ESPN analyst Booger McFarland was blunt in his assessment of Clemson and Dabo Swinney’s program following the 14 th -ranked Tigers’ 34-3 loss to No. 1 Georgia on Saturday in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
McFarland laid out the “issues” he sees with Clemson, starting with what he called a “stale” offense and the lack of creativity for the Tigers on that side of the ball.
Clemson managed only 188 yards of total offense against Georgia, with the Tigers’ lone points of the contest coming on Nolan Hauser’s 26-yard field goal in the third quarter. The three points tied for the fewest in a game under Swinney (since 2008).
“It’s a couple issues for Clemson, and I’m afraid to say it’s the same ole thing,” McFarland said on ESPN’s College Football Scoreboard show.
“No creativity on offense. It’s been the same stale offense for four or five years. The quarterback, Cade Klubnik, no ability to push the football down the field. And if you’re a Clemson fan, you have to ask yourself, when are we going to change? When are we going to be able to be creative when we don’t have the explosive players that you’ve already heard of? Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins – when you don’t have those generational players, the creativity has to change. The defensive line was outstanding in the first half, but they just couldn’t hold up all game long when the offense doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain.”
Saturday marked Clemson’s third-largest loss under Swinney. ESPN anchor Kevin Negandhi pointed out that it’s the first time since 2013 that the Tigers have suffered a 30-point loss.
When discussing Clemson’s issues, McFarland also spoke about Swinney’s use of the transfer portal, or lack thereof.
“It’s doing it Dabo’s way, and I think that’s what’s ruffled the Clemson faithful about how Dabo wants to do it,” McFarland said, after Negandhi mentioned that Clemson has zero starts from incoming transfers since 2018.
”When it’s good, it’s going to be good. But every recruiting class is not going to hit on every player. So the transfer portal allows you to go in and if you need a wide receiver, if you need a safety, if you need some quarterback competition for Cade Klubnik, to bring someone in. Dabo chooses not to. Therefore, you’re going to have those lulls in the program, and I’m afraid right now, they have a little bit of a lull. No explosiveness on the outside. Defensively, the front is good, but where’s your guys on the second level, the linebackers and the safeties. They’ve struggled at Clemson to develop those guys for the last few years, and they’re still struggling.”
It’s been well-documented that Clemson is one of only four programs in the FBS that didn’t take a player from the transfer portal this offseason (Air Force, Army and Navy).
During his postgame press conference after the loss to Georgia, Swinney was asked what he would say to people who point to his transfer portal approach when they see something like the outcome of Saturday’s game.
“People are going to say whatever they want to say. It doesn’t matter what I say. People are going to say whatever they’re going to say,” Swinney said , adding that the Tigers “do what’s best for Clemson, year in and year out.”
“And when you lose like this, they’ve got every right to say whatever they want to say,” Swinney continued. “So, say whatever you want to say, write whatever you want to write. That comes with it. That’s just part of it.”
A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
Local News
Comments / 0