The inability to finish drives is something that has haunted the Clemson offense for most of the season.

After making three trips inside the Syracuse red zone in an 18-13 win on Saturday and failing to score a touchdown on any, the Tigers now rank next to last in the country in that department.

Clemson has made 27 trips inside an opposing red zone this season and has converted just 11 of those into touchdowns (41%). Only FIU has been worse this season.

Dabo Swinney was asked about what led to the latest issues against the Orange during his weekly teleconference on Sunday.

“Just really frustrated with missed red zone touchdown opportunities,” the head coach said. “A dropped ball, a sack, a penalty or a mistake. Disappointed there.”

“It’s all the above. I wish I could tell you it’s one thing.”

Against Syracuse, the Tigers had some success moving the ball between the 20s, particularly in the first half. On the very first play from scrimmage, Jarvis Green raced 53 yards, setting the Tigers up with a first down at the Orange 22. However, Clemson managed just three yards on the next three plays and ultimately had to settle for the first of four Nolan Hauser field goals.

On the first play of the second possession, Tait Reynolds connected with Bryant Wesco on a 53-yard strike, giving the Tigers the ball at the Syracuse 22. This time the offense managed just four yards on the next three plays, once again having to settle for a field goal.

In the second quarter, a trick play resulted in Wesco passing to T.J. Moore for 36 yards to the Syracuse 25. Clemson made it no further than the 16 and again kicked a field goal.

If just one of those red zone opportunities had resulted in a touchdown, that game likely wouldn’t have come down to the waning moments.

In the end, that is exactly what happened, and Swinney insists that there are a number of reasons the offense continues to stall.

“Good news is we’re moving the ball. Bad news is we’re not capitalizing,” Swinney said. “We drop a touchdown and get a stupid penalty, a miscue up front on a twist — we had a couple of calls we’d like to have back, so it’s a combination of things. We haven’t seen the type of crisp execution and precision that we have to have. It’s been a problem for us, and that’s what allows teams to hang around. We’ll keep working at it. We are making some improvements, but we’re nowhere near as good as we need to be. It’s not one thing.”