Clemson's 2016 contest against Louisville featured the eventual Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson going head to head against Deshaun Watson in a game matching up a couple of "once in a lifetime" type players.
For many Tiger fans, watching Watson during his career was awe-inspiring. Comments were made that the Gainsville, GA native was "the best quarterback you will ever see in a Clemson uniform," yet just 19 months later the expectation has become that Trevor Lawrence will be even better.
Watson's last two seasons in Clemson were spectacular and going head-to-head with Jackson, we if may have seen Watson at his best. The two Heisman frontrunners delivered an epic battle under Death Valley's lights.
At the time, Jackson was a sophomore and was statistically cruising through the college football season. Watson, a junior, was coming off of a 4,000-1,000 season and would lead Clemson to the national title by the season's end.
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Lamar Jackson warms up before Clemson's 42-36 win in 2016.
Fast forward to 2018, and the expectation seems to be that Lawrence will not only be greater than Watson but that he will supplant Kelly Bryant with ease. Lest we forget that Bryant led Clemson to the Sugar Bowl while being seeded #1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
The "Watson vs. Lawrence" conversations can't be avoided, they've been ongoing since the freshman from Cartersville, GA. was in high school, partially because he re-wrote Watson's Georgia state records. Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott believes those comparisons to be “unfair."
But Scott, Clemson's co-offensive coordinator, didn't entirely dismiss the notion that there were some similarities as well.
For most freshman during their first spring practice, their heads are spinning fast with the speed of the college game, and it takes time for things to slow down. Scott said that when Watson showed up on campus, things were slow for him and he saw flashes of that in Lawrence this spring.
"(When) Deshaun left Clemson, there was this feeling that this might be a once every 20 years type of player, and just a couple years later to have a guy that potentially has that type of skill set is incredible."
- Jeff Scott
"(When) Deshaun left Clemson, there was this feeling that this might be a once every 20 years type of player, and just a couple years later to have a guy that potentially has that type of skill set is incredible and I think really speaks to the Clemson brand and where we are right now as a university and as a program,” Scott said.
As for Clemson's staff, they will absolutely need the 6'6 freshman to contribute this season following a rash of offseason transfers as Zerrick Cooper, Hunter Johnson and Tucker Israel all left the program.
Fortunately for Bryant and Lawrence, the cupboard isn't bare at the skill positions. With an 'embarrassment of riches,' this offense could be successful with either quarterback.
Having a plethora of talent at wideout is crucial as it allows Clemson's offense to stress cornerbacks and safeties who can typically play two to three times as many plays in a game as Clemson's receivers. Late in ballgames, that can give the Tigers a significant advantage. With minimal drop off due to substitutions, it's an edge that most teams lack.
“I’ve got three or four guys in the boundary that I think can all start for us and it’s the same thing at running back and tight end," Scott said.
The Clemson offensive staff spent three to four weeks this offseason studying themselves. A focal point in the spring was improving the downfield passing game which was a glaring weakness against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
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Deshaun Watson prepares to face the #3 ranked Louisville Cardinals in 2016.
“One thing that we kind of cut our teeth on here at Clemson is a lot of explosive plays down the field, it was lacking at times and inconsistent and it wasn't just the quarterback or just the wide receivers, (it) was a lot of different pieces to that,” Scott said.
With that being said, Scott is happy with how they improved with the deep ball during the spring. He also said that the execution level and tempo will be key as defenses are better equipped for the spread.
But much like Watson and Jackson going head-to-head in 2016, the quarterbacks will continue to be the story.
"I’m excited about the quarterback room. It’s going to be fun to watch those guys over the next 27 practices continue to compete and see who’s ready to go."
