Virginia). It’s hard to imagine Tech staying competitive deep into the game.
THE PICK: Clemson 45-17.