College Football

Clemson Football vs Troy: 5 Things To Watch

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:14 p.m. ET

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Sep 3, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) calls out the Auburn Tigers defense during the first quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Clemson football team will open up their home slate against Troy on Saturday. Here are five things to watch as the Tigers run down the hill.

Clemson football will host Troy to open up their home-opener on Saturday.

The best thing about games like this is that it gives fans a chance to see different things that may make a difference later on in the season.

Even if Troy keeps it close, the Clemson football coaching staff will still be looking to get other guys on the field and work out kinks- especially in the offense.

This is what makes a game like this so important.

Even though there isn’t much concern about the outcome, games like these determine the success of match-ups later in the season.

They allow the coaching staff to see who is ready for game day snaps and who will not be able to contribute.

Here are five things to watch as the Tigers run down the hill and take the field on Saturday.

Sep 3, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) passes against the Auburn Tigers during the first quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

5. Does the Auburn game spur the offense to improve?

Last season, the Clemson football offense really took a step forward after struggling to move the ball against Louisville.

Obviously, part of it was that Deshaun Watson was injured and was held from running the ball, but I still am interested to see what the offense works on this week in order to improve.

The offensive line was pushed around a good bit against Auburn and their manhood was tested.

Deshaun Watson had about the worst game of his career since coming to Clemson.

The ball was not spread around almost at all.

I believe all of these things will be fixed this week. I think the offensive line comes out with a chip on its shoulder and pushes around the Troy front-seven. That confidence gained will be crucial for games later in the season.

I also believe you will see Deshaun spread the ball around. I think he will find Artavis Scott more and go through his progressions.

Look for a crisper offense and more points to be scored as a result.

Sep 3, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during warm-ups prior to the game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

4. The backup quarterback situation

Here’s a topic that has been put on hold the past few weeks.

Coming into the season, one of the hottest Clemson football topics was the backup quarterback situation.

Obviously, when everyone turned their attention to Auburn, this topic went away.

Well, now it will be back in full-swing, at least for the next couple of weeks.

I expect that we will see both Nick Schuessler and Kelly Bryant this week. It will be up to Deshaun and the starters to get a comfortable lead, but the second half- especially the fourth quarter- will be the backup quarterback show.

People want to know how much both guys- but especially Kelly Bryant- have improved and they should get to see that this week.

I’m interested to see if Kelly Bryant can outdo Nick Schuessler in a game-type situation or if he comes in and makes mistakes.

This will definitely be something to watch.

Sep 3, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Sean White (13) lays on the ground after being tackled by Clemson Tigers linebacker Dorian O

3. Defensive depth

The defense, like it has done in the past, will make a ton of substitutions early and often throughout this game.

You will freshmen like Trayvon Mullen, K’Von Wallace, Tre Lamar, and several others take the field, but you will also see others listed as backups like Mark Fields and Richard Yeargin.

The starters will get plenty of snaps together to continue to build chemistry, but I’m more interested to see what the two-deep looks like.

One thing the Clemson football defense lacked last season was depth. That is why as the season progressed, they began to wear down.

Maybe this defense is different.

This week will be a litmus test to see just how much quality depth we have on the defensive side of the ball and if some of the younger guys will be able to make an impact later on in the season.

Sep 3, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney sings the alma mater with the team following their 19-13 victory over the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

2. The talented freshmen finally take the field

Dabo and the Clemson football coaching staff have had the same policy with freshmen over the years.

When you play a formidable opponent the first week, you are only going to see the freshmen who have 100% proved they are ready.

This year, that freshman was Dexter Lawrence.

Dabo and the coaching staff still have high hopes for many other freshmen including Trayvon Mullen, K’Von Wallace, Tre Lamar, Tavien Feaster, Cornell Powell, and others, but they aren’t going to play them on the road against Auburn.

This week and next week will be the deciding factor on whether these freshmen see quality snaps the rest of the season.

If Tavien Feaster fumbles the ball away or doesn’t do a good job pass-blocking, you won’t see him much the rest of the season.

On the other hand, if he comes out and breaks off a couple of big runs and does his job blocking and catching, you will see him much after S.C. State.

This is the chance for the Clemson football freshmen.

If they want to get on the field, they will prove it this week and next week in the “dress rehearsals” before Georgia Tech.

Sep 3, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Clemson Tigers kicker Greg Hegel (92) attempts an extra point during the fourth quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium. Clemson beat Auburn 19-13. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

1. Can Greg Huegel kick extra points consistently?

This may be the most disappointing aspect of the Auburn game and for some reason no one is talking about it.

I know that Dabo made the wrong decision to not kick the field goal, but think about it this way: If Auburn had completed the hail mary to the end zone, Clemson would have lost because of a missed extra point.

Extra points for a College level kicker are part of the mental game. This is all in Greg Huegel’s head.

He can kick 90% from field goal range, but misses just as often from extra points. This will kill Clemson if he can’t work it out.

I know that Troy is not as much of a pressure-situation as Auburn on the road, but hopefully he can get into a rhythm and carry that for the rest of the season.

Missed extra points are killer and, to me, they just shouldn’t happen.

I know there are bad snaps or a bad hold that may cause a miss, but the one missed on Saturday wasn’t the case.

Huegel does a great job as a kicker, but it’s time to finally exercise these extra point demons and become the All-American kicker he is capable of being.

These are the five things I will be watching in the Clemson football game this week. What will you be looking for? Comment below, Tiger fans!