Locked On Clemson - Daily Podcast on All Things Clemson Sports

LSU fans believe the running backs were never the problem. Caden Durham is proven, Harlem Berry could take another big step, and Dilin Jones adds another option to Lane Kiffin’s backfield.

So what actually needed fixing?

Morgan Thomas breaks down why Clemson’s matchup with LSU could tell us very quickly whether the Tigers truly rebuilt their rushing attack. The biggest questions are up front. Can LSU consistently create space for its backs? Can Clemson generate negative plays without selling out defensively? And can Sammy Brown stay free enough to disrupt the run?

Plus, what would Harlem Berry have to show against Clemson to prove he has developed into more than an explosive change-of-pace weapon?

The box score might not tell the whole story. The real test will be where first contact happens, how often LSU stays ahead of the chains, and whether Clemson forces Lane Kiffin away from his preferred rushing attack.

00:00 Is LSU’s Running Game Really Fixed?
04:13 What Lane Kiffin Has to Fix
07:14 The Matchup That Could Decide Clemson-LSU
14:30 Sammy Brown and Clemson’s Run Defense
19:07 Tom Allen’s Biggest Defensive Test
23:24 The Harlem Berry Test
24:19 Can Clemson Contain LSU’s Explosiveness?
27:36 Final Thoughts Before LSU

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Clemson has spent the offseason worrying about defensive tackle, but linebacker may be the weakness LSU is most capable of actually exploiting.

Sammy Brown isn’t the concern. The questions are around Kobe McLeod, Jeremiah Alexander and the depth behind them, especially against a Lane Kiffin offense designed to identify one vulnerable defender and attack him repeatedly.

On today’s Locked On Clemson, Morgan Thomas breaks down why linebacker deserves more attention, what LSU could do schematically to isolate Clemson’s linebackers, and the signs to watch for in the first half.

Plus, by halftime we should have some real answers. Is LSU repeatedly targeting one linebacker? Are Clemson’s safeties being forced into the box or underneath coverage to compensate? Are missed fits, bad angles or coverage problems showing up?

Finally, we get into Tom Allen and the 4-2-5 defense. Fans remain skeptical, but Saturday gives us our first major opportunity to separate personnel problems from coaching and scheme problems.

00:00 Linebacker concerns with Sammy Brown
04:16 Lane Kiffin's offensive strategy
07:24 Defensive matchups and player concerns
16:09 Evaluating defensive strategies
17:42 Sammy Brown's defensive impact
23:38 Evaluating Tom Allen's Coaching Skills
27:31 Evaluating Tom Allen's Coaching Impact
29:15 Ending today's episode

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NC State collapse stuns ACC as Virginia dominates with relentless ground attack—are coaching changes on the horizon? The ACC Squad dissects the Wolfpack’s disastrous start, spotlighting defensive breakdowns, lack of halftime adjustments, and CJ Bailey’s struggles under pressure. Virginia’s O-line experience and physicality overwhelm NC State, raising tough questions about staff accountability and scheme fit.

Florida State’s shaky win over New Mexico State sparks concern as hosts spotlight poor third-down defense, offensive line woes, and Mike Norvell’s uncertain future. Plus, North Carolina’s improvements, Clemson’s quarterback dilemma ahead of the LSU showdown, and Louisville’s high-stakes clash with Ole Miss headline a preview of can’t-miss Week 1 ACC action. Will ACC teams prove themselves in major non-conference matchups, or is more upheaval ahead? Don’t miss this candid, expert-driven breakdown of the latest twists in ACC football.

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Clemson Tigers face growing skepticism as national respect wanes—can Dabo Swinney’s squad prove the doubters wrong against LSU? Betting markets peg Clemson as heavy underdogs, with just a 23% chance to topple LSU and only a 46% shot at nine regular season wins. Analyst Morgan Thomas breaks down why Las Vegas and fan money favor LSU and what changed in Clemson’s reputation since their College Football Playoff glory days.

The episode highlights Christopher Vizzina’s pivotal debut, the offensive line’s need for revival, and the strategic impact of coordinators Chad Morris and Tom Allen. LSU’s own unproven roster under Lane Kiffin raises the stakes: Are the Bayou Bengals truly elite, or simply better positioned than a rebuilding Clemson? Key matchups, player development, and the Tigers’ path to regaining ACC dominance are all on the table as Morgan Thomas asks—what will it take for Clemson to rewrite the narrative this season?

00:00 Analyzing Clemson's potential comeback

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What happens if LSU does exactly what Clemson does not want and shuts down the running game?

That was the question from a Locked On Clemson listener, and it creates one of the most interesting nightmare scenarios for Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

Morgan Thomas breaks down why a bad rushing total does not automatically mean Clemson cannot move the football. The bigger issue is whether LSU controls down and distance and forces Christopher Vizzina into obvious passing situations against Blake Baker’s defense.

If Clemson is consistently facing second-and-long and third-and-long, the advantage shifts heavily toward LSU. That allows Prince Will Umanmielen and the pass rush to attack, while LSU can disguise coverage and put everything on Clemson’s inexperienced starting quarterback.

That means Vizzina has to be more than a distributor. Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore also have to make LSU pay when opportunities appear.

But Clemson does not have to replace the running game with 40 traditional dropbacks.

Chad Morris can use quick throws, bubble screens, intermediate crossers, running back screens, motion and quarterback movement as extensions of the run game. The goal is to prevent LSU from dictating when Clemson has to throw.

And if the conventional run game really does disappear, Morgan explains why he would not spend the night testing D.J. Pickett and P.J. Woodland outside.

Instead, attack LSU’s linebackers, safeties and underneath coverage. Make Whit Weeks and T.J. Daughtry move horizontally. Force LSU defenders to tackle Clemson’s playmakers in space and try to turn an aggressive front seven into opportunities behind it.

The biggest stat may not even be Clemson’s rushing total.

Watch the third-down distance.

If Chad Morris can keep Clemson in manageable situations, the offense can still function. If LSU constantly forces Vizzina into third-and-eight or worse, Clemson could be in serious trouble.

00:00 What if LSU completely stops Clemson’s run game?

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If Clemson is looking for one part of LSU’s defense to test immediately, start with the defensive tackles.

LSU has plenty of talent up front, especially on the edges with Prince Will Umanmielen, but its interior remains much less proven. Morgan Thomas explains why that makes defensive tackle the logical place for Clemson and Chad Morris to start searching for an advantage.

That does not mean LSU’s interior is bad. It means Clemson needs to make LSU prove it.

Can Clemson’s offensive line generate movement against LSU’s defensive tackles? Can Harris Sewell and the Clemson guards get to the second level? Can Chad Morris mix inside zone, duo, counter, RPOs and play action enough to keep Blake Baker from making Clemson predictable?

The other key is Whit Weeks. If LSU can control Clemson’s run game with four defenders and keep Weeks clean to attack downhill, Clemson is going to have problems. If Clemson forces LSU to commit additional help inside, Morris suddenly has a much larger playbook.

And this matchup should not take four quarters to figure out.

By the second quarter, watch where Clemson’s running backs are making first contact. If they are getting two or three clean yards before LSU arrives, Clemson is moving people. If contact consistently happens at or behind the line of scrimmage, LSU is controlling the matchup.

Clemson does not have to overpower LSU. It has to identify the weakness, test it and adjust from there.

00:00 Is LSU’s defensive interior actually attackable?

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Clemson cannot afford another 31-yard rushing performance against LSU.

Last season, the Tigers returned an experienced offensive line but managed only 31 rushing yards, 1.6 yards per carry and two rushing first downs before essentially abandoning the ground game. Morgan Thomas looks back at what went wrong and why the problem was bigger than simply saying LSU “wanted it more.”

Now Chad Morris inherits a younger Clemson offensive line and faces Blake Baker’s LSU defense in Baton Rouge. Can Morris build a run game around his personnel, adjust when the first plan fails and avoid putting Christopher Vizzina in obvious passing situations all night?

We break down Clemson’s offensive line concerns, what LSU can do to disrupt the running game, when Morris should change concepts and why passing as an extension of the run could become one of Clemson’s most important answers.

The goal does not have to be running the ball into a brick wall. The goal is making sure Clemson never waves the white flag on its offensive identity again.

00:00 Why Clemson’s 31 rushing yards still matter

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Clemson does not need to spend opening night trying to beat LSU’s biggest stars.

Morgan Thomas breaks down the areas Clemson should actively hunt against Lane Kiffin’s Tigers, starting with Weston Davis and Bo Bordelon along LSU’s offensive line.

Can Jaheim Lawson, Will Heldt, Sammy Brown and Amare Adams force LSU to change its protection without Tom Allen having to blitz constantly?

Then the focus shifts to LSU’s young defensive interior. Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson are extremely talented, but Clemson should make those freshmen prove they can handle double teams, movement and a physical running game for four quarters.

Finally, Chad Morris gets his opportunity to create conflict at LSU’s STAR position, using Bryant Wesco Jr., T.J. Moore, motion and formation changes to force that defender into difficult decisions.

The strategy is simple: don’t play LSU’s recruiting rankings. Make its least-proven players win the game.

00:00 Clemson’s plan to attack LSU’s question marks

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Clemson’s opener at LSU may come down to three individual matchups.

Bryant Wesco Jr. has to force LSU to respect Clemson’s vertical passing game. Will Heldt has to pressure Sam Leavitt without giving him easy escape lanes. And Brayden Jacobs faces a massive assignment against Princewill Umanmielen that could determine how much of Chad Morris’ offense Clemson can actually run.

Morgan Thomas breaks down why these three Clemson players could shape the entire game, what their matchups mean for Christopher Vizzina, and what Clemson has to prove in Baton Rouge.

Can Wesco force LSU to change its coverage? Can Heldt keep Leavitt inside the pocket? And if Jacobs struggles against Princewill, can Clemson fairly evaluate Vizzina at all?

Make sure you subscribe and follow Locked On Clemson wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Morgan on X: @themorgantshow

00:00 Three Clemson players who could decide LSU

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Clemson may have caught a break before its season opener at LSU.

The SEC has moved to block former professional players from returning to college competition, potentially preventing LSU from adding Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to Lane Kiffin’s already aggressive roster rebuild.

Morgan Thomas explains why Harris matters more to Clemson than Wright, especially with Clemson’s young offensive line preparing for Princewill Umanmielen and LSU’s defensive front.

But this does not suddenly make LSU an easy matchup. Sam Leavitt, Jordan Seaton, Trey’Dez Green and Umanmielen are still major problems.

Plus, Clemson-LSU has become a fascinating roster-building debate. Dabo Swinney continues to prioritize development, continuity and selective portal additions, while Kiffin is willing to attack almost every available talent market.

September 5 in Baton Rouge will give us the first real look at which approach is better prepared to win right now.

00:00 Clemson Catches a Break Before LSU

01:50 Did Lane Kiffin Find a Dangerous Loophole?

04:40 Why College Football Had to Shut It Down

08:17 Competitive Balance and the Future of the Sport

12:29 What the New Rule Means for Clemson

15:57 Dae’Quan Wright vs. Zxavian Harris

16:49 Clemson’s Offensive Line Gets Some Help

20:01 Dabo Swinney vs. Lane Kiffin

22:03 Two Completely Different Roster Philosophies

24:56 What Clemson Must Prove in Baton Rouge

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