Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
’Noles facing stiff test
QB Watson leads unbeaten Clemson’s offensive attack
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida State football team held Clemson’s high-powered offense to one of its lowest scoring outputs last season.
But the Seminoles’ defense isn’t hanging its hat on the past.
“Last year doesn’t really do much for us, except give us film to watch,” junior starting safety Trey Marshall said.
FSU’s defense has also gone through significant changes since holding 12 of 13 opponents to fewer than 25 points in 2015.
The Seminoles were torched by Louisville, North Carolina, Ole Miss and USF before turning in their best defensive performances of the season in their past two games, holding Miami and Wake Forest to an average of 16 points and 264 total yards.
Clemson’s offensive duo of Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson and running back Wayne Gallman will give the Seminoles (5-2, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) a true test of their improvements defensively in beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday in Doak Campbell Stadium.
Watson joins a list of strong quarterbacks FSU has prepared for this season — Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, Miami’s Brad Kaaya, Mississippi’s Chad Kelly, North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky and USF’s Quinton Flowers — but may be the most polished all-around prospect of them all.
Watson has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,950 yards with an ACC-leading 20 touchdowns, while rushing for 279 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers (7-0, 4-0).
“He’s as good as anybody,” Jimbo Fisher said. “I mean, you watch the consistency he plays with, he throws the deep ball, the short ball, can run . ... He’s a very, very special player, he really is.”
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday that Gallman, who suffered a concussion against NC State on Oct. 15, will play against Florida State.
The senior leads Clemson’s rushing attack with 489 yards and five touchdowns. Fisher called Gallman a “two-headed monster” because of his ability to run physically between the tackles and play a role in the passing game out of the backfield.
Starting FSU cornerbacks Marquez White and Tarvarus McFadden know they’ll have their hands full defending receiver Mike Williams, whom many consider an NFL prospect.
Williams leads the Tigers with 578 yards receiving and has four touchdowns.
McFadden’s five interceptions — tied for most in the nation — are among 15 turnovers the Seminoles have forced this season, an area Clemson’s offense has had some trouble with in its pursuit of a second consecutive berth in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Swinney likened the turnovers to a “rash, but that will turn.” He’s proud of the fact his team has also forced 16 turnovers and that the miscues have not hindered their results.