Shakin The Southland - Clemson v. Oklahoma: Key Match-ups SeriesOrange And White Without The Goggleshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52538/shakin_fav.png2015-12-28T07:00:02-05:00http://www.shakinthesouthland.com/rss/stream/104484772015-12-28T07:00:02-05:002015-12-28T07:00:02-05:00Goodson & Boulware v. Perine & Mixon
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SMsEuCSCx6sGKAXjQFuiG5TRUgY=/0x0:3100x2067/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48433767/usa-today-8940789.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In this third installment of the Key Match-Ups, we're going to look at more of a unit versus unit battle, with out linebackers against their running backs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is the third article in which I highlight a particular one on one match-up that I think will be pivotal in our <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/orange-bowl" class="sbn-auto-link">Orange Bowl</a> victory. This one is a little different since it’s a two on two match-up. Obviously, our defensive line and OU’s offensive line will have a lot to say about the success of the Sooner’s run game. However, I think Goodson and Boulware’s play at the linebacker position will be the difference between us keeping Perine and Mixon in check and us letting them run wild. Like the previous two articles, I’ll start by showing what these players have done this season, how they are utilized in their respective schemes, and then make a projection on how things will play out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><b>Stats</b></p>
<p> </p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" class="MsoTableGrid">
<tbody>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
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<td style="width: 239.4pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: gray; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 128; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" colspan="4" width="319">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span><b>Rushing</b></span></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
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<td style="width: 179.55pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: gray; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 128; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" colspan="3" width="239">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span><b>Receiving</b></span></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>Car</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>Yds</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>Yds/Car</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>TD</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>Rec</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>Yds</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>TD</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Samaje Perine</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>211</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>1291</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>6.1</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>15</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>13</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>84</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>1</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Joe Mixon</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>110</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>749</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>6.8</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 59.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FFFDD0; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="80">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>7</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 59.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FFFDD0; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="80">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>25</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 59.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FFFDD0; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="80">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>345</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 59.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FFFDD0; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="80">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>4</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Wayne Gallman</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 59.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #EA6A20; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="80">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>243</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 59.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #EA6A20; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="80">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>1332</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 59.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #EA6A20; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="80">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>5.5</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 59.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #EA6A20; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="80">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>10</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>18</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>152</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span>1</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><i>I have included Gallman’s numbers as a measuring stick for us Clemson fans. Before you give me grief over the fact that Clemson played one more game than Oklahoma, remember that Gallman sat out the Wake Forest game, so they both played in twelve games.</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p>Samaje Perine’s 1291 yards are good enough for 24th in the country in terms of total yardage, behind our own <span>Wayne Gallman</span> who comes in at 21st. Perine’s 107.6 yds/game is good enough for 25th in the country, again behind Gallman. His 6.1 yds/carry average is very respectable. Perine’s best game was against Texas Tech when he carried the ball 23 times for 201 yards, a whopping 8.7yds/car average, for four TDs. And while this is a new year, let’s not forget that last year Perine set the FBS record for rushing yards in a game with 427 yards against Kansas.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe Mixon has been a strong second back for Oklahoma. As I mentioned in the Green v. Mayfield article, he has almost the same number of carries as Baker Mayfield. While he and Mayfield may have a similar number of carries, Mixon has done much more with his opportunities–his 6.8 yds/car puts him in a tie for 10th best average in the country. Both of these backs are young, Perine is a sophomore and Mixon is a freshman, both are big bruisers, Perine is 237lbs and Mixon is 217lbs, and they are both hard to bring down.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clemson will try to counter with the one-two punch of <span>B.J. Goodson</span> and Ben Boulware. These two linebackers have started every game of the season for the Tigers and, seemingly, played every meaningful snap. Goodson leads the team in total tackles with 91 and Boulware is third with 71. Goodson is second on the team with 46 solo tackles, Boulware is third with 39. Goodson is third in tackles for loss with 14 (only behind our two DEs, Shaq and Dodd), Boulware is fourth with 7. Goodson is third in sacks with 5.5 (again, only behind Shaq and Dodd), Boulware is tied for fourth with 2.5, but also leads the team with 10 QB hurries. Both Goodson and Boulware had an interception this year. Despite the crap I and many others have given them about their coverage abilities, Goodson has 3 PBUs and 4 PDs. Boulware has 6 PBUs and 7 PDs. Goodson has recovered 2 fumbles and caused 1, while Boulware has only recovered 1 but caused 3. One of my favorite memories of these two from this past season was Boulware’s strip and Goodson’s recovery of the fumble at the end of the FSU game.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Place in the System</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As I stated in a previous article, OU likes to run the ball a little more than Clemson does. On one hand, that’s surprising given that they’re supposed to run a version of the Air Raid offense and we’re supposed to run a version of the Smash-Mouth Spread. On the other hand, as effective as Perine and Mixon have been, I’m surprised they don’t run it even more.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oklahoma will generally run one of two base looks. At times, they will line up with the same basic look that Clemson usually operates out of: they’ll have one back, three wideouts, and what we call the H-back. The H-back can either be split out as another wide receiver, on the end of the line like a traditional TE, or just back of the OT. Mayfield will either be in the pistol with the RB lined up deep or in a traditional shotgun formation. This should all look real familiar to Clemson fans.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="OUOneBack" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0yMT-BkzDty9teK5Lsfig2viL6w=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/5853019/OneBackLook.0.png">
</figure>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Here is OU’s one back look with Mayfield in the pistol in front of Perine. Dimitri Flowers, #36, is in at H-back, lined up off the OT’s hip. (All screenshots and video of Oklahoma taken from </i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rR4JE3cvbQ"><i>stonecoldsooner's YouTube channel</i></a><i>.)</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The other look OU will come out with is a two back look. At times, they simply go into a traditional shotgun formation and bring the H-back to the other side of Mayfield to achieve this look. More often, they will take the H-back out of the game and have Perine and Mixon both back with Mayfield. This is a scary look for our front seven.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="OUTwoBack" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QVyC5wHLsdyoSxGnQvYJ_8AZGU8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/5853023/TwoBackLook.0.png">
</figure>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Here you have Perine to the left of Mayfield and Perine to the right. On the next play, OU stayed in the same formation, but subbed out Mixon for TE Connor Knight.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p>Because both Perine and Mixon bring a special mix of size and speed, OU can do a lot of things in their run game. They run the read option enough that defenses can’t afford to simply collapse on the handoff for fear of Mayfield pulling the ball. However, the two backs are doing the vast majority of the work in the Oklahoma running game. They will run traditional power plays between the tackles. They can run power from either lineup, pulling a guard and having either the H-back or the second RB leading the way, though it seems they tend to run these types of plays out of the single back look. Both Perine and Mixon are too big to be taken down by defensive linemen just sticking an arm out. They will run right through those arm tackles, potentially taking the arm with them. This puts a lot of pressure on opposing linebackers to not only fill their gaps, but to fill their gaps with authority, lest they too be road kill.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7rR4JE3cvbQ?rel=0&start=8488&end=8502&autoplay=0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The pulling guard is supposed to kick out the DE, but trips on the way. The guard gets in the DE's way enough to take him out of the play, one LB is blocked by an OL, and the H-back takes out the other LB. Perine is in the secondary untouched.</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7rR4JE3cvbQ?rel=0&start=8520&end=8538&autoplay=0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Oklahoma runs the same play, again to the field side. The difference between the six yard gain before and the short loss here is that TT’s two backers meet the pulling guard and H-back with some force, stacking up the run behind the line.</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If that were all we had to worry about, we’d probably be okay. However, we can’t just send Boulware and Goodson up into the gaps because then OU will simply run around us. They love running off tackle, getting around the end of the box. Again, they will run these plays out of either formation, though this one is especially tricky with both Perine and Mixon in the game. On these plays, Mayfield will run the read option look, giving the ball to one of the backs while the other runs ahead as a lead blocker. The line will usually slant toward the direction the run is going, giving the back multiple cut-back options.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7rR4JE3cvbQ?rel=0&start=8645&end=8658&autoplay=0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>On this play, Perine is to the top of the screen and Mixon is below. The handoff goes to Perine and Mixon sprints to the outside, hoping to seal the edge. Perine can either follow him to the edge or, if he sees a lane, cut back against the grain. Because the DE forces the OT into the backfield, Perine is forced to cut back for a short gain. Notice that at the snap, both LBs sprint down the line and it is the backside LB that ends up making the tackle, holding Perine to a short gain.</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7rR4JE3cvbQ?rel=0&start=8688&end=8702&autoplay=0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>On the very next play, OU lines up in the same formation and again runs it to the field side. This time, Mixon gets the hand off and Perine is the lead blocker (watch him put that NB on his backside). It looks like Mixon will get the corner, but, again, an OL in the backfield causes him to cut back. This time, the LBs may have over-pursued a little, got tangled up with some blockers, and were not there to fill the cut-back lanes. </i></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At this point you might be wondering why I didn’t write an article about our defensive line versus the OU backs. It would surely be a worthy article if anyone wants to write it. But, I didn’t because if you think I don’t know much about CBs, WRs, QBs, RBs, and LBs, you should hear me talk about linemen. I don’t know much about football, even less about offensive line play. Plus, I expect our defensive line to be solid. Lawson and Dodd have provided consistent pressure off the edges and held up well in run defense. Our DT rotation has been solid with individuals taking turns at dominating. I trust they will make their share of plays. As has been the case all year, though, we are good at grinding things out, but then we allow a big play to gash us quickly. If those big plays are going to occur, it’ll either be because of Mayfield scrambling, as I talked about in the previous article, or because our LBs didn’t fill a gap and let these big backs loose in the secondary. Unfortunately, there is precedent.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Everybody remembers how frustrating the Syracuse game was. Right after the Bryant fumble, which I refuse to discuss, Syracuse starts their drive at the 28. We’re lined up in our base defense with Blanks at Sam. Syracuse is in a two back, shotgun look. At the snap, the backs cross, and Mahoney hands the ball off. While this isn’t exactly the kind of look OU will give us, and Mahoney was more of a threat to run than Mayfield is likely to be, it’s troubling how much the motion and the zone read threw us off. Goodson and Boulware both move to their left, following the QB. They double teamed the DT and blocked out Shaq. Goodson should’ve been crashing that gap to meet the back in the hole. Instead, he’s cha-cha shuffling away from the play.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rC_8_87PsV0?rel=0&start=1371&end=1390&autoplay=0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>All still images and videos of Clemson games taken from<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC_8_87PsV0"> tigerray's YouTube channel</a>.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Goodson, for the most part, has been reliable. Boulware has more often been the boom or bust player. While he appears to be calmly playing his assignment in the previous clip, Boulware is not known for standing around waiting for the play to come to him. He gets downhill and looks to hit someone, anyone. That type of aggression is what has endeared him to so much of the fan base. When it’s directed toward his assignment, it’s what makes him such a valuable part of the defense. However, there have been plenty of times this year when Boulware’s aggression has been misdirected. If Goodson makes a mistake, it’s often like the play above where he doesn’t get to his gap in time. If Boulware makes a mistake, it’s often like the play below, where he just goes flying by the play at full speed, leaving room for players to run.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rC_8_87PsV0?rel=0&start=5925&end=5939&autoplay=0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Venables has used our LBs very aggressively all year. He has blitzed Goodson and Boulware on passing downs, wreaking havoc. He has also expected them to crash the line against the run. Because of Venables confidence in our secondary, he has often had Goodson, Boulware, Blanks, Kearse, and Green all in the box. Goodson and Boulware, though, are like the entry team of a SWAT team. The line busts open the door, but the linebackers are the ones rushing through to take on the bad guys. They are expected to be aggressive, but they have to also be aware of what’s going on so they don’t leave the rest of the team open to attack.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If it feels like I’ve been hard on the guys, I have. They have been up and down this year, Boulware especially. Their busts have tormented me. But, when they’ve done their jobs, they’ve made some of the most memorable plays of the year. Enjoy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3syDNpLHkuM?rel=0&start=9243&end=9264&autoplay=0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vejdsR5QCTk?rel=0&start=7680&end=7740&autoplay=0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vejdsR5QCTk?rel=0&start=8280&end=8340&autoplay=0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Projection</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I would assume that OU will come out favoring the run to start the game. Shepard is a good wide receiver, but Perine is the key to Oklahoma’s offense. In the Texas loss, he only ran the ball 10 times for 36 yards. After that game, Oklahoma replaced their two offensive tackles, and their running game has been strong and steady since. Assuming they stay in character, Perine will get the bulk of the carries and they will primarily take aim at the B and C gaps, inside and outside the tackles. Knowing that our DTs are strong, I would expect them to attack the edges, hoping that their tackles can keep Lawson and Dodd out of the backfield. Though I hope I’m wrong, I have visions of Boulware throwing himself into the line on one of these stretch plays, leaving half the field open for a cut-back move and an easy score. If I were OU, I’d probably encourage Mayfield to keep it on the read-option a few more times than usual as well, to see if our linebackers can be fooled. Knowing that we’ll likely be crashing the line hard, faking the handoff on a power play should suck the linebackers in, giving Mayfield room to run if he can clear the line.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How will Venables counter? I assume we’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing, playing downhill and blowing things up in the backfield. I think <span>Dalvin Cook</span> was easily the best back we’ve played this year, but OU feels like a tougher match-up to me. Goodson and Boulware have to be smart, stay in their lanes, but also very aggressive. I believe our DEs will cause plays to break down. When they do, the difference between a tackle for loss and a big gain will likely be whether or not Goodson and Boulware are where they’re supposed to be. If they’re smart and aggressive, we can stop this run game. That being said, the mix of speed and athleticism from both Perine and Mixon is intimidating. Tackling well, or at least holding them up until the cavalry comes charging in, is imperative. Knowing that Shaq and Boulware have both been dealing with shoulder pain troubles me. Tackling these backs is difficult enough; trying to do it with only one good arm is going to be impossible.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While this article has been completely focused on the running game, we all know how susceptible our defense is to the wheel route. Perine and Mixon aren’t big parts of the OU passing game, but knowing that Goodson and Boulware have struggled in coverage, it wouldn’t surprise me to see them try to get the backs out in the flats or up the sidelines against these guys. Perine and Mixon will have a definite advantage in this phase of the game. I don’t know what we can do to prepare for it at this point except pray.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If I don’t sound super optimistic, it’s because I think this match-up is the one were Oklahoma can really hurt us. Perine and Mixon are both solid backs. OU’s run game isn’t overly complicated, but it’s effective. Combining their pace of play with the bruising that these backs hand out makes them tough to stop. Goodson and Boulware have been good, but inconsistent this year. We need them to have their best game of the year. I suspect Perine will go for 150yds, Mixon for another 80, and that they will hit at least one big passing play on a wheel route. The designed runs with Perine and Mixon and Mayfield scrambling will likely be what keeps this game close. I still believe we win the game, but we might lose this battle.</p>
https://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2015/12/28/10664270/clemson-v-oklahoma-key-match-ups-goodson-boulware-v-perine-mixonchsmithjr2015-12-27T08:00:02-05:002015-12-27T08:00:02-05:00Key Match-ups - Green v. Mayfield
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8BFX1ctLZRv9pO9CAY6a1ZZtqfk=/0x0:4630x3087/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48414355/usa-today-8388835.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With the extra time bowl season provides, let's zoom in beyond the unit vs. unit level and examine some of the individual match-ups that will loom large in this semi-final game.</p> <p><span>The next one on one match-up to keep an eye on will be the chess match between TJ Green and Baker Mayfield. This match-up may not be the most apparent, but I hope that by the end of the article, you will see why I think it could be a crucial one.</span></p>
<p><b>Stats</b></p>
<p><span>In order to consider the Mac v. Shepard slugfest in my first "Key Match-Up" article, I introduced some of Mayfield’s stats. </span><span>Here, I want to throw them all out there to see what we’re up against. I include Watson’s stats to give us Clemson fans a benchmark for what Mayfield has done, though it should be noted that Mayfield played in one less game than DW4.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<table class="MsoTableGrid" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;">
<td width="54" rowspan="2" valign="top" style="width: 53.7pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: black; mso-background-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="311" colspan="8" valign="top" style="width: 311.45pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Passing</p>
</td>
<td width="102" colspan="3" valign="top" style="width: 102.35pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Rushing</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td width="39" valign="top" style="width: 39.45pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Comp</p>
</td>
<td width="36" valign="top" style="width: 35.7pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Atts</p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 35.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Yds</p>
</td>
<td width="48" valign="top" style="width: 48.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Comp%</p>
</td>
<td width="47" valign="top" style="width: 47.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Yds/Att</p>
</td>
<td width="33" valign="top" style="width: 33.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">TD</p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 34.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">INT</p>
</td>
<td width="38" valign="top" style="width: 38.2pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Rat</p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 34.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Car</p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 34.7pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Yds</p>
</td>
<td width="33" valign="top" style="width: 33.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #E7E6E6; mso-background-themecolor: background2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">TD</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td width="54" valign="top" style="width: 53.7pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Baker Mayfield</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="39" valign="top" style="width: 39.45pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>243</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="36" valign="top" style="width: 35.7pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>354</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 35.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>3389</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="48" valign="top" style="width: 48.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>68.6</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="47" valign="top" style="width: 47.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>9.57</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="33" valign="top" style="width: 33.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>35</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 34.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>5</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="38" valign="top" style="width: 38.2pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>178.9</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 34.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>131</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 34.7pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>420</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="33" valign="top" style="width: 33.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: red; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>7</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td width="54" valign="top" style="width: 53.7pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal">Deshaun Watson</p>
</td>
<td width="39" valign="top" style="width: 39.45pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">287</p>
</td>
<td width="36" valign="top" style="width: 35.7pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">413</p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 35.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">3512</p>
</td>
<td width="48" valign="top" style="width: 48.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">69.5</p>
</td>
<td width="47" valign="top" style="width: 47.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">8.50</p>
</td>
<td width="33" valign="top" style="width: 33.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">30</p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 34.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">11</p>
</td>
<td width="38" valign="top" style="width: 38.2pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">159.6</p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 34.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">163</p>
</td>
<td width="35" valign="top" style="width: 34.7pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">887</p>
</td>
<td width="33" valign="top" style="width: 33.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; background: #FF9300; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;">11</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><i>Stats compiled from <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/stats/_/id/201/oklahoma-sooners">OU's </a>and <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/stats/_/id/228/clemson-tigers">Clemson's </a>espn.com pages.</i></p>
<p><span>From just looking at the basic stats, it’s clear that Mayfield is an elite passer. Most Clemson fans I know go ga-ga watching Deshaun throw the ball around, and Mayfield’s passing stats are even better than Deshaun’s. Mayfield’s total yardage is less than Deshaun’s, but given that he averaged 282 yds/game, it’s safe to assume that given a 13th game, Mayfield would’ve passed Deshaun. Mayfield’s completion percentage is a little lower as well, but this is due to the fact that Oklahoma takes more shots downfield than Clemson does. This fact also explains why Mayfield averages a full yard more per attempt than Deshaun. Mayfield was able to accumulate a similar amount of passing yardage despite only averaging around 30 attempts per game, never having to throw the ball 40 times in a single game. Watson, on the other hand, averaged 32 attempts per game, but threw more than 40 passes 4 times in the last 8 games, including a 48 attempt outing against Syracuse. The really scary thing when looking at Mayfield’s numbers is his interception total. Only five over the course of the whole season? Wow. He averages an interception every 71 times he throws the ball. He threw two picks against Tennessee, and one pick in three other games, meaning there were 8 games this season where he didn’t throw a single interception. The man just doesn’t make many mistakes throwing the ball. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>Mayfield isn’t as effective or dangerous of a runner as DW4, but he does factor into OU’s run game. Mayfield actually has the second most carries on the team, only behind Samaje Perine. However, he is not a very effective runner. With fewer carries, Joe Mixon, OU’s other RB, almost doubled Mayfield’s yardage. Mayfield only averaged 3.2 yds/car this season. By comparison, Deshaun averaged a solid 5.4 yds/car. Mayfield isn't likely to scare our defense with his running ability, but he has to be accounted for. That’s where TJ Green comes in.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>TJ Green has been the starter at free safety for Clemson all season after being a backup to the dependable Robert Smith last year. Green had all the athleticism you could want in a safety, but it took him a while to understand his assignments. <a href="http://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2015/8/31/9231271/2015-clemson-football-season-preview-defensive-backs">In the season preview</a>, Dr. QT stated that Green was a "breakout candidate" on defense and, as usual, he was correct. Green has become a steady and trustworthy defender for our surprisingly effective defense. Green started all 13 games in 2015. On the season, Green is Clemson's second leading tackler, with 74 total tackles, but he has more solo tackles than anyone else on our defense, 54. Of those 74 tackles, 5.5 were for loss, and 1 was a sack. Green hasn't picked off a pass yet this year, but he does have 3 passes broken up (PBUs) and 3 passes defended (PDs). Green is also credited with forcing 2 fumbles. Green has largely gone about his business quietly, but he is a big part of why our defense is so highly rated. (<a href="http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewContent.dbml?CONTENT_ID=1402263&DB_OEM_ID=28500#TEAM.DEF">Stats courtesy of Clemson University</a>)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span><b>Place in the System</b></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>As I’ve already stated, it’s not an exact parallel but Mayfield is to OU’s offense what Watson is to Clemson’s. The QB position in any offense requires quick recognition and decision making. The style of offense that OU (and Clemson) runs amplifies the importance of these traits. First of all, OU runs a lot of read option. While many of the handoffs may be called with the option look simply used as a decoy, Mayfield keeps the ball enough to force defenses to account for it. When running the read option, Mayfield has to read the defensive end and in a split second decide whether to keep the ball or let the RB have it.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EiF_9q94RWg?rel=0&start=4109&end=4164&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><i>Mayfield on the read-option (which actually looks like it may have been a designed keeper). (All OU video from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiF_9q94RWg">Top College Football's YouTube channel</a>.)</i></p>
<p><span>Mayfield threatens defenses with a third option from the read-option look. Mayfield will often fake a handoff before rolling out to pass. Perine and Mixon require attention, and Oklahoma likes to take advantage of linebackers and safeties following the run fake. From there, Mayfield can roll in either direction. As Mayfield rolls, he usually has a number of receiver options available to him. One of those options is typically a RB or TE that runs a shallow pattern in front of Mayfield. If no one is open, Mayfield has the option to pull it down to run. If he does, that shallow receiver turns into a lead blocker. With the QB outside of the box, away from the defensive linemen and linebackers, and with all the DBs busy keeping track of OU’s WR corp, often the one lead block springs Mayfield for a gain.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EiF_9q94RWg?rel=0&start=580&end=595&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><span><i>Mayfield completing a pass on a roll out after faking the handoff.</i></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EiF_9q94RWg?rel=0&start=8052&end=8067&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><span><i>Mayfield taking off for a run on the bootleg.</i></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>Where Mayfield is most dangerous as a runner, though, is when his protection breaks down and he is forced to run. Oklahoma’s offensive line has struggled in pass protection. Surprisingly, while OU’s offense is ranked </span><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaaoff">3rd in overall S&P+</a><span>, their offensive line is ranked 105th in adjusted sack rate. Oklahoma QBs were sacked 36 times in 2015, with Mayfield going down 34 times, putting OU in a tie for 113th in the FBS for sacks allowed. Mayfield was sacked three times by Baylor (the game I’m pulling all these examples from) for a loss of 18 total yards, twice on second down and once on a third down, and all three times the drives stalled immediately. So, it would appear that getting after Mayfield is an easy and effective way of stopping the OU offense. However, if the rush doesn’t get Mayfield to the ground, he’s able to tuck it and run. I counted 5 times in the Baylor game when Mayfield took a straight drop back, looked for a receiver, couldn’t find anyone, and had to take off running. Those 5 rushes went for 73 yards. This is the primary way Mayfield hurts a defense with his feet.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EiF_9q94RWg?rel=0&start=4912&end=4957&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><i>You're feeling good about covering all those wideouts, and then this happens...</i></p>
<p><span>And, of course, he throws the ball. OU’s passing scheme differs from Clemson’s in a number of ways. First of all, as I already mentioned, they average a full yard more per attempt than we do, which tells me they throw the ball downfield more than us. While they will throw WR screens, they don’t run those plays as often as we do. They will run a lot of the same quick slants and outs as us. However, they attack the intermediate zone much more frequently than we do, while also taking plenty of deep shots. Secondly, their best WR plays in the slot, so the first read on a lot of plays will be different than our progressions. Lastly, their starting tight end, Mark Andrews, has only caught 17 passes on the season, compared to 34 for Jordan Leggett. Andrews might not play as large of a role in their overall offense, but he has 6 TDs on the year—while Leggett has 7—so he is a threat in the red zone. Mayfield rarely makes mistakes, so it is imperative that we are able to lock his receivers up tight and force him to either throw the ball away or take a sack.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>While defense is obviously a team effort, I want to highlight how TJ in particular is tasked with taking on the opposing QB, both in the passing and running game. From the second half of the Notre Dame game forward, nothing worried me about this Tiger defense more than our LBs and NBs in coverage. One way we have tried to cover up that weakness has been by providing safety help over top of the linebackers. With Mac and Tank able to handle the outside on their own, Venables has the luxury of leaving the safeties in the middle of the field. Since he also likes to bring Kearse up into the box, often Green is the lone safety back.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>In the Mac v Shepard article, I talked about how starting with the Miami game, we brought Mac down to the NB position whenever we lined up in a nickel formation. That was another way we masked the weakness of our backers in coverage. We were able to have Mac, Tank, and Baker in coverage, with Green often taking a WR in a four wide set. As you see in the still image below, Baker is at the top of the screen, Mac is on the inside receiver at the top, Tank is ready to jam the outside receiver at the bottom, and Green is waiting to pick up the inside receiver that’s toeing the line. We still end up dropping Boulware and Goodson on this play to clog the middle, but Green is able to provide solid coverage on the WR going deep. This type of lineup gets our best defensive backs on the field all at the same time.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Mac at NB" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/okrOCSc7qk3wG5JdhQpMRMVt_mc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/5847597/MacatNickel.0.png">
</figure>
</p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p7GJ5YvqSIg?rel=0&start=885&end=900&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><i>All Clemson videos and images taken from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7GJ5YvqSIg">tigerray's YouTube channel</a>.</i></p>
<p><span>Of course, Venables is not shy about blitzing with the safeties either. When it works, it disrupts the passing game completely. When it doesn’t…</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4xpXmsKWq8k?rel=0&start=1972&end=1992&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><i>Ugh. Just make the tackle, TJ! Anybody!!!</i></p>
<p><span>And as I’ve said before, Venables likes to use the safeties up in run support. Our safeties are not shy about attacking the line on the read-option. Both Kearse and Green have enough speed to recover in the event of a fake, so their first step is always in toward the line. When facing mobile QBs, it appears Green is also in run support, spying the QB. In both of the clips below, UNC calls a QB run. On both occasions, as soon as Williams brings the ball down, Green heads downhill to meet him at the line. While Green stays back long enough to ensure Williams isn’t going to pass, it looks like he is watching Williams pretty intently, waiting on him to take off.</span></p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4xpXmsKWq8k?rel=0&start=1675&end=1705&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4xpXmsKWq8k?rel=0&start=3638&end=3662&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span><b>Projection</b></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>With all that being said, what do I expect to happen when Mayfield and Green face off? Oklahoma has an established offensive identity and no plans to change. Perine will surely continue to be their workhorse back, carrying the bulk of the running responsibilities. Mayfield will keep it on occasion, though, to keep us from simply collapsing on the RB every time. In fact, knowing that we send our LBs on blitzes so often, it wouldn’t surprise me if Mayfield kept it a little more than usual to take advantage of our aggressive style. When that happens, the hope is that Lawson or Dodd can adjust, or Goodson or Boulware will be coming around the outside, or, if all else fails, Green and Kearse will be there to mop up. </span></p>
<p><span>When Mayfield fakes the handoff for the rollout play that OU likes to run, I expect Goodson and/or Boulware will fire in like missiles. With them trying to track down Mayfield, Green will likely be expected to cover a TE or RB coming across the field. Green has proven that he can hang in coverage, but I expect OU will try to pick him with another receiver or sneak a man out expecting Green to get lost in the wash. We should be prepared for some sort of throw-back play on one of these rollouts eventually too, and that sort of play works if the backside safety doesn’t play his assignment. On standard passing downs, I’d expect us to run a lot of nickel coverage, with Mac shadowing Shepard in the slot. Since OU likes to line up with four wide, I expect Green to either cover the fourth WR in a four wideout set or in the case of a 3 WR and 1 TE set, provide support for the linebacker covering the TE and/or give Mac over the top help so he can jam Shepard at the line. </span></p>
<p><span>Mayfield, like all QBs, likes to throw in rhythm, so affecting the timing of Shepard’s routes will go a long ways toward shutting the passing game down. A lot of Mayfield’s passes are based on quick routes, quick decisions, quick throws. If he doesn’t find an open man quickly, he will take off running. Since we like to blitz our linebackers and leave our DBs in man coverage, if Mayfield gets past the line, everyone else will be downfield with their backs turned, leaving a lot of room for him to run. This is one of my biggest fears on defense going into this game. Hopefully Venables has the same worry and allows Green to spy Mayfield. It would be easy to bring Green up at the snap to cover any quick slants and then let him hang out in the middle to see if Mayfield gets happy feet. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>Mayfield is one of the most precise passers in college football. He doesn’t make many mistakes. Green and the rest of our secondary will have their hands full trying to shut down a passing offense that likes to attack all areas of the field. Green will also have to adjust to having the best offensive weapon lined up in the slot, something we haven't faced this year. And while he’s not a great runner, Mayfield is unafraid to take off and can hurt us scrambling if we’re not attentive. That being said, the more I have worked on these previews, the more confident I am becoming that our defense can handle this offense. If Mac can really take Shepard out of the game, then Green will be freed up to play more run support. This will help in neutralizing Perine, who is just as important to their offense as Mayfield. It will also allow Green to keep Mayfield from extending plays and drives with his scrambling ability. If Green plays with his head, using it to think instead of targeting defenseless players, then I think Green will win this matchup and our defense will frustrate Mayfield into one of his worst performances of the year.</span></p>
https://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2015/12/27/10641768/clemson-vs-oklahoma-key-match-ups-green-v-mayfieldchsmithjr2015-12-26T08:00:02-05:002015-12-26T08:00:02-05:00Key Match-ups - Mac v. Shepard
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mAYOqvU5mjKfr6FK3-Raskzjjis=/0x0:4160x2773/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48286129/usa-today-8957378.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With the extra time bowl season provides, let's zoom in beyond the unit vs. unit level and examine some of the individual match-ups that will loom large in this semi-final game.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>There will be a number of interesting individual and position group matchups when Clemson lines up against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. One of the most important of these will surely end up being the head-to-head match-up of Mackensie Alexander and Sterling Shepard. In this article, I want to compare stats, talk about where each player fits in the overall gameplan, and offer some projections on what to expect as they go <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mano a mano</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>Stats</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> </p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid #C00000; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid #C00000;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" class="MsoTable15Grid4Accent2">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: -1; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastfirstrow: yes; height: 29.65pt;">
<td style="width: 93.1pt; border: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #C00000; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height: 29.65pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 5;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Year</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 86.2pt; border: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #C00000; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height: 29.65pt;" valign="top" width="86">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Games Played/Started</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 101.6pt; border: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #C00000; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height: 29.65pt;" valign="top" width="102">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Receptions</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 94.45pt; border: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #C00000; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height: 29.65pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Receiving Yards</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 92.15pt; border: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #C00000; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height: 29.65pt;" valign="top" width="92">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Receiving TDs</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="width: 93.1pt; border: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>2015</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 86.2pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="86">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;" class="MsoNormal"><span>12/12</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 101.6pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="102">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;" class="MsoNormal"><span>79</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 94.45pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;" class="MsoNormal"><span>1201</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 92.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="92">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;" class="MsoNormal"><span>11</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="width: 93.1pt; border: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>2014</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 86.2pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="86">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>12/13</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 101.6pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="102">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>51</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 94.45pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>970</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 92.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="92">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>5</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="width: 93.1pt; border: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>2013</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 86.2pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="86">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;" class="MsoNormal"><span>12/12</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 101.6pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="102">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;" class="MsoNormal"><span>51</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 94.45pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;" class="MsoNormal"><span>603</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 92.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; background: #FF9996; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="92">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;" class="MsoNormal"><span>7</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="width: 93.1pt; border: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<p style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>2012</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 86.2pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="86">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>13/4</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 101.6pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="102">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>45</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 94.45pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>621</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 92.15pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #C00000 1.0pt; border-right: solid #C00000 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid #C00000 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="92">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>3</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>Sterling Shepard has been a significant part of OU’s offense since his freshman year. As a true freshman, Shepard started four games and played in all thirteen games of the year. He was recognized as a Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Honorable Mention. In 2013, as a sophomore, Shepard started 12 of 13 games, only missing the Iowa St game due to injury. While his reception numbers were similar to his freshman output, he more than doubled the number of TDs he was responsible for, including one rushing TD. Last year, Shepard again started 12 of 13 games. He missed the Baylor game completely and was limited to just one catch over the final four games of the season. However, despite the low production at the end of the year, he had the same number of catches as the year before, but for much more yardage. </span></p>
<p><span>Going into this season, Shepard was on the Biletnikoff Award watch list. While he was never seriously in the conversation for "best in the nation," he still had a great season. His yardage total this season is good enough for 13</span><sup style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">th</sup><span> best in the country and his 11 TDs puts him in a tie for 10</span><sup style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">th</sup><span> best—and don’t forget that Shepard played in one fewer game than some of the guys ahead of him.</span></p>
<p>As a team, Oklahoma is one of the best passing offenses in the country. Oklahoma QBs completed 266 passes for 3,695 yards and 37 TDs this season. That’s good enough for 18<sup>th</sup> in the nation in yards per game, 3<sup>rd</sup> in passing efficiency, and 10<sup>th</sup> in S&P+ passing rankings (3<sup>rd</sup> best offense overall). Baker Mayfield’s 35 TD passes is 6<sup>th</sup> best in the country, his 3389 yards is 19<sup>th</sup> best, his 68.6% completion percentage is 7<sup>th</sup> best, and his 178.9 passer rating is 3<sup>rd</sup> best in the country. This is an offense to be feared, and Shepard is their number one weapon in the passing game. He accounts for 30% of the team’s receptions, 33% of the team’s receiving yards, and 30% of the team’s receiving TDs. By comparison, Corey Coleman, the Baylor receiver who won the Biletnikoff, accounted for roughly the same percentage of receptions and yards, though he did catch a higher percentage of his team’s TDs. All that to say, Shepard plays a massive role in Oklahoma’s passing game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>Shepard’s role in OU’s passing game is most apparent in their biggest games. In the last three weeks of the regular season, OU played @#6 Baylor, #18 TCU, and @#11 OkSt. Against Baylor, Mayfield threw 24 completions for 270 yards and 3 TDs. Of those totals, Shepard had 14 receptions for 177 yards and 2 TDs. By comparison, no other receiver had more than 2 receptions and 26 yards. Against TCU, Mayfield and Knight combined to complete 14 passes for 203 yards and 2 TDs. Of those totals, Shepard had 8 receptions for 111 yards and a TD. No other receiver had more than one reception. Finally, against OkSt, Mayfield threw 17 completions for 180 yards and 2 TDs. Shepard caught 10 of those passes for 87 yards and a TD. One other receive had 2 receptions, and five receivers only had one reception a piece. I’ve already stated that Shepard is a massive part of OU’s passing game. Looking at the past three games, it appears that his role grows in proportion to the stage Oklahoma finds itself on. With that in mind, we should expect Shepard to be Mayfield’s top target as they step on the biggest stage they’ve had so far.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>Clemson will counter one of the best WRs in the country with the self-described best cornerback in the country, Mackensie Alexander. Mac’s </span><a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mackensie-alexander-1.html"><span>official stats</span></a><span> are nothing special. The fact that he doesn’t have an interception in his college career has been widely discussed. He doesn’t even have that many pass break ups, 6 last year and 4 this year. And Mac doesn’t have a lot of tackles on his stat sheet either, 21 last year and 21 this year. However, we all know that those stats don’t tell the whole story. Finding the more abstract defensive stats is much more difficult, so work with me as I try to hobble together something cohesive here. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/86469/week-5-by-the-numbers-alexander-states-his-case"><span>In an article posted on Oct. 5</span></a><span>, David Hale of ESPN included a table of stats for the best cornerbacks since the beginning of the 2014 season. The table is replicated below. Hale has the CBs ranked by completion percentage, which Mac led by a comfortable margin. What really stands out to me, though, is the target rate. Opposing offenses are only targeting Mac’s man 12.5% of the time. No wonder he doesn’t have many pass break-ups, tackles, and no interceptions. People aren’t even throwing it in his direction. On Nov. 19<sup>th</sup>, just before the Wake Forest game that Mac sat out, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/cfbfilmroom/status/667451239479676928"><span>CFB Film Room tweeted out this stat</span></a><span>, "Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander: 10 rec allowed on 28 targets (35.7%) for 147 yards this season." Let that sink in, up until the USC and UNC games, Mac had only given up 10 receptions all year. Unbelievable.</span></p>
<table class="MsoTable15Grid4Accent2" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: -1; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastfirstrow: yes;">
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border: solid #ED7D31 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; border-right: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; background: #ED7D31; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 5;"><b><span>Cornerback</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: solid #ED7D31 1.0pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #ED7D31 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; border-right: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; background: #ED7D31; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span>Comp%</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: solid #ED7D31 1.0pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #ED7D31 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; border-right: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; background: #ED7D31; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span>YPA</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: solid #ED7D31 1.0pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #ED7D31 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; border-right: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; background: #ED7D31; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span>Target%</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border: solid #ED7D31 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; border-left: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-alt: solid #ED7D31 .5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; background: #ED7D31; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span>TDs</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span>Mackensie Alexander</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>34.9</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>5.89</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>12.5</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>2</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span>Kendall Fuller</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>40.2</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>6.67</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>20.0</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>3</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span>Vernon Hargreaves</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>43.8</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>4.80</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>13.4</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>1</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span>Eli Apple</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>44.3</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>5.80</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>13.6</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>4</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span>Zack Sanchez</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>45.0</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>6.23</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>18.5</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; background: #FBE4D5; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><span>3</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span>Jalen Ramsey</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>48.3</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>6.34</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>15.6</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="94" valign="top" style="width: 93.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 153; border-right: solid #F4B083 1.0pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-right-themetint: 153; mso-border-top-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-top-themetint: 153; mso-border-left-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid #F4B083 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themetint: 153; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>5</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>Something else that was almost unbelievable was how many times UNC was able to complete passes in front of Mac in the ACCCG. Throughout the game, Mac was bailing at the snap to prevent the deep ball. When you consider that Marquise Williams finished the year </span><a href="http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/individual/740"><span>6<sup>th</sup> in yards per completion, at 14.36 ypc</span></a><span>, it makes sense that we wanted to keep things in front of us. Even knowing that, it was frustrating to watch Mac give up so much ground when our LBs and NBs couldn’t cover the flats quickly enough. There were also a number of times when Mac was left one on one with a receiver and, surprisingly, was beaten. Granted, it’s difficult to cover a lot of the slant routes that UNC was running, but we’re used to seeing Mac put guys on lock down. I have not taken the time to rewatch the UNC game to count, but I think it’s safe to say that Mac gave up more completions in that game than any other game of his career. While a few of them may have been due to some unfortunate defensive play calls, Mac still seemed off.</span><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span><b>Place in the System</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>My Oklahoma friends tell me the point is being blown out of proportion, but I think it is mandatory in any article about the Orange Bowl to mention that OU is running a different offense this year than last. They spread the field, run the read-option, and play with tempo. There are a lot of similarities between OU’s offense and ours, though they’re not exactly the same. One similarity that’s worth pointing out is that while they claim to run a variation of Mike Leach’s "Air Raid" offense, they actually run the ball about the same proportion of the time that Clemson does. Everyone keeps talking about how Mayfield throws the ball all over the yard, but Clemson passes the ball a percentage point or so more often than the Sooners. The biggest differences I’ve seen, both between last year’s OU and this year’s and between OU and Clemson, is their tempo, their running game, and their downfield passing. Their tempo seems consistently higher than ours. We use tempo on occasion, but OU likes to go quickly as long as they’re moving forward. They’re not at the level of a team like Baylor, but their pace will test our defense. Another difference is that they like to line up with two RBs, Perine and Mixon, in the backfield with Mayfield. Perine gets the bulk of the load, 211 carries, with Mixon and Mayfield splitting most the rest, 110 and 131 respectively. This is a little wrinkle we haven't seen much of this year. Finally, the Sooners like to take shots downfield more than Clemson does. Mayfield averages 9.57 yards per attempt, which is 3rd best in the nation and more than a yard above Watson’s 8.50 yds/att. <span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>So, when we face OU, we’ll be facing an offense that likes to do a lot of the same things we do, though not exactly. Thinking in those terms, Shepard functions in something of a mix of Artavis Scott and Hopper/Renfrow for the Sooners. Shepard is almost always lined up in the slot, the position Clemson has labeled the "5" position. That’s the position Hopper and Renfrow typically fill, though we have been known to move Hopper out to the edge. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i>Clemson's base alignment. (<a href="http://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2015/8/31/8915831/clemson-football-season-preview-2015-wide-receiver?_ga=1.4616051.1706622723.1436965999">image stolen from Alex's WR Preview article</a>)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>By lining up at the 5 position, Shepard ends up covered by a lot of safeties, nickel backs, or even linebackers. Obviously, that’s the kind of matchups that Oklahoma wants their best receiver to have. A favorite play that OU likes to run is the "wheel route" to Shepard out of the slot. A perfect example is this beautiful TD play Mayfield and Shepard pulled off against Baylor. You see Shepard lined up in the slot on the far side of the field. Herbstreit mentions that it’s man coverage across the field. The man coming down to cover Shepard is #18 Chance Waz, a sophomore safety. Waz (what a name) supposedly ran a </span><a href="http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1490114/chance-waz"><span>4.5 40 coming out of high school</span></a><span>, but still, this is not fair. There are very few defenders who could successfully defend Shepard one on one without help over the top. Waz appears to take inside leverage, probably fearing a slant, and for good reason. Shepard makes plenty of those plays.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EiF_9q94RWg?rel=0&start=5035&end=5070&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i>Shepard on the slant. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiF_9q94RWg">from Top College Football's YouTube channel</a>)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>Instead, Shepard steps to the outside and just runs right by him. Mayfield drops it right on him, Shepard makes a nice catch, and an even better stretch to get into the end zone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EiF_9q94RWg?rel=0&start=2614&end=2664&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i>Shepard up the sideline. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiF_9q94RWg">from Top College Football's YouTube channel</a>)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>Another way OU likes to use Shepard is in the quick passing game. These are the types of plays Clemson fans are used to seeing Artavis Scott make. They’ll run Shepard on quick outs, quick slants (as we’ve already seen), and on quick screens. On this play, also from the Baylor game, Shepard is lined up outside, with OU’s TE #81 Mark Andrews lined up tight to the line. Before the snap, WR #1 Jarvis Baxter goes in motion to Shepard’s side, lining up between Shepard and the TE. At the snap, Baxter fakes a slant and blocks the backer in the middle of the field, while Andrews immediately runs out to block the backer covering the flats area. Mayfield hits Shepard on the screen for a nice gain.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EiF_9q94RWg?rel=0&start=2033&end=2050&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i>Shepard in the screen game. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiF_9q94RWg">from Top College Football's YouTube channel</a>)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>Brent Venables has shown the ability to adapt his defensives personnel to match the threats of opposing defenses. When Clemson faced Notre Dame, we knew that their best receiving threat was Will Fuller. Venables decided to let Alexander prove to the nation that he was, in fact, the best CB in the nation by letting Mac follow Fuller around the field in one on one coverage all night. By having one CB shadowing one WR for most of the game, Venables could afford to blitz LBs and give safety help to stop Procise and the running game. Even if the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter of that game is still difficult to watch, you have to admit that Venables plan worked for the majority of the game. Fuller only had two catches in the game for 37 yards, and only one of those catches was beyond the line of scrimmage. In a game as close as the ND one ended up being, practically shutting out their best offensive weapon was one of the biggest difference makers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3syDNpLHkuM?rel=0&start=4182&end=4210&autoplay=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i>Mac putting the clamps down on Will Fuller, and then telling him about it. (</i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syDNpLHkuM&list=PLYPNXT-J87j614Wq_hZMfBvLrJePuGTf7&index=17"><i>from tigerray's YouTube channel</i></a><i>)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>Another option that Venables has used a bit late in the year is moving Mac down into the NB position. We saw this for the first time (I think) during the Miami game. This allows Venables to get what he thinks are the best matchups across the field. When Mac is lined up at NB, we are able to bring Baker in to fill Mac's usual role at field corner. Baker and Tank at CB and Mac at NB is a stronger backfield for us than Mac and Tank at CB with Carter at NB. This worked great against teams that didn’t have a clear go-to receiver, but liked to spread the field. I thought we might see some of this alignment against UNC, since Switzer was UNC’s top receiver (in terms of receptions). Instead, Venables elected to take away UNC’s deep threat with Mac, a plan that kept UNC from hitting as many big plays as they’re accustomed to. However, playing Carter at NB also cost us a few times, so I'm not it was the safest play after all. Venables still has this alignment in his play book, though, and he’s not afraid to use it.</span></p>
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<span> <i>Mac lined up at Nickel Back to start the Miami game. (</i></span><a href="http://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2015/10/29/9640568/defensive-film-review-miami?_ga=1.268952241.1706622723.1436965999"><i>Photo stolen from Kraken's [peace be upon him] Miami defensive review.</i></a><span><i>)</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span><b>Projection</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>Venables has two options here for matching up Mac with Shepard. Which will it be? My guess will be a little of both. It would surprise me if Shepard is lined up across from another CB other than Mac for more than just a play or two. Since OU likes to line up with both Perine and Mixon in the backfield, they will often only have two WRs and a TE lined up in formation. Mac and Tank will handle the WRs, we’ll have TJ Green or Goodson on the TE, and everyone else will focus on the run. With Mac blanketing Shepard, it’s hard to imagine the Sooners finding much success through the air. Tank has proven that he can handle most teams secondary receiver fairly well, and OU hasn’t shown a commitment to including their TE in the passing game consistently (though he does become a bigger threat in the red zone). So it would seem that we could see a similar game plan to what we ran against ND, letting Mac take on Shepard one on one and committing safety help to stopping Perine and OU’s read option game.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>If OU decides to go with three receivers, dropping either the TE or the two back look, then we could see more of the nickel package. When OU brings in this lineup, Shepard is usually in the slot. In our base defense, that would usually mean that Green is covering him. In the nickel that we ran against UNC, that would mean Carter is covering him. Green wouldn’t be the worst matchup in the world; Carter would be more of a mismatch. I would feel much more comfortable with Mac lined up at NB across from Shepard, letting Baker take the outside receiver. On the occasion that OU uses this alignment, but then puts Shepard on the outside, it shouldn’t be too hard for Mac to simply follow him out there.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span>Since OU likes to run at a fairly high tempo, my guess would be that whichever alignment they come out with to start the series is the one they’ll stay in for the majority of that series. Therefore, our alignment will probably switch back and forth, depending on what OU gives us. I would expect Mac and Shepard to be going head to head all night, though. It may be overly optimistic to expect Mac to shut down Shepard completely. Shepard is a quick receiver with good hands who has a knack for getting open. Knowing that he will draw the majority of OU’s passing attempts, you have to expect him to have a few catches. However, Mac showed that he can almost single-handedly take away a team’s best receiver when he nearly shut out Will Fuller. And, of course, Mac proved that he could shut down Shepard in last year's Russell Athletic Bowl. Some may wonder why I didn't focus on that match-up more than this season's results. Well, that was last season. Oklahoma is running a different offense this year than last. OU leans on Shepard much more this year than they did last year. Shepard plays in the slot now, but was lined up on the outside most of the time last year. And the bowl game was Shepard's first game back after missing five games with a groin injury. I felt that this year's performance for both would be a better indicator of what to expect. But, even with all those qualifications, it is still worth noting that Shepard only caught one pass in that bowl game. That makes me think that the advantage is clearly toward Mac. </span>Shepard may get a few catches here and there, but it would surprise me if he’s able to dominate the stat sheet like he did the last three weeks of the season. If the Sooners are going to have a consistent passing attack, they need to look elsewhere. Alexander Island is not open to visitors.</p>
<p>[Shout out to Alex Craft for consulting and making some comments.]</p>
https://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2015/12/26/10316458/clemson-vs-oklahoma-key-matchups-mac-v-shepardchsmithjr