CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson linebacker Kendall Joseph watched the film of last year’s 56-41 win over NC State earlier this week, and it didn’t take long for him to pinpoint the problem on defense.
“For the most part, we did alright,” Joseph said, “but the big plays will kill you, and they killed us last year. We took it personally.”
Indeed, the big plays can be a killer. NC State had seven plays of 20 yards or more (not counting a kick-return touchdown), and the resulting 41 points were the most Clemson’s defense allowed last year until the national championship game against Alabama (which, as it turned out, was also defined by big plays).