Clemson’s offense is really clicking

In last week’s win over Boston College, No. 3 Clemson threw for 420 yards, while racking up 537 yards of total offense. In Saturday’s thumping of Miami at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., the Tigers rushed for 416 yards while totaling 567 total yards.

It marked the first time at any point in any season a Clemson team ran for 400 yards and threw 400 yards in the same season.

“That is when we are at our best is when we have a lot of people that are worthy of touching the ball,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said on Sunday. “You don’t really have to force things. You can just kind of let the game flow. I think that is a good thing.”

Against the Hurricanes, it allowed Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC) to have scoring drives of 84, 61, 85, 84, 45, 69 and 18 yards. The Tigers proved against Miami they can score quickly if need be with four scoring drives of six plays or less, or they can be methodical. They had three scoring drives of 12 plays or more against the Hurricanes.

“That speaks to the diversity we have on offense, and our ability to not only beat you throwing the ball, but we can run the ball effectively,” Swinney said. “And then to involve a lot of different guys, and not to mention we have a quarterback who averaged over 12 yards a rush.”

Deshaun Watson averaged 12.2 yards to be exact, and finished the day with 98 yards on eight carries. Sixty three of those yards came on one carry, which set up Wayne Gallman’s five-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Speaking of Gallman, he averaged 5.4 yards and ran for 118 overall, while backup quarterback Kelly Bryant had 59 yards on five carries, an average of 11.8 yards per carry. He scored two touchdowns, one from 59 yards out and the second from 10 yards away.

“We have a complete group that has been working towards that all year long,” Swinney said. “I think after seven games this group has demonstrated that they are committed and they are serious about being great. They are unselfish.

“They know we have a lot of guys that are worthy of touching the ball and they have great respect for that. It is fun to be a part of it. It really is … Artavis (Scott) is our leading receiver, and I know he had the touchdown run, but he only had one catch, but nobody was happier than him, but that is just the way it is. We are going to take what the defense gives us.”

Most Valuable Units. Swinney announced the entire offensive line was named the MVP of the offense for the Miami game after the Tigers rushed for 416 yards and did not allow a sack on Saturday. He also gave the MVP award on defense to the entire defense after the Tigers pitched their second shutout in two years.

No, the entire special teams did not win the Special Teams Award. That went to linebacker Dorian O’Daniel.

Dodd injured. Defensive end Kevin Dodd was in a walking boot at the end of the game on Saturday. Swinney said it is a bottom of the foot injury. He will be reevaluated during the week. He injured his foot in the first quarter, but came back and finished the rest of the game. According to Swinney, it did not give him any issues.