What's wrong with Clemson, and how it could get fixed
Breaking down Clemson's early struggles and answering some of the biggest questions looming over the team that dominated the ACC for the past decade.
Because they miss the great abilities of their graduated QB and RB, Lawrence and Etienne.
"Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne covered up a lot of things a year ago," an opposing coach said. "The amount of times on third-and-18 last year that they would throw a checkdown to Etienne and he'd make eight people miss and gain 26 yards, that happened all the time."
"Meanwhile, at one of the Tigers' thinnest positions -- running back -- Swinney has watched three former blue-chip recruits leave the program in the past 18 months. Chez Mellusi, its top running back signee in 2019, entered the transfer portal earlier this year and is now starting for Wisconsin. Demarkcus Bowman, the No. 3 tailback recruit in the country in 2020, left last October and is now at Florida. And earlier this season, veteran Lyn-J Dixon announced he intended to transfer, too."
"Their offensive line play is hurting more than their running back play," one ACC coach said. "Etienne was a great player, but there's a lot of runs where he wasn't touched until he's in the second level, and you're not seeing that right now."
"The problem is, this year's personnel aren't doing the basics nearly so well, and Clemson has been slow to adapt. What used to be a pick-your-poison offense is now a simplistic scheme without a second gear."
"Swinney has created a particularly insular approach to his staff, encouraging a promote-from-within hiring practice that has maximized culture but limited external influence. Of the 10 on-field assistants, seven graduated from either Clemson or Swinney's alma mater, Alabama. Seven assistants have never coached at another FBS program prior to their time at Clemson, and two who have -- Venables and offensive line coach Robby Caldwell -- have been on Swinney's staff for a decade or more.
But Swinney's prioritization of stability and culture on his staff has worked beautifully for a decade. Clemson's defense remains elite using the same insular approach, and Clemson's players remain emphatic that the culture developed by the staff will eventually lead to an offensive rebound, too."
I can hardly wait until Nebraska has an elite QB and RB again!
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