Clemson’s passing game hasn’t just sputtered this season. It has become the biggest obstacle standing between the Tigers and the kind of run they still want to make.
Through six games, Clemson ranks 111th nationally in passing yards per game and sits dead last among FBS teams in passing touchdowns. The latest example came in a 37-0 win over Charleston Southern on Oct. 17, when the Tigers managed only 207 passing yards and finished without a touchdown through the air. Starting quarterback Tait Reynolds accounted for 127 of those yards, and Clemson’s last passing score came more than a month earlier, on Sept. 19 against North Carolina.
That’s a jarring turn for first-year offensive coordinator Chad Morris, whose first Clemson run in 2011 looked nothing like this. Back then, quarterback Tajh Boyd was throwing touchdowns in bunches - 15 of them in the first six games - as the Tigers sprinted to a 6-0 start.
“There hadn't been much success at all in that regard,” Morris said. “When the plays are there to be made, we got to make plays. I think that as you look at the tape and the timing of the receivers and everybody being on the same page, I think that has been a work in progress.”
Now Clemson turns to Virginia Tech, and the matchup points squarely at the Tigers’ passing attack. The Hokies come in with the nation’s No. 10 rushing defense, but their secondary has been more vulnerable, allowing 227.3 passing yards per game, which ranks 95th, and nine passing touchdowns, good for 66th.
That puts Clemson in a spot where the ball may need to travel more often than it has in recent weeks. The Tigers have leaned on defense, special teams and a run game that wears opponents down late, but that formula will be tested in a hurry.
A loss would effectively knock Dabo Swinney’s goal of being “in the mix” come November out of reach. A win would keep 10-2 and an ACC Championship berth technically alive.
Swinney, though, said the issues in the passing game aren’t starting with his young quarterback.
“I thought it was Tait’s best game,” he said.
Reynolds looked calmer and more decisive than he did in his first start against UNC, according to Swinney. He had already thrown for 295 yards in a 41-13 loss to Miami, though that game also ended without a touchdown pass.
Reynolds’ only scoring throw of the season came against the Tar Heels. Christopher Vizzina, the senior quarterback-turned-backup, delivered Clemson’s other passing touchdown in the Sept. 12 win over Georgia Southern.
Against Charleston Southern, Reynolds still couldn’t get Clemson into the end zone through the air, but the Tigers did give him chances early. They took several deep shots downfield, and each one was aimed at junior receiver T.J.
Moore. None connected, with drops and good coverage from the Buccaneers secondary killing those attempts.
Moore’s performance drew blunt criticism from both Morris and Swinney, especially given the preseason hype around Clemson’s receiver room.
“T.J. probably had his worst game as a Tiger,” Swinney said. “It's probably the worst game he's had since he’s been here.”
Morris offered a basketball analogy to describe the approach.
“It's kind of like basketball. When you're not making it, just keep shooting. Well, we kept throwing it to him, and at some point we got to say, ‘Hey, look, we got to figure this out another way,’” Morris said.
Both coaches said they expect Moore to answer back, but Morris also made clear that production - not reputation - will determine who keeps getting chances.
“One of the greatest things that we can provide for all our players is competition,” he said. “We're giving you these chances, but our sense of urgency, our heightened awareness of everything, better increase at all positions.”
“How do you do that? Well, the one thing that these guys love to do is play, right? So when you take playing time away from them and you put them on sideline, things change a little bit.”
However Clemson gets there, the message is the same: the passing game has to come around, and fast. Morris said the Tigers will need it this weekend.
“This is going to be a game that we're going to have to throw the football, just like it was against Miami,” Morris said. “You can insert whoever.
To us, it's a nameless, faceless opponent right now. We've got to continue to get better as an offense in all phases, and once we do that, then everything comes into play.”
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The praise extended beyond individual playmakers, with Franklin also mentioning freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds as part of a group that has added to the intrigue around the Tigers. For Clemson, it is another reminder that conference opponents are seeing the same thing everyone else is: a program with enough skill and depth to make every big ACC game feel even bigger, and a matchup this weekend that should draw plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]