Clemson, once a powerhouse that churned out NFL quarterback legends like Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence, has absolutely cratered into one of college football’s worst offenses. The frustration is clearly boiling over, and you can feel it from the sidelines all the way up to the stands.
From QB Factory to Scoring Struggle Bus
Under Dabo Swinney at first, Clemson was *the* team. They pioneered the spread era, had a fresh, uptempo style, and the points just piled up. Seriously, they were a wide receiver factory and an incubator for quarterback talent you just don’t see, having both Watson and Lawrence within a single year of each other. They were Nick Saban’s biggest headache at Alabama, challenging for titles year after year. Now? They barely manage to score 30 points. It’s wild to think about.
The slow slide started when former offensive coordinator Tony Elliott left in 2021. Brandon Streeter was an internal promotion who lasted just a year in 2022. Then Swinney brought in Garrett Riley, an outside voice everyone wanted, but that never really clicked. Now, we’re back to Chad Morris, who was the OC from 2011-2014 when Clemson started its ascent. He was supposed to fix things, to “arrest the slide,” but it’s clear as day that isn’t happening. Clemson currently ranks as one of the nation’s worst passing offenses, sitting near the bottom third of most offensive stats overall.
Dabo’s Blistering Words, And The Stats That Prove Him Right
The absolute gut punch came last Saturday against Virginia Tech. Swinney was caught on camera on the sideline, big playsheet in hand, which he says isn’t unusual, but it certainly fueled rumors of discontent with Morris and whispers that Swinney himself was calling plays. The Tigers managed a single offensive touchdown in that game, scoring only three points in the entire first half.
And Dabo? He didn’t hold back. “It’s all coaching,” Swinney told ESPN going into halftime. “That’s 100% coaching. Pitiful. Pitiful. 100% coaching. That ain’t the players, that’s us.” After the game, he tried to soften it a bit, saying, “I just don’t think we helped them enough to win the game with some decisions and play calls. Those kids played their butts off.”
“Pitiful” barely scratches the surface when you look at the numbers. This offense is straight-up putrid. Clemson is last in the percentage of points scored from offensive touchdowns. They’re 133rd in total touchdowns scored with just 14, and 112th in scoring offense, averaging only 21.4 points per game. The most shocking stat? They rank dead last, 138th out of 138 teams, in passing touchdowns this season. Last!
Swinney told reporters Sunday night he’s sticking with Morris as offensive coordinator for the rest of the season. A CBS Sports report from a month ago said firing Swinney is unlikely due to finances. So, it sounds like this “increasingly unhappy marriage” on offense is locked in, and fans are just left to watch the struggle continue.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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