CLEMSON, S.C. — If there’s one thing that has become clear about this Clemson team through three weeks, it’s that it’s built differently than some in the past.
Dabo Swinney is trying to strike a balance between keeping spirits up — “They’re not video game players,” the coach said Sunday evening — and challenging his players to get better. It’s a delicate line as No. 9 Clemson looks to hit its stride by finding some sort of identity offensively. A trip to NC State is up next.
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In the meantime, numbers provide more context about what Clemson is facing, so The Athletic is diving into the most telling stats after a wacky 14-8 win Saturday against Georgia Tech.
284 — Yards of offense against the Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech outgained Clemson 309 to 284, marking the first time since a 29-23 win in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl national semifinal against Ohio State that the Tigers won despite having fewer yards of offense than their opponent. With the exception of Clemson’s matchup with Georgia in Week 1, the last time Clemson had fewer than 275 yards of total offense in a game came in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama at the end of the 2017 season. Clemson lost 24-6 with 188 total yards.
114 — Clemson’s national rank in total offense after three games
The Tigers finished the 2018 season with the nation’s No. 3 offense, 2019 with the No. 5 offense and 2020 with the No. 10 offense. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei said Saturday that he believed Clemson had the “best offense in the country,” but the Tigers, averaging just 322.7 yards per game, have a long way to go. Jeff Scott, Clemson’s former co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, is currently one spot ahead of Clemson with the nation’s No. 113 total offense at USF. Even taking out the season-opening loss to Georgia and its formidable defense, Clemson’s average of 394 yards per game against FCS team South Carolina State and Georgia Tech would rank No. 75 nationally.
108 — Clemson’s national rank (tied with Oklahoma State) in yards per play
The Tigers averaged 4.3 yards per play against Georgia Tech and are averaging 4.82 yards per play for the season. This comes after Clemson averaged 5.74 yyp in 2017, 7.35 in 2018, 7.38 in 2019 and 6.69 in 2020.
Uiagalelei echoed freshman running back Will Shipley on Saturday night, when Shipley said the offense was one play per drive away from busting open. Uiagalelei said the offense is going to be fine and needs to make sure it doesn’t press. Swinney said he knew that Clemson would be led by its defense this season, but that he felt like his offense took steps forward Saturday.
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“There might not be a lot of things that make people go, ‘Wow’ and ‘See’, but I see,” he said. “A lot of things we can build on, teach from and grow from.”
73 — Points Clemson hung on Georgia Tech last season
Trevor Lawrence threw for 404 yards, five touchdowns and an interception.
52 — Points Clemson scored versus Georgia Tech by halftime last season
No wonder the Yellow Jackets changed their defensive scheme Saturday, playing with odd fronts and dropping eight players into coverage at least 50 percent of the time, according to offensive coordinator Tony Elliott.
“We prepared for who we thought they were going to be, and they came out in a structure that was completely different than what we’ve seen. We’ve really only seen them do that one other time, and that was last year versus UCF,” Elliott said. “Structurally, they weren’t going to give us the big play. They were going to make us be patient. … But we’re still leaving too many points on the field.”
21 — Carries for Shipley vs. Georgia Tech
The total ranks as the highest number of carries for a Clemson running back since Travis Etienne ran for 150 yards on 28 carries against South Carolina in November of 2018.
Shipley ran for 88 yards and both of Clemson’s touchdowns before he fumbled in the end zone with 15 seconds to play. Fortunately for Clemson, Shipley recovered his own fumble for a safety instead of Georgia Tech recovering it for a touchdown. With the exception of that error — which Clemson could have avoided by putting Uiagalelei under center — the five-star freshman appears to have done enough to earn the starting running back job. Clemson has taken a by-committee approach with sophom*ore Kobe Pace getting two starts and senior Lyn-J Dixon getting one. Elliott said coaches would talk about those types of decisions Sunday. If Shipley starts Week 4 at NC State, count his quarterback as a supporter.
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“We’re proud of Will Shipley,” Uiagalelei said. “Freshman coming in just running right through the trash. Straight up dog, man.”
14 — Clemson’s rank among ACC teams in total offense and and yards per play
Yep, the Tigers are last in the league.
13 — Tackles for reserve linebacker LeVonta Bentley vs. Georgia Tech
Bentley didn’t find out until pregame warmups that he’d be starting in place of fifth-year linebacker Baylon Spector, who had inflammation in his knee Thursday that flared up Saturday. Swinney said he’d know more Monday about Spector, but is hopeful he’ll be ready for NC State. Bentley ended up with the team lead in tackles and tied for the game high.
“Bentley had to step in literally, literally right after pregame,” Swinney said. “I thought he did a great job for us.”
12 — Number of Uiagalelei’s 18 completions that went for 10 yards or fewer vs. Georgia Tech
Uiagalelei hasn’t been shy about his affinity for the deep ball, but didn’t seem bothered Saturday that Clemson coaches didn’t call for him to air it out at any point.
“For the most part, their defensive scheme was to take away all those deep shots,” Uiagalelei said.“We just take what they give us, and that’s what we did.”
9 — Third-down completions on 15 tries (60 percent) vs. Georgia Tech
The Tigers offense has plenty of question marks, but Swinney will take that third-down conversion rate any day. Seven came on runs and two on passes. Clemson converted 46.04 of third downs in 2018, 44.2 percent in 2019 and 46.37 percent in 2020. Even with all of the offensive woes, the Tigers’ current rate is 50 percent.
8 — Carries for Uiagalelei vs. Georgia Tech
Uiagalelei finally got into a rhythm when he started rushing the ball, totaling 46 yards and averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He fumbled twice, one he recovered for a first down and one Georgia Tech recovered at a critical juncture in the fourth quarter. His best run of the night came one drive later, when he ran 14 yards for a first down on third-and-14. Shipley scored his second touchdown of the night moments later.
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Elliott said Clemson could have turned to the quarterback run earlier in the game, but wanted first to see if Georgia Tech intended to stick with its surprising structure. A two-hour lightning day allowed coaches to talk in depth about Georgia Tech’s scheme, when they decided they’d have to win on the ground. Swinney said Clemson could look to get Uiagalelei, 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, more involved with his legs.
“I like running the ball. I like feeling the contact … and for me, (when) I get to get hit a little bit, it gets the juices flowing,” Uiagalelei said. “It kind of settles me in I guess a little bit. I felt good. It felt good running the ball.”
6 — Number of seasons middle linebacker James Skalski has been on Clemson’s defense
The experience showed in crunchtime when his goal-line stuff stopped the Yellow Jackets from scoring on fourth-and-goal from the Clemson 2. Clemson led 14-6, meaning Georgia Tech could have tied the score with a touchdown and successful two-point conversion with 15 seconds to play.
“What can you say, man? It’s funny, he was on the sideline, like, he was like, ‘Man, I haven’t made a play all night,’ and I was like, ‘Just keep playing hard, man,’” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “The game is slow for him because of all the preparation he puts into it week in and week out.
“It just makes you so proud.”
4.02 — Clemson’s average yards per rush in three games
It’s early, but if Clemson continues to average around 4 yards per run, it’d be the lowest season average since 2014, when Clemson ran for 3.53 yards per carry.
4 — Sacks vs. Georgia Tech for the Clemson defense
Bryan Bresee, whom Swinney raved about, had 1 1/2 , Bentley had one and Trenton Simpson, K.J. Henry and Xavier Thomas each had 1/2 of a sack.
“That was fun to watch them keep swinging and keep fighting and competing and finding a way,” Venables said of his defense.
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3 — Number of spots Clemson fell in the AP Poll
The Tigers’ No. 9 ranking is their lowest since Clemson opened at No. 12 in 2015, according to collegepollarchive.com.
2 — False starts on true freshman left guard Marcus Tate vs. Georgia Tech
Tate has the talent to play as one of Clemson’s five best linemen, but will need to settle in on the road this week at NC State.
1 —Turnover lost vs. Georgia Tech
It came on Uiagalelei’s fumble, and turnovers continue to be a concern for Swinney.
“We’re continuing to put the ball on the ground way too much,” he said. “That’s an area I was really concerned with coming into the game, so we’ve got to improve there.”
0 — Touchdowns Clemson’s defense has allowed through 12 quarters
The Tigers are the only team with this distinction.
Three weeks into the season and Clemson is only team in the nation who has not given up a TD to the opposing offense. Georgia is second allowing just one.
— Tim Bourret (@TimBourret) September 19, 2021
“(Venables) gave us some props for it,” Bresee said. “Coach Swinney did as well just because it’s been since 1950-something that that’s happened. They’ll give us a little congratulations … and then it’s onto the next game.”
(Photo of Clemson receiver Justyn Ross and Georgia Tech linebacker Charlie Thomas: Adam Hagy / USA Today)
