Clemson-N.C. State Preview
Clemson's running game looks to shake off a slow start and take advantage of North Carolina State's poor rushing defense when the ACC rivals meet in Raleigh on Saturday.
The 15th-ranked Tigers (3-0, 1-0 ACC) have totaled 376 rushing yards and 3.7 per carry, scoring four touchdowns.
The numbers represent a big drop-off from last season through three games, when Clemson had 538 rushing yards, 4.5 per carry and seven scores. The Tigers went on to lead the conference with 2,832 yards on the ground, a 5.7 per-carry average and 31 rushing touchdowns.
"At some point, they are going to loosen up a bit and we'll run better," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said.
The Tigers hope to re-establish their running game against North Carolina State (1-2, 0-1), which has allowed a conference-high 648 rushing yards. The Wolfpack have allowed at least 200 in all three of their games.
Clemson running back James Davis is off to a solid start but the latter half of the team's "Thunder and Lightning" backfield is not. C.J. Spiller has been held to 85 yards and no touchdowns on 26 carries this year after rushing for 938 yards and 10 scores as a freshman in 2006.
James Davis, who led Clemson with 1,187 rushing yards and 17 TDs last year, has been given only 16 carries over the past two weeks in blowout victories. Still, he's rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
"We haven't run as much, so that's probably why we're not as effective," Spiller said after having minus-1 yard rushing on nine attempts in last Saturday's 38-10 win over Furman.
While Clemson's ground game was limited to 60 yards - 58 by James Davis on nine carries - first-year starting quarterback Cullen Harper responded by completing 16 of 19 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
Harper has completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 696 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions.
"He's answered every test so far," Bowden said.
Clemson is seeking its first 4-0 start since 2000, when it opened with eight consecutive victories. However, this is the Tigers' first road game after going 2-3 away from Death Valley last year.
Defensively, the Tigers are struggling, allowing an average of 401.5 total yards in the last two games after giving up 236 to then-No. 19 Florida State in a 24-18 season-opening win on Sept. 3. Their run defense has surrendered 527 yards, ranking ahead of only N.C. State in the ACC.
"I know I can play better and the team can play better," said Clemson safety Michael Hamlin, who had an interception and a fumble recovery against Furman. "We have our first road test at N.C. State next week and we'll have to be ready to play."
The Tigers are looking for their fourth consecutive win over the Wolfpack, winning the last meeting at Raleigh 31-10 on Oct. 13, 2005.
North Carolina State halted a nine-game losing streak last Saturday with a 38-17 win over Wofford of the Football Championship Subdivision.
"Relief," Wolfpack senior cornerback Jimmie Sutton III said. "That's a good word right there."
The victory also was the first for coach Tom O'Brien, who was hired from Boston College to revive the once-competitive program after a 3-9 record last season. He's won both games he's coached against Clemson, leading Boston College to two overtime wins.
O'Brien is likely to continue to rely on Andre Brown on offense after the junior tailback rushed for 133 yards and a career-high three touchdowns last week. He's run for 269 yards this year and has another 97 on 11 receptions.
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