First Down Kentucky: Clemson's spread offense could cause problems

Gator Bowl prep is off and running at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. In the lobby on Wednesday afternoon, it was defense day. While Kentucky’s offense is preparing to face a Clemson defense that will be limited by opt-outs, the same isn’t true on the other side of the ball.

Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley will have nearly all their major contributors available on Dec. 29. That figures to give Kentucky’s defense a tough challenge in Jacksonville.

Today on First Down Kentucky, we’re taking a closer look at what Kentucky’s defense is getting ready for when the Cats face off against Clemson.

Modern spread offense

Dabo Swinney made a big change last offseason when he went outside of his coaching tree to make an offensive coordinator hire. TCU play-caller Garrett Riley was brought in to freshen up the Clemson offense. However, not a ton has changed from what we’ve typically seen from Swinney teams.

Clemson is a spread offense that plays with some pace. The Tigers want to stretch defenses out and run into light boxes.

“They spread that ball out really more horizontally,” Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White told the media on Tuesday. “Really get you spread out and they can get the ball out fast.”

Clemson will run a fair share of screens to get defenses moving east-west and then take verticals swings down the field when they feel they have defenses getting too aggressive. The Tigers use a no-huddle approach but this isn’t an offense that uses crazy tempo.

“The pace of play isn’t necessarily crazy speed,” said White. “Now they do have tempo — don’t get me wrong. But they’re just consistently above sort of average in terms of pace.”

Quarterback Cade Klubnik will often look to the line of scrimmage once Clemson gets lined up and snap the ball with around 15-20 seconds left on the play clock. Add this in with their overall efficiency (No. 36 in success rate) and that has allowed the Tigers to get a ton of snaps off. The Tigers currently rank No. 3 nationally in plays per game (76.5).

Clemson will spread Kentucky out and play with pace. Alignment, assignment, and executing on third down will be critical for the Wildcats in the Gator Bowl.

“It’s an offense that understands what they want to be,” said White.

Phil Mafah and Will Shipley will be tough to handle

An argument can be made that Clemson has the most ineffective one-two punch at tailback that Kentucky has seen this season. Phil Mafah and Will Shipley have combined to rush for 147 yards per game on 5.2 yards per rush. This duo has combined to score 16 total touchdowns and is the engine that drives this offense.

Mafah and Shipley each jump out on tape.

Forty-one yards. Untouched. Touchdown.

🏠📞 @PhilMafah1 pic.twitter.com/peQAdT5sPr

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) November 4, 2023

“The two running backs are really, really talented players. They stand out. Their ability to get downhill, their ability in the passing game, the short passing game. Not only do they run the ball really efficiently both zone and gap scheme. Really do a nice job with their GT (counter runs),” White told the media. “The o-linemen work together well.”

Kentucky has to find a way to slow Clemson’s traditional running attack down. The Tigers can struggle when they are unable to establish the run.

Clemson brand has Kentucky locked in

The bowl opponent means everything in today’s college football world. Having a game in a warm weather climate also doesn’t hurt. After getting a repeat opponent last year in the Music City Bowl, there is a buzz at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility due to who Kentucky is playing in the Gator Bowl.

For most players in the Kentucky program, Dabo Swinney’s team was seen as a college football juggernaut that competed for championships. That has the Wildcats excited for the opportunity in Jacksonville.

“When you face somebody that’s got a little bit of cache like a Clemson there’s a focus and understanding that there’s a lot of pride in that program,” White said. “You better show up and play a really, really strong game or you’ll get embarrassed.”

All signs point to Kentucky being a highly motivated football team this postseason. In bowl games, that matters a lot.

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