Everyone knows how important this season is for Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program.
The 12-team College Football Playoff allows everyone, including the Tigers, more opportunities to compete for a National Championship. The ACC is wide open, and while Clemson isn’t the king of the conference like it once was, there’s a good chance it’s the best team in the ACC.
Clemson is a contender; they just need a few things to fall into place. Recently, ESPN listed ‘if’ lists for playoff contenders (subscription required). The Tigers have some obvious ones.
If… big plays are a thing. Garrett Riley’s first season as Clemson The offensive coordinator was… familiar: the Tigers were reasonably efficient and almost entirely devoid of explosiveness. Cade Klubnik averaged 9.8 yards per completion. After averaging a 50.0 rating in offensive SP+ in 2021 and 2022, they ranked 51st in 2023. Not even remotely good enough.
It feels like years since Clemson made a big play. Obviously there have been some, but since Tee Higgins left for the NFL, the frequency of these plays has dropped dramatically. Clemson needs to be able to hit big ones.
If…the offense actually does the little things again. Without big plays, you need more plays to score. This means more opportunities to make mistakes. Clemson committed 22 turnovers (108th) and scored TDs on just 57% of its trips to the red zone (94th).
Consistency. Find some consistency on the offensive end. These are problems that poorly coached teams face, and I don’t want to call out a team with Dabo Swinney as a coach who is poorly coached. However, some of those questions are related to the decision to sign quarterback Cade Klubnik.
If… stability means early improvement. The fact that nine forwards started at least two games tells a story. The Tigers ranked 97th in total block rate, 66th in O-line penalties per game and 69th in stuff rate. There were too many negative plays for an offense that depended on efficiency. Seven of last year’s nine forwards return. Clemson has to make this a good thing.
Clemson’s offensive line doesn’t worry me as much as others. I have a feeling this group will come together in 2024. They have talent and the chemistry should be strong.
