Tigers seek way to neutralize Demon Deacons QB Skinner

CLEMSON -- While Dabo Swinney spent much of Tuesday morning stomping out speculation of staff dissension, there looms another problem on the horizon for the Tigers -- Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner.

Skinner leads the ACC in passing efficiency (163.1), is tied for the conference lead in touchdown throws (15) and is second in passing yards per game (282 yards per game).

Skinner has made 37 career starts and his 67.6 career completion percentage is the best in ACC history.

It can be argued he is playing the best football of his career as Skinner has Wake (4-2, 2-1 ACC) in first place in the Atlantic Division.

Swinney and Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said the Skinner-led Wake offense is the best the Tigers have faced this season.

Steele said what makes Skinner so difficult to defend is that he can buy time with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield, and most important, throw accurately while on the move.

"The thing he does best is he keeps a play alive," Steele said. "If it's in his hands, he is going to keep it alive longer than most quarterbacks would. Meaning they are either going to pull it down and run quicker than he does, or they are going to scramble into a sack, or throw it away quicker than he does."

Steele said the key for the Tigers in defending Skinner, who at 6-1 is shorter than most quarterbacks, is to force him to throw from a fixed position, what he calls a "well."

"If it he ain't standing in the well and throwing out of it, if he is moving around on flat ground, he can keep a play, a drive alive a long time," Steele said. "If you were a fan, and you could cheer in the press box, you'd be one of the first to jump up and scream 'the guys gotta cover (receivers),' but (Skinner) stayed alive back there 3.2 seconds and nobody alive could have covered him. That's just what he does."

Wake, which returns nine offensive starters, is tied for second in the ACC in total offense (426 yards per game).

Jim Grobe's offense features more than Skinner -- it consists of as many formations as Clemson will see, new wrinkles each week, and most important, consistent execution.

"It's as good an offense as we've faced," Steele said. "It's hard to zero in."

While the Clemson defense has been solid through five games, the Tigers would be challenged to match touchdowns with Wake in high-scoring game. The Tigers' offense is averaging 18.4 points per game.

Red alert

Another problem Wake presents is experience.

While the Demon Deacons have had to replace seven defensive starters, including linebacker Aaron Curry, the fourth overall pick in the draft, Swinney noted the reserves are more mature than typical first-year starters because of their redshirt status.

Grobe typically redshirts the lion's share of his recruiting classes.

In his first eight years at Wake, Grobe played 10 freshmen. Wake's front seven contains three redshirt seniors and two redshirt juniors.

Wildcat time?

Apparently, the Clemson media corps watched the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football as questions arose over the lack of the wildcat formation -- which features direct snaps to running backs -- in the Clemson offense.

While the Tigers' passing game has struggled, Clemson does boast a surplus of running backs. Why not have more multiple-back, direct-snap groupings?

Clemson has run two plays from the wildcat formation this year, one of which Swinney said would have been a long gain had it been blocked correctly. Swinney said increased usage of the formation is "certainly an option."