CLEMSON – Before each Clemson home game, the Tigers’ jumbotron flashes images of former players that are now in the NFL.
Among these players are offensive linemen Blake Miller, John Simpson and Jordan McFadden, three guys the Tigers sure could have used on Saturday night.
In Clemson’s 41-13 loss to No. 4 Miami at Memorial Stadium, the Tigers sure could have used any one of those veteran players. With them, Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds might have spent less time on the ground.
In their first in-conference loss, the Tigers’ offensive line gave up six sacks, bringing the group to 17 sacks allowed on the year. For reference, this is five more than any other ACC team has allowed through at least five games.
Additionally, Clemson only picked up 55 rushing yards on the evening, and Miami finished with nine total tackles for loss. The Hurricanes’ defense combined for 40 total negative yards as Clemson struggled to sustain or finish drives without being brought down in the backfield, at least at times in the first half.
This is not a new issue for the Tigers, though it has been covered over the last three weeks while not playing elite competition.
The offensive line struggles started way back in the Tigers’ season-opening loss to LSU, in which Clemson allowed four sacks and 11 total tackles for loss, without sacking LSU’s quarterback once. The Tigers showed improvement in the next few weeks, though, at least in spurts.
Though they were heavily penalized in a 22-7 victory over Georgia Southern, Clemson’s offensive line only gave up two sacks for a loss of nine yards, a significant improvement from the week prior. They also assisted the Tigers’ run game, helping them to 150 rushing yards.
The growth continued in wins over North Carolina and California, as the offensive line helped running back Gideon Davidson to 105 and 159-yard games, respectively, and only gave up four combined sacks. In these games, against less talented competition, the Tigers’ offense started to click and coordinator Chad Morris started to implement his desired schemes.
In addition to helping the offense have some overall cohesion, the line also started to individually mesh together, being penalized less with each game. Even as different players started to cycle into the rotation, the unit seemed to be improved independent of the personnel in for each play.
However, some overarching issues were back on full display against Miami, which ranks first in most statistical categories in the ACC, including overall rushing and scoring defense.
It was not just giving up sacks that was a problem.
Several times, Clemson offensive linemen got physically beat after the snap, consistently losing one-on-one matchups with their opposing defender. Tiger linemen did win some as the game went on, allowing Reynolds to get the offense moving more in the second and third quarters. However, it was far from enough to get Clemson over the hump.
Just as they started seeing some success there, the penalties started to kill Clemson’s offensive line, as they were hit with two false start calls towards the end of the game. The Tigers still managed to score directly after the second penalty right by the end zone, but it made a one-yard spot unnecessarily difficult.
Clemson’s offensive woes against Miami were not solely on the offensive line, by any stretch. In fact, they had several strong moments, allowing Reynolds a clean pocket on multiple occasions. However, when a team only finishes a game averaging 1.8 yards per carry, there has to be some blame associated with the offense’s main form of protection.
And when, on the other side, Miami’s guards and tackles are orchestrating explosive plays, like making big blocks for the 61-yard touchdown that the Hurricanes opened the game with, it brings those issues into perspective for the Tigers.
Now, offensive line coach Matt Luke, head coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers will have two weeks to make improvements through an open date before they play Charleston Southern on Oct. 17.
Now, though, the unit knows where they match up against the best in the conference, and maybe the country.