Athlon Sports: Why Clemson will or won't make 2018 CFB Playoff
Since the birth of the College Football Playoff in 2014, Clemson has proved itself worthy of the annual preseason playoff buzz.
The start of fall camp is just weeks away, and the young 2017 Tigers' squad proved their potential with last years' playoff run. The team will return eighteen starters including senior QB Kelly Bryant, the nationally feared defensive line, and exciting young guys like Travis Etienne and Tee Higgins. That's without taking into account the exciting litter of fresh talent that will roam Clemson's campus next season.
Still, there are always questions as to how a season will turn out. That's why Athlon Sports writer Jon Kinne came out with three reasons why the Tigers will or won't make the CFP in 2018.
Here are a few cliff notes of what Kinne had to say about the Tigers.
Kinne's reasons why Clemson will make the final four:
1. Dabo
In the four years of the playoff, Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State are a combined 10-5 in the tournament. All five of the losses have come to one of the other Big Three teams. Clearly, Dabo Swinney has put himself in good company by competing with -- and holding his own against -- Nick Saban and Urban Meyer.
2. Defensive front seven
Clemson has three or four defensive linemen that could get selected in the first few rounds of the NFL draft when their time comes.
3. Skill position talent
All of Clemson’s weapons have one thing in common: they can all really, really run.
What Kinne thinks will stop the Tigers:
1. Offensive line
Many teams struggle with Alabama’s defensive front, but the Tigers' blockers were manhandled in the title game and now they must replace both guards.
2. Downfield passing
Despite having some dangerous threats at the receiver position, the junior quarterback (Bryant) rarely was able to stretch the field. His 7.04 yards per attempt ranked 70th in the nation in 2017.
3. Secondary depth
Trayvon Mullen, A.J. Terrell, and Mark Fields are solid. The questions arise should one or more of those corners go down with an injury as one of two freshmen would probably be next in line.
Athlon's final prediction has Clemson finishing No. 2 with a 12-1 record.
"But in reality, this team is loaded," Kinne wrote. "The Tigers' defensive front is off the charts and they have electric athletes on both sides of the ball."
Read the full article from Athlon Sports here.