How do you slow down Virginia QB Bryce Perkins? Here’s how Clemson will try
For all of the preseason talk about how Clemson’s defense would take a step back in 2019 without first round picks Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell and Dexter Lawrence, the Tigers were surprisingly even better than last year’s unit during the regular season.
Clemson made it through its 12-game regular season schedule without allowing a team to reach 300 yards of total offense, becoming the first college football team since at least 1996 to accomplish that feat.
In order for Clemson to continue the streak in the postseason, beginning Saturday when it faces Virginia in the ACC championship game, it is going to have to slow down the most dynamic quarterback it has seen all season.
Cavaliers QB Bryce Perkins is the main reason why Virginia won the Coastal Division this season, becoming the seventh team in seven years to advance to the ACC title game. Perkins passed for 311 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 164 yards and two scores last week against Virginia Tech with the Coastal Division title on the line.
Perkins will present a unique challenge defensive coordinator Brent Venables and the Clemson defense.
“I just look at him as a great player all on his own,” Venables said when asked who he would compare Perkins to. “He’s the heart and soul of their offense. They’ve done a tremendous job of building an offense around him. They’re extremely efficient, very difficult to defend.”
Perkins was named second team All-ACC earlier this week behind Clemson sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
He finished the regular season with 2,949 passing yards and 16 touchdowns and 687 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. His dual-threat ability is what makes him so tough to defend, according to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.
“He’s as good as anybody we’ve played at what he does. Everybody has different strengths. It depends on what you’re asking. As far as dynamic, he’s the most dynamic quarterback and most dangerous,” Swinney said. “He can throw the football and run like a running back. He’s incredibly dynamic.”
So how will Clemson try to slow Perkins down as it attempts to win its fifth consecutive ACC title?
It starts with keeping the senior in the pocket and making him one dimensional.
“The guys up front have to know who they’re playing against. There’s a style of play you have to play with technique-wise when playing a guy like this. So yeah, we’re going to try and keep him in the pocket, but I’m sure they’re going to try and get him outside the pocket,” Swinney said. “So it’s the rush lanes and the discipline. If we do have zone droppers being able to rally if he breaks free and keep him contained.”
Clemson will also mix up its coverages and could have a spy on Perkins at times.
If it chooses to go that route, All-American candidate Isaiah Simmons would be a candidate to spy Perkins. The junior linebacker is one of the fastest players on Clemson’s team.
“You better have eyes on him. You look at Virginia Tech and they got burned a couple times. Played some really Cover zero type of coverage and everybody’s backs are turned and running and here he goes,” Swinney said. “You can’t just play man coverage. You’ve got to mix up your coverage and have some zone principals. You have to eyes on him at all times.”
Next
Who: Clemson vs Virginia, ACC Championship Game
When: 7:30 pm Saturday
Where: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte
TV: ABC
Line: Clemson by 28.5
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 5:35 AM with the headline "How do you slow down Virginia QB Bryce Perkins? Here’s how Clemson will try."
