The Tiger Ten

by TigerNet Staff - Thu Nov 22 10:33:49 GMT-04:00 2012

The Tiger Ten returns with a look back at the N.C. State game and a look ahead to South Carolina. We start with a look at Tajh Boyd Tajh Boyd
RS Jr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile 's march up the career win list and his perfect record at Death Valley.

The Tiger Ten:

10.) Quarterback Tajh Boyd now has a 20-5 career record as a starter which ranks him seventh in Clemson history. The all-time leader is Rodney Williams, who won 32 between 1985-88. Charlie WhitehurstCharlie Whitehurst
Quarterback
#6 6-4, 225
Duluth, GA
View Full Profile is second with 25. Boyd can move in to a fifth place tie with Mike Eppley (1980-84) and Steve Fuller (1975-1978) with a win over the Gamecocks Saturday. Boyd is also a perfect 13-0 as a starter in Death Valley.

9.) With his 8 touchdowns on Saturday, Tajh Boyd broke his ACC record for single season touchdown responsibility. So far on the season, Boyd has rushed for 8 touchdowns and passed for 33 touchdowns giving him a total of 41 touchdowns. Last season, Boyd rushed for 5 touchdowns and passed for 33 touchdowns, giving him a total of 38 touchdowns. For his career, Boyd has rushed for 14 touchdowns and passed for 70 touchdowns, giving him a total of 84 touchdowns. This puts him at 3rd on the ACC career touchdown responsibility list. He is behind Philip Rivers (NCSU 2000-03) who was responsible for 112 career touchdowns and Russell Wilson (NCSU 2008-10) who was responsible for 93 career touchdowns.

8.) DeAndre HopkinsDeAndre Hopkins
Jr. Wide Receiver
#6 6-2, 205
Central, SC
View Full Profile ’ 75 receiving yards on Saturday gave him a total of 2,786 receiving yards for his career. He surpassed Aaron Kelly for Clemson’s all time leading receiver. Between 2005 and 2008, Kelly had 2,733 career receiving yards. Hopkins also moved up to 14th on the ACC all time receiving yardage list. Peter Warrick (FSU 1996-99) holds the all time ACC career receiving yards record with 3,517 total receiving yards.

7.) On the season, the Clemson offense has 2,245 rushing yards and 3,647 passing yards for a total of 5,892 yards of total offense. That total alone is good enough for 8th on the all time ACC total offensive yardage list. Last season, Clemson’s offense was 3rd on the ACC all time total offense list with 2,219 rushing yards and 3,952 passing yards for a total of 6,171 yards. The all time team record for total offense is held by Florida State. In 2000, FSU rushed for 1,980 yards and passed for 4,608 yards for a total of 6,588 yards of total offense. Between the South Carolina game and a bowl game, the Clemson offense needs to average 348 yards per game to break Florida State’s record.

6.) With the win over North Carolina State, Clemson extended its home winning streak to 13 wins. That is the third longest winning streak in the country. Currently, the longest home winning streak is held by Northern Illinois. They have 21 straight home wins. Michigan is just ahead of Clemson with 14 straight wins.

5.) Clemson’s 4th ranked scoring offense (44.6 ppg) will be going up against South Carolina’s 13th ranked scoring defense (17.5 ppg) on Saturday. In South Carolina’s wins this year, their defense has only given up an average of 13.9 ppg. In South Carolina’s losses this year, their defense has given up 33.5 ppg. Clemson’s ability to score this weekend will be important. A shoot out seems to favor the Tigers.

4.) The Clemson ground game is going to be the next big factor. In South Carolina’s two losses this year, they have given up an average of 173 yards on the ground and 4 touchdowns (an average of 2 TDs per game). In their nine wins, they have only given up an average of 104 yards on the ground and 4 touchdowns (0.44 TDs per game). In Clemson’s wins this year, they have rushed for an average of 210 yards and a total of 23 touchdowns (2.3 TDs per game). In Clemson’s only loss, they rushed for 136 yards and 1 touchdown.

3.) In South Carolina’s wins this year, they have given up an average of 210 yards through the air and 10 passing touchdowns but have intercepted their opponents 11 times. In their losses, they have given up an average of 121 yards through the air and 4 touchdowns and intercepted their opponent 1 time. What this shows is that even though the South Carolina defense may give up a lot of yards through the air they correct this by making interceptions. The South Carolina defense is T-9th in the country for interceptions (12 total).

2.) In South Carolina’s only real shoot out this season they beat Tennessee 38-35. In that game, Connor Shaw went 22 of 32 for 356 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Shaw’s averages for the season are 173 yards passing per game and 1.4 passing touchdowns per game. Tennessee had 381 yards through the air and 5 passing touchdowns. So, if the South Carolina defense is not able to slow the Tiger offense and they allow Clemson to score, it will be imperative that the Clemson secondary doesn’t allow Shaw to keep the Gamecocks in the game.

1.) Clemson’s 3rd down conversion rate dropped some after the NC State but the Tiger offense is still 6th in the country converting over 52% of their 3rd downs. This will be another big factor on Saturday. In South Carolina’s two losses, they allowed LSU and Florida to convert on over 51% of their 3rd downs. However, in South Carolina’s wins, the defense has only allowed teams to convert on just over 31% of their third downs.

Thanksgiving Bonus Note: There have been 13 games in the history of the ACC where one team has over 700 yards of total offense. Clemson has done it in back to back weeks.