Clemson-Kent State prediction: Why Tigers should challenge their QBs

Clemson can pretty much name the score Saturday against Kent State.

The Golden Flashes lost their top two tacklers and their only player with more than two sacks from last year’s team and will also be without their head coach, who is taking a medical leave of absence.

The Tigers, the defending national champions, will be judged more on how they look than on stats or the final score.

Clemson is searching for a quarterback to replace Deshaun Watson, and while Kelly Bryant is the current starter, who starts for the majority of the season will depend on how Bryant, Zerrick Cooper and Hunter Johnson perform in games.

The Tigers would be smart to challenge their quarterbacks on Saturday and put them in situations that will be more reminiscent of what they will face for most of the year instead of trying to put up video-game numbers against an overwhelmed opponent.

Clemson could probably score on almost every possession by running behind its bigger and stronger offensive line and getting the ball into the hands of its playmakers quickly on passing plays because Kent State defensive backs will likely be playing off the line of scrimmage wanting to avoid big plays.

The Tigers should force Bryant and the other quarterbacks to take some shots down field and throw on the run, tasks they will be forced to do next week against Auburn and in other games throughout the season, instead of relying solely on strength and athleticism to overwhelm Kent State.

Prediction: Clemson 42, Kent State 7

This story was originally published September 1, 2017 at 10:30 AM with the headline "Clemson-Kent State prediction: Why Tigers should challenge their QBs."