Clemson’s passing offense is flat out terrible right now, sitting at a brutal 138th in the nation for passing touchdowns. We are talking last in the entire country for scoring via the pass, which is just painful to watch. Offensive coordinator Chad Morris isn’t sugarcoating it, admitting the unit has found absolutely no success in the air. This team has a huge test against Virginia Tech this weekend, and if they do not fix these issues, their season hopes are going to vanish.
The Numbers Don’t Lie, They Scream
The stats are screaming at us that this air attack is stalled. The Tigers are 111th in average passing yards per game. Think about that, 111th! They are dead last in the country for scoring through the pass. Get this: it has been more than a month, since September 19 against North Carolina, that they last scored a passing touchdown. Over a month! Even in their recent 37-0 win over Charleston Southern on October 17, they managed a measly 207 yards through the air and, you guessed it, zero touchdowns.
This is a stark contrast to when Chad Morris first landed at Clemson back in 2011. In his initial six games that year, quarterback Tajh Boyd ripped off 15 touchdowns, and the team started 6-0 with an air attack that was absolutely humming. Morris knows the difference, too. “There hadn’t been much success at all in that regard,” he said, and you can feel the frustration. He points to timing and execution as the biggest hurdles, basically saying the receivers and quarterback are not on the same page. He thinks it is still a work in progress, trying to get everyone aligned. A work in progress? In October?
Where Do We Go From Here? Coach Swinney Points Fingers (And Not at His QB)
While Morris is still searching for answers, Head Coach Dabo Swinney is defending his freshman quarterback, Tait Reynolds. Swinney actually called the recent game Tait’s “best game” and praised Reynolds’ poise and decision-making, saying he improved how he handles pressure compared to his first start. The coach is definitely not blaming the young guy for the lack of scores.
So, if not the QB, then who? The wide receiver group is facing some serious heat. Against Charleston Southern, they took a bunch of deep shots, but the catches just were not there. Drops, tough defense, you name it. Junior receiver T.J. Moore was targeted on several plays that went nowhere. Swinney and Morris did not pull any punches when talking about Moore, with Swinney flat out saying T.J. “probably had his worst game as a Tiger” and likely his worst performance since joining the program. The entire receiver room needs to step up. Swinney compared it to basketball, saying one player cannot carry the load. They have to make the catches when the ball comes their way, or this passing game is staying stuck at the bottom.
Clemson is heading into the back half of the season with a massive test against Virginia Tech. The Hokies’ rushing defense is no joke, ranking No. 10 nationally. They give up 227.3 passing yards per game and have allowed nine passing touchdowns this season. Clemson absolutely has to find a way to move the ball through the air to win this one. A loss here would likely torch any chance of being in the mix for the ACC title come November. A win, though, keeps that dream of a 10-2 season and an ACC Championship game alive. The defense and special teams have been carrying this team, but that is not going to be enough against a tough Virginia Tech squad. They need to fix this passing game and they need to fix it yesterday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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