CLEMSON - Dabo Swinney didn’t hesitate after Clemson’s 37-0 shutout of Charleston Southern on Saturday: Tait Reynolds turned in his best game in a Tigers uniform.
The freshman quarterback finished 17 of 26 for 126 yards, and Swinney said Reynolds handled the offense with poise and control even if the numbers never fully caught up to the performance.
“I thought it was Tait's best game by far. Just very poised, really good control of what he was doing,” Swinney said.
“Made some great throws that we didn't finish on. That was probably the biggest disappointment.
Late, the broadcaster asked me at halftime, well, what do you got to do to get the passing game going? Well, we got to catch the ball.
I mean, this is a start right there. You've got to complete the catch.
So I was disappointed with some of the drops we have.”
Clemson spent plenty of time trying to connect with T.J. Moore, who was targeted six times in the first half and finished tied for the team high with six targets overall. Reynolds opened with a deep shot down the right sideline near the Charleston Southern fans, but Moore couldn’t finish the play.
The Tigers kept going back to him. Four of Moore’s six targets came in the end zone, and several of Reynolds’ throws were 50/50 balls that leaned on Moore to make the play. Charleston Southern won each of those reps.
Swinney didn’t point the finger at the quarterback there. His message was simple.
“Just gotta catch the ball; I mean, can't throw it no better,” Swinney said. “Put three, really four, right on the money, and just gotta make plays.”
Reynolds also added 40 yards on the ground, and Swinney liked the way he used his legs, too. He said the freshman ran with authority and helped move the chains on a few rushing plays against Buccaneer defenders.
“Decision-making, just playing with rhythm,” Swinney said. “Poise, just really confident in everything he was doing.
I thought he ran the ball with authority, and ran the ball with confidence. He did a great job; I was really proud of him.
I wish we'd, again, had a couple of touchdown passes. But hey, that didn't work out for him.”
For Clemson, the day still came with missed chances. The offense left some meat on the bone, and Swinney made it clear that those are the kinds of finishes the Tigers will need later, not just in a game like this one.
“I mean, everything's got to be better. I thought it was his best day today,” Swinney said.
“Put the ball in the money, made good decisions, created and extended. He did some good things.
Ran when he needed to run. I thought it was his best day.
We just didn't finish some of the plays that we're going to have to finish to win the games we want to win.”
That won’t cost Clemson against Charleston Southern. But Swinney made it clear the margin changes fast, especially with Virginia Tech and James Franklin coming to town for primetime action next weekend.
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