Boston College at Clemson: BC offense vs. CU defense

The Clemson offense, as discussed in yesterday’s preview, is very good. Boston College’s is not. For this Eagles unit, it has been going on three years of misery and woe, and things are unlikely to get any better in Clemson, South Carolina.

Not that it has any relevance to Saturday’s contest, but recall the last time the BC offense came down here: Gary Tranquill’s “game plan” (I use the term loosely) saw to it that the Eagles had their worst offensive performance in years, if not decades, when they only managed 54 yards of total offense.

Now, you’d think Boston College would be able to manage more than 54 yards this time, but they won’t make it easy for themselves, because this team rarely does. The 2011 BC Eagles are 98th in FBS in total offense with 329.8 yards per game, and a very similar 99th in scoring offense with 20.6 points per game. Take out the UMass game, though, and that drops like a stone to 14.5 points per game.

There is no doubt that this is the worst offense in the ACC, and one of the worst in FBS. Here are more FBS and ACC offensive ranks through 5 games (which isn’t really a small sample size anymore, seeing as how the season is almost half-way over):

• Total offense: 329.8 ypg (98th FBS; 12th ACC) — almost 40 yards lower than the next lowest, NC State
• Scoring offense: 20.6 ppg (99th FBS; 12th ACC)
• Touchdowns scored: 11 (fewest in ACC)
• Passer efficiency: 108.7 (105th FBS; 12th ACC)
• First downs: 17.2 pg (T-102nd FBS; 11th ACC)
• 3rd down conversions: 37.33% (86th FBS; 12th ACC)
• Time of possession: 29:21 (71st FBS; 8th ACC)

Not to mention, we’re now also witnessing a long streak of offensive futility in terms of points scored. Boston College has gone twenty (20) FBS games in a row without scoring 30+ points; a streak that goes back nearly two years. (Click to enlarge)

As the chart illustrates, the highest point total of those FBS teams was Kent State, who are about as far from being an AQ team as it gets outside of North Texas. Against AQ teams, the Eagles have maxed out at 23 points; the last time they made the 30 mark against a BCS-conference team was when Montel Harris’s big game slashed NC State earlier in 2009.

As for the Clemson defense, they’ve taken their licks (when you play Auburn, FSU, and VT, you’d expect to, though the Hokies were terrible last week). They only rank 63rd in FBS in total defense with 376 yards per game (6th in ACC), but are better in scoring defense at 20.6 points allowed per game, which is 32nd in FBS (4th in ACC).

I could throw some more stats at you, but look, Clemson’s defense is more than capable of stopping Boston College’s offense. They’ve faced down much fiercer opponents than the Eagles and lived to tell about it, and quite frankly, I don’t think BC’s got the ability to prevent them from having their way.

One reason in particular why I say that is because of Clemson’s defensive line. This group helped the Tigers stifle the Virginia Tech Hokies and hold them to only 3 points in a significant conference win, and that ought to make Eagles fans shudder to think of what they’ll do to us. Clemson’s line is sizable and experienced: Malliciah Goodman (Junior; 6-4, 280), Brandon Thompson (Senior; 6-2, 310), Rennie Moore (Senior; 6-3, 265), and Andre Branch (Senior; 6-5, 260). Branch, by the way, was last week’s ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, and his teammate, Tig Willard, was ACC Linebacker of the Week. Get to know those names, because they are probably going to make Chase Rettig’s day in Clemson miserable.

The bottom line is that when BC’s offense is out on the field, Clemson will win the battle at the line of scrimmage. If previous games are any indication for both of these teams, the Tigers will maul the Eagles offensive line and our guys will get beaten badly. Under the steady guidance of Sean Devine, we’ve gone from O-Line U to No-Line U, and I have definite fear of watching our line dissolve play after play on Saturday. In much the same way that Logan Thomas for Virginia Tech was rendered ineffective, so too will BC’s quarterback be. Frankly, so long as Rettig leaves without injury, I would be satisfied. Ten offensive points for the Eagles would be an achievement.