How impressive was Clemson’s win over Texas A&M? | answered by @mattzemek

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QUESTION: How impressive was Clemson’s win over Texas A&M? 

Clemson’s win over Texas A&M on Saturday wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t beautiful or elegant or overwhelmingly brilliant.

It didn’t have to be.

This wasn’t a display of fireworks or a laser light show seen in the very fun, very entertaining LSU-Texas big-boy game Saturday night.

No, this was a curb-stomping and a strangulation. Clemson kicked Texas A&M in the teeth and grabbed the Aggies at their weakest point — the quarterback — daring Kellen Mond to do something.

He couldn’t.

That is certainly most of the story, if not all of it.

Clemson has Travis Etienne, A&M does not.

Clemson has Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins, A&M does not.

Clemson has a back seven which can cover anyone and everyone.

Trevor Lawrence didn’t have to be the hero on Saturday. His defense was always in control against Mond. His receivers were able to make tough catches in traffic, which removed Lawrence’s need to be precise.

There might be a game — possibly next week at Syracuse — when Lawrence has to be precise, but he didn’t have to be on Saturday.

This gets to a central point about Clemson — not just in 2019, but in any of the years of the Dabo Swinney ascendance which began in 2015: The Tigers can win any way you want.

A grinder? They can win a 17-10 game if they have to.

A shootout? They can win a 49-42 game if they have to.

A slow-tempo ball-control game with very good offense, played in the high 20s or low 30s?

A fast-tempo game with a lot of good defense but plenty of possessions?

Clemson possesses depth and quality everywhere. One day can be defined by one positional unit. The next week, a different unit will step up. The diversity is the Dabo difference.

Texas A&M was physically formidable on a level no other ACC team is likely to match. The fact that Clemson handled A&M easily despite the modest offensive showing is an indicator of how much margin for error the Tigers possess. If they kick the stuffing out of Syracuse, it will be very hard to wonder where this team might stumble for the rest of the season.

Spoiler alert: Don’t count on it happening at any point.

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