Five Reasons GT Should Be Nervous About Clemson

We'll touch on five reasons GT should be confident heading into Death Valley tomorrow, but in honor of Michael from Atlanta coming up short on the Project Runway finale tonight we'll go over the reasons that Tech should be nervous about doing the same against the Tigers this weekend (and admit it, you watched PR too).

#1: Clemson's Offensive Line

This is the strength of Clemson's offense, even moreso than the terrific backfield. Clemson's line is big, experienced and plays exceptionally well together. The fact that they are leading the ACC in rushing is no mistake, and throw in only 4 sacks given up all year and you have one of the better lines in the country. Tech's defense is based on pressure, both on the running and passing games - but without that pressure the scheme can be exposed. If there's an o-line that can slow down Tenuta's blitzes, it's this one.

#2: CJ Spiller

Yes, James Davis is the primary ball carrier, and yes, he's a heck of a back. The freshman sensation is the one that strikes deep fear in defensive coordinators hearts though, you just can't simulate his explosive speed and quickness in practice. Tech has possibly the fastest set of linebackers that Clemson will face all year as well as a big secondary that tackles well, and the freshman very well might struggle at times - but it only takes one bad angle, one guy slipping, one head turned the wrong way and he can take it to the house. Spiller is the kind of guy that can be bottled up all game and then break it open on a single play in the return game or out of the backfield.

#3: Gaines Adams

I'm pretty sure the GT coaches have seen the Wake game tape a couple of times, you remember that game where Wake was about to go up 20-3 and put it away? The one where Adams single handled blew up a field goal attempt, stole the ball out of mid-air and scored a long touchdown? Yeah, he's pretty good. And by "pretty good" I mean "scares the crap out of me". Tech can ill afford turnovers in the backfield or on hurried throws forced by pressure, the offensive line is going to have to do yeoman's work to keep Adams from wreaking havoc.

#4: Will Proctor

I gotta admit, I was never Charlie Whitehurst's biggest fan, but he was a solid quarterback and I thought Clemson would take a step back this year at that position. In fact, Proctor has probably been better, at least to this point in the season. Now, he hasn't faced a fearsome gauntlet of defenses (Florida State's is good, but not quite the ferocious baby eating versions of the mid-90's), and Tenuta has a long history of destroying young quarterbacks with his schemes and blitzes - but Proctor has a terrific offense line to protect him and a stable of great backs to help slow the pressure down. Given time to throw, Proctor is quite capable of carving up a secondary and he isn't a statue in the pocket either. GT's vaunted defense is going to have their hands full, and the still young secondary will be tested.

#5: Kick-Off Coverage

It's funny to listen to Clemson fans moan about how bad their kickoff coverage unit is, and it's pretty darn bad (111th in the country). Georgia Tech's is even worse (117th)! Combine a horrid kickoff coverage unit with speedsters in the return team for Clemson like Jacoby Ford and CJ Spiller and you have the recipe for a disastrous backbreaking return at some point in the game. Maybe this should be #1, it's impossible to overstate just how bad Tech's coverage unit is.