Many Clemson fans are wondering “what’s next?” after seeing the Tigers get trounced by Georgia this past Saturday in Atlanta.
Despite Clemson’s lopsided 34-3 loss, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy doesn’t think it’s time for Tiger fans to push the panic button right now.
McElroy – who served as the color commentator for ABC’s broadcast of the Clemson-UGA game – gave his reaction to what he saw on Saturday, and he says not to overreact to Clemson just yet.
“I know people are going to overreact. I’ve already seen stuff (Sunday) morning about how Clemson’s day is done and Clemson can’t compete,” McElroy said on his Always College Football show.
“I just want to remind everybody that in that exact same game – the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta two years ago – Oregon got absolutely steamrolled, and Bo Nix looked like the Auburn version of Bo Nix. Just want to remind everybody of that. And Bo Nix I think is starting for the Denver Broncos next week. I also believe that he was drafted 12th overall, and I also believe that Oregon since that game has been pretty dang good, right. So, I don’t want to overreact and just put the knife into Clemson at this moment.”
With that said, McElroy added that Clemson simply has to “get better play at quarterback” from Cade Klubnik, who went 18-of-29 passing for 142 yards and an interception with no touchdowns against the Bulldogs.
“I mean it’s as simple as that. They’ve got to get better play at quarterback,” McElroy said. “I think their defense is still excellent. I think their defense battled as best they could. They just couldn’t keep up as the game kind of started to get sideways there in the end.
“Cade Klubnik has to be better, he’s got to be more accurate, and he’s got to hit some downfield throws. This whole dink and dunk, sideline to sideline stuff, it just doesn’t work in the SEC, in the ACC. Like, you have to push the ball downfield. And against Georgia, you’re not going to be able to just nickel and dime your way down the field. You have to get chunk yardage. They couldn’t, and that’s why things got sideways. But there were opportunities there to hit wide receivers that were behind the defense.”
Clemson will try to bounce back from the season-opening defeat, starting with Saturday’s home opener against Appalachian State at Death Valley (8 p.m., ACC Network).
Although things got ugly for the Tigers against the Bulldogs, McElroy still believes Clemson can contend in the ACC this season.
“I don’t think Clemson’s done at all. I still think they’re in prime position to be a contender in the ACC,” he said. “But I think they have a lot of work to do, especially on the offensive side of the football.”
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