Clemson’s defense delivered a shutout Saturday, but the comfortable victory over Charleston Southern did little to settle a concern that has followed the Tigers throughout the season: a passing game that continues to leave points on the field.
Halfway through its schedule, Clemson ranks last in the ACC and 111th nationally in passing yards per game. Its two touchdown passes place it last among all 138 FBS teams. Explosive completions have been scarce, too, with the Tigers tied for 107th nationally in passing plays of at least 20 yards and ranking 127th in plays exceeding 30 yards.
The opportunities against Charleston Southern help explain Dabo Swinney’s frustration. Clemson won 37-0, yet several chances to score through the air went unfinished.
“We have to catch the ball,” Swinney said. “And it is a combination of things. Obviously, we are developing our quarterback.”
T.J. Moore could not secure a diving catch in the end zone on Clemson’s opening possession, and Bryant Wesco also dropped a potential touchdown before halftime. Those missed chances have contributed to freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds having just one touchdown pass against three interceptions despite completing 65 percent of his attempts for 943 yards.
Still, the responsibility extends beyond the receivers.
Swinney pointed to another play when Moore broke open for a potential touchdown, but Reynolds scrambled instead of delivering the pass.
“He has to sit in there, step up and throw the post for a touchdown,” Swinney said. “So, there are several things that are there and we are not executing at a high level.”
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Reynolds’ 295-yard outing against Miami provided evidence that Clemson can move the ball through the air. The Tigers have yet to turn those stretches into consistent production, with mistakes in different areas preventing the offense from finishing possessions.
Saturday’s matchup with Virginia Tech offers another opportunity against a pass defense that ranks near the bottom of the ACC in several categories. For Clemson, taking advantage will require better execution from both its freshman quarterback and the players catching his passes.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Dabo Swinney on Clemson’s passing game struggles, Reynolds development