Since the beginning of the season, Clemson has routinely turned to its jumbo package in short-yardage situations.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik will line up under center with defensive tackle Peter Woods in the backfield, along with one of the running backs.

For the most part, the Tigers have experienced success when handing the ball to Woods, but against Louisville, it failed on back-to-back plays with Clemson on the 1-yard line, looking to score.

On the first attempt, on a 3rd and goal, Klubnik handed the ball to Woods successfully, but the Cardinals’ defense had good penetration. Woods would end up fumbling trying to stretch the ball across the goal line.

“We kind of had exactly what we wanted, but that part was we were late off the football, which caused some issues on that drive there on the goal line,” offensive coordinator Garrett Riley said.

Klubnik recovered the fumble, giving the offense one more crack at it from one yard out. On the 4th down play, Klubnik was supposed to hand the ball to running back Adam Randall with Woods serving as the lead blocker, but in a move Dabo Swinney termed as a “brain fart,” Klubnik tried handing the ball to Woods again, who never looked for the ball. What resulted was another fumble, this one recovered by Louisville.

However, despite those issues against the Cardinals, Riley believes the jumbo package and giving Woods opportunities in short-yardage situations have mostly yielded positive results.

“It’s been productive for us, it has been good all season,” Riley added. “Got a lot of trust in those guys to do that. We just didn’t get it done there.”

Woods has carried the ball eight times this season in short-yardage situations. Two of those runs have produced touchdowns, with four more resulting in first downs. Only twice has he carried the ball and not gotten the desired result.

“I really like Peter getting the football in short-yardage situations,” Riley said. “That has been a good deal for us most of the year. Felt like we had exactly what we wanted the other night, but late off the ball. That is what caused the issues there on that third down for sure.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright