The Rest Of The Story
By: Larry Williams
In the third quarter of a rout of Florida Atlantic earlier this season, television microphones picked up Dabo Swinney blasting Domonique Thomas for failing to get a yard on two tries.
An interception and long return by Wade Woodaz had positioned the offense at the FAU 13-yard line. A 9-yard rush by Thomas on first down made it second-and-1, and it seemed like a given that the Tigers would move the chains.
But nothing has been a given in scoring territory through a disappointing 4-3 start, and a turnover on downs in garbage time against FAU is but one example of this offense just not having the juice to push through and cash in.
Swinney has largely blamed the Tigers' startlingly bad ball security for the startlingly bad red-zone performance, and of course that's a massive part of it:
Clemson has fumbled 15 times, more than all but six teams in FBS, and has lost more of them than anyone with 10.
Clemson ranks fourth nationally in trips to the red zone (38) but 129th nationally in scoring percentage on those trips (68.4) and 102nd in touchdown percentage (52.6).
From the two lost fumbles near the end zone at Duke to Will Shipley's lost fumble in the end zone early against Miami three days ago, balls in jeopardy in the red zone go a long way in explaining why the program's streak of 10-win seasons is in jeopardy.
But that doesn't tell the whole story. As exemplified by the final play at Miami, the Tigers have also been really bad at getting into the end zone even when they don't turn it over.
Cade Klubnik's horizontal and then backward run for a loss of 8 yards was really a fitting encapsulation of this season's breakdowns near the end zone.
Clemson's football team is shown here during a timeout at Hard Rock Stadium last Saturday night in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Getty Images)
The Tigers have gone backwards far too much this season.
We charted the number of times Clemson has reached opponents' 25-yard line and then allowed a tackle for loss or committed a penalty that made the task harder.
The numbers are ... not good: Over seven games, the Tigers have suffered 14 negative-yardage plays inside of opponents' 25-yard line.
Those plays have added up to 68 lost yards.
Add in five false-start penalties inside the 25, and that's losses of 93 yards in scoring territory over the first seven games.
Some Clemson offenses in the past might've been good enough to overcome this lack of efficiency. This one most certainly isn't, or at least hasn't been yet.
Swinney said the offense hasn't done a good job of keeping its poise near the end zone.
"That's where you've got to be at your best, and we've not been. I think it's just a combination of all of a sudden guys start pressing a little bit and maybe we've lost a little bit of confidence from all the miscues that we've had.
"It's one of those things that can become a little bit mental, I think. And so you've got to work through that and keep working it. We do it every week, a lot of red zone. And we've got to carry what we're doing on the practice field into game day. You've just got to continue to lean on your guys and trust them and see if we can get it done."
Last year Clemson was ranked fifth nationally in red-zone scoring percentage (93.55) and 12th in red-zone touchdown percentage (72.58 percent).
But the red zone became the dead zone in the Orange Bowl against Tennessee, as Klubnik and the offense ruined numerous opportunities in the 31-14 loss.
That carried over to the opener at Duke. Of course the blocked field goals and two lost fumbles were the big story, but two other snapshots also provided some foreshadowing:
1) The Tigers took advantage of a fumbled punt with a touchdown, but it took them three plays to get into the end zone after facing first-and-goal from the 3.
2) Before one of the blocked field goals, the offense wasted a first-and-goal from the 1 with a false start by Blake Miller and then a 4-yard loss on a keeper by Klubnik.
A week later against lowly Charleston Southern, the Tigers couldn't score a touchdown late in the first half after facing first-and-goal from the 8 (they settled for a field goal).
And in the second quarter against FAU, the offense had first-and-goal from the 2 but it took three plays to get into the end zone.
And then the failure to get a mere yard on three tries later in the game, resulting in a turnover on downs with the ball four yards from the end zone -- and resulting in Swinney's sideline chewing of Thomas.
Against Florida State, everyone remembers the meltdown in overtime when third-and-1 turned into the end of the game after Klubnik threw an RPO screen for no gain and then incomplete on fourth down.
But earlier in the game the Tigers had to settle for a field goal after a false start by Miller and a 3-yard loss by Klubnik pushed them back.
The uplifting vibes from a 31-14 win at Syracuse overshadowed a recurrence of the red-zone trend:
-- A turnover on downs after the offense faced first-and-10 at the 13 (Klubnik was sacked for a 7-yard loss on fourth-and-2).
-- First-and-goal from the 8 crumbling into third-and-goal from the 21 after big losses on first and second down (the Tigers kicked a field goal).
A week later against Wake Forest, the Tigers brought in a jumbo package and went under center on fourth-and-1 from the 4.
Shipley ran behind Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis but was hit at the line and barely got the first down.
The Tigers stuck with the same look on first-and-goal from the 2 but were stuffed for a 1-yard loss.
It was back to normal personnel, and back to the shotgun, on second-and-goal from the 3. But then came a false start, and the next two downs netted nothing before Jonathan Weitz trotted on for the field goal.
Last week against Miami, the Tigers were tackled behind the line of scrimmage four times inside the 25-yard line. Klubnik was sacked three times for 16 lost yards before his sprint to the sideline on the final play.
After Klubnik's throw to Tyler Brown put the ball on the 2 in double overtime, Clemson had four plays to get a mere two yards.
The Tigers held onto the ball on that last series, but they also held on to their mind-numbing habit of failing to move the ball near the end zone.
Turnovers are a big thing, but far from the only thing.
BIG SALE on officially-licensed Clemson apparel & gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
By: Larry Williams
In the third quarter of a rout of Florida Atlantic earlier this season, television microphones picked up Dabo Swinney blasting Domonique Thomas for failing to get a yard on two tries.
An interception and long return by Wade Woodaz had positioned the offense at the FAU 13-yard line. A 9-yard rush by Thomas on first down made it second-and-1, and it seemed like a given that the Tigers would move the chains.
But nothing has been a given in scoring territory through a disappointing 4-3 start, and a turnover on downs in garbage time against FAU is but one example of this offense just not having the juice to push through and cash in.
Swinney has largely blamed the Tigers' startlingly bad ball security for the startlingly bad red-zone performance, and of course that's a massive part of it:
Clemson has fumbled 15 times, more than all but six teams in FBS, and has lost more of them than anyone with 10.
Clemson ranks fourth nationally in trips to the red zone (38) but 129th nationally in scoring percentage on those trips (68.4) and 102nd in touchdown percentage (52.6).
From the two lost fumbles near the end zone at Duke to Will Shipley's lost fumble in the end zone early against Miami three days ago, balls in jeopardy in the red zone go a long way in explaining why the program's streak of 10-win seasons is in jeopardy.
But that doesn't tell the whole story. As exemplified by the final play at Miami, the Tigers have also been really bad at getting into the end zone even when they don't turn it over.
Cade Klubnik's horizontal and then backward run for a loss of 8 yards was really a fitting encapsulation of this season's breakdowns near the end zone.
Clemson's football team is shown here during a timeout at Hard Rock Stadium last Saturday night in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Getty Images)
The Tigers have gone backwards far too much this season.
We charted the number of times Clemson has reached opponents' 25-yard line and then allowed a tackle for loss or committed a penalty that made the task harder.
The numbers are ... not good: Over seven games, the Tigers have suffered 14 negative-yardage plays inside of opponents' 25-yard line.
Those plays have added up to 68 lost yards.
Add in five false-start penalties inside the 25, and that's losses of 93 yards in scoring territory over the first seven games.
Some Clemson offenses in the past might've been good enough to overcome this lack of efficiency. This one most certainly isn't, or at least hasn't been yet.
Swinney said the offense hasn't done a good job of keeping its poise near the end zone.
"That's where you've got to be at your best, and we've not been. I think it's just a combination of all of a sudden guys start pressing a little bit and maybe we've lost a little bit of confidence from all the miscues that we've had.
"It's one of those things that can become a little bit mental, I think. And so you've got to work through that and keep working it. We do it every week, a lot of red zone. And we've got to carry what we're doing on the practice field into game day. You've just got to continue to lean on your guys and trust them and see if we can get it done."
Last year Clemson was ranked fifth nationally in red-zone scoring percentage (93.55) and 12th in red-zone touchdown percentage (72.58 percent).
But the red zone became the dead zone in the Orange Bowl against Tennessee, as Klubnik and the offense ruined numerous opportunities in the 31-14 loss.
That carried over to the opener at Duke. Of course the blocked field goals and two lost fumbles were the big story, but two other snapshots also provided some foreshadowing:
1) The Tigers took advantage of a fumbled punt with a touchdown, but it took them three plays to get into the end zone after facing first-and-goal from the 3.
2) Before one of the blocked field goals, the offense wasted a first-and-goal from the 1 with a false start by Blake Miller and then a 4-yard loss on a keeper by Klubnik.
A week later against lowly Charleston Southern, the Tigers couldn't score a touchdown late in the first half after facing first-and-goal from the 8 (they settled for a field goal).
And in the second quarter against FAU, the offense had first-and-goal from the 2 but it took three plays to get into the end zone.
And then the failure to get a mere yard on three tries later in the game, resulting in a turnover on downs with the ball four yards from the end zone -- and resulting in Swinney's sideline chewing of Thomas.
Against Florida State, everyone remembers the meltdown in overtime when third-and-1 turned into the end of the game after Klubnik threw an RPO screen for no gain and then incomplete on fourth down.
But earlier in the game the Tigers had to settle for a field goal after a false start by Miller and a 3-yard loss by Klubnik pushed them back.
The uplifting vibes from a 31-14 win at Syracuse overshadowed a recurrence of the red-zone trend:
-- A turnover on downs after the offense faced first-and-10 at the 13 (Klubnik was sacked for a 7-yard loss on fourth-and-2).
-- First-and-goal from the 8 crumbling into third-and-goal from the 21 after big losses on first and second down (the Tigers kicked a field goal).
A week later against Wake Forest, the Tigers brought in a jumbo package and went under center on fourth-and-1 from the 4.
Shipley ran behind Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis but was hit at the line and barely got the first down.
The Tigers stuck with the same look on first-and-goal from the 2 but were stuffed for a 1-yard loss.
It was back to normal personnel, and back to the shotgun, on second-and-goal from the 3. But then came a false start, and the next two downs netted nothing before Jonathan Weitz trotted on for the field goal.
Last week against Miami, the Tigers were tackled behind the line of scrimmage four times inside the 25-yard line. Klubnik was sacked three times for 16 lost yards before his sprint to the sideline on the final play.
After Klubnik's throw to Tyler Brown put the ball on the 2 in double overtime, Clemson had four plays to get a mere two yards.
The Tigers held onto the ball on that last series, but they also held on to their mind-numbing habit of failing to move the ball near the end zone.
Turnovers are a big thing, but far from the only thing.
BIG SALE on officially-licensed Clemson apparel & gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
