Jayron Kearse: Clemson’s Kearse not impressed by Notre Dame

For Dabo Swinney’s Tigers, it will have been over two weeks since they last hit the field, winning 20-17 at Louisville on September 17.

Fuller didn’t think the game was the biggest of his career – the 1978 win over Maryland to win the ACC and the win over Woody Hayes and Ohio State in the 1978 Gator Bowl were bigger, in his mind – but it’s the one he’d like to have back. “Our schedule has to do the talking for us”.

Watson. As I said earlier, he needs to make plays this game and show that he can do it against the big boys. Most of these kids played in that game.

But Clemson is not just Watson surrounded by ho-hum talent.

“The entire secondary concerns you due to their ability to come down and support the run, but yet they play man coverage”, said Kelly. “Just prepare the same way, and not listen to the hoopla and all the noise surrounding the game”.

With any luck, we’ll get what we want from it.

The storm will continue should Notre Dame beat Clemson Saturday night. Aside from Louisville, Clemson has not yet played any notable teams coming into Week 5; the bulk of their conference play is still looming in front of them.

For clarity’s sake, here’s what Swinney said Tuesday. However, Folston tore his ACL in the first game of the year against Texas and will miss the remainder of the year.

The supposed strength of the Notre Dame defense in the pre-season was to be their secondary and so far the returns have been only lukewarm.

The stats back up both coaches’ claim.

A general view of Memorial Stadium during the game between the Miami Hurricanes and Clemson Tigers.

“[This game is] the determining factor for the rest of the season”, said Notre Dame fan Adam Gustine. The Tigers have picked off opposing quarterbacks five times this season, ahead of last season’s pace, when the Tigers collected 11 total interceptions. Like Notre Dame, Clemson enters the matchup undefeated.

On the field, Notre Dame spent the offseason emphasizing its goal of improving a lackluster pass rush from 2014.

“I think he’s primed and ready to roll”, said Tony Elliott, Clemson co-offensive coordinator. To each his own…. “We can’t take a quarterback that can’t stand up to these kinds of environments because it will be raucous and it’s very, very hard to simulate that at practice”. Clemson has struggled with explosiveness in a year when we were not at all expected to struggle with DeShaun Watson healthy at QB.

In week four against UMASS, he carried the ball just 15 times and rushed for 149 yards and another two touchdowns.

He’s not there yet, as much as the Clemson faithful believes he is.

“He’s a game wrecker”. UNC coach Larry Fedora is going back with Marquise Williams at quarterback after pulling him last week in the second quarter against Delaware and replacing him with Mitch Trubisky, who threw for 312 yards and four touchdowns.

Think it’s tough to find a seat at Memorial Stadium?

Clemson Athletic Department officials say there will be no problem playing Saturday’s football game with heavy rain in the forecast, but parking may be an issue.

Wyoming (0-4) at Appalachian State (2-1), 3:30 p.m. – After 49-0 routs of Howard and Old Dominion sandwiched around a 31-point loss at Clemson, the Mountaineers wrap up non-conference play with another breather. “It’s just that simple”.