How Clemson football, Cade Klubnik can keep offense humming vs NC State

CLEMSON —Which Clemson football offense will show up against NC State this weekend?

Will it be the Tigers that scored only three points in their season opener against Georgia? Or, will it be a Clemson unit that was unstoppable against Appalachian State in Week 2, setting records for points scored and yards gained in a half and having 17 big plays?

“It all comes down to your quarterback,” ACC Network analyst and former Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain said to The Greenville News. “What kind of plays can he make? … because I think what (the Tigers) have proven in a short amount of time is Clemson has horses, and they’ve got players that can make big-time plays.”

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is coming off his best game of his college career, throwing for 378 yards and scoring seven touchdowns (two rushing). After a Week 3 open date, the No. 19 Tigers (1-1) host conference foe NC State (2-1) on Saturday (noon ET, ABC) at Memorial Stadium.

Here is how Clemson can keep its offense hot against NC State:

Set Cade Klubnik up for better success than last year vs NC State

Before facing App State, Klubnik said one of his coaches told him he doesn’t have to win any games for Clemson, but he has to manage them. He described a game manager as a quarterback who takes care of the ball, knows situations on the field and plays within the team’s system.

“I feel like I did a really, really good job of that (vs. App State),” Klubnik said. “I didn’t have a crazy 360 Johnny Manziel run-around-the-field, throw-a-backside-post-off-my-back-foot (play). I didn’t have any crazy plays like that. What we did was just being really efficient at what we do.”

Klubnik’s cool-headed level of play will be needed against NC State. When he faced the Wolfpack last year, their pass rush and blitzes out of the 3-3-5 defensive formation — three defensive linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs — caused him to throw two interferences and hold Clemson to 17 points in a road loss. If Klubnik has a clean pocket and solid footwork, he will get his skill players the ball like in Week 2.

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The offensive line has given up seven pressures and hurries, respectively, and no sacks this year, according to Pro Football Focus.

Last season, Klubnik was sacked 28 times with two coming against NC State. The Wolfpack generated seven pressures and six hurries against Clemson’s offensive line in 2023, which flustered Klubnik. Their play will be critical for the Tigers to maintain their big-play ability.

Run Phil Mafah at NC State’s 3-3-5 defense

The Wolfpack’s 3-3-5 defense welcomes a rushing attack since there are three defensive linemen, not four. Running back Phil Mafah needs to be involved to punish that formation. When he faced them last year, he rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns while splitting carries with Will Shipley. As the No. 1 back, he must be featured heavily Saturday.

NC State also switches from man and zone coverage and often sends man blitzes, trusting their cornerbacks to hold up against the receivers. Outside of wide receiver Antonio Williams, Tigers receivers struggled to create separation against Georgia in Week 1. They rebounded against App State, a lesser opponent.

Receivers like Tyler Brown, Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore must step up to the test NC State’s lengthy and physical defensive backs present and win their one-on-one matchups.

“They’re a team that’s beat us two out of the last three years, so they’re not scared of us,” Williams said. “…They got guys, but we do too.”

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football vs NC State: Cade Klubnik can keep offense humming