The Clemson football team has made it to the halfway part of the season undefeated in its first six games this year. This marks the second time in the last three years the Tigers have opened a season 6-0 and the third time in the last five years.
Just how good is this Clemson team? Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney says they still have not played their best football. I agree with him. The best is yet to come. But since its midterm at Clemson University these days, how about giving you a progress report on how the Tigers have done through the first six weeks of the season.
Quarterbacks: A
I know some of you might think Deshaun Watson does not deserve an “A” due to the fact he has thrown seven interceptions, but let’s keep in mind how many of those interceptions were actually his fault. In my opinion, only three of those interceptions should be charged to him. The other four were either wide receivers running an improper route, not going up for the ball, slipping or a running back not holding his block, allowing Watson’s arm to be smacked as it went forward. Yes, there have been times when Watson has been to amped up and overshot his receivers. But for the most part he has been very accurate and efficient in leading the Clemson offense. Through six games he had completed 68.2 percent of his passes for 1,410 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is also second on the team in rushing with 234 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 4.2 yards per carry. But it’s the little things the average person does not see or notice that makes Watson so special. He checks his team in and out of plays as well or better than any college quarterback in the game. He throws the ball away when he feels pressure or if there is no one open. When scrambling, he keeps plays alive and never takes his eyes off what’s happening down field. It’s the little things like that, plus his production, that make him so special, especially considering his just a sophomore. The backup position has been semi-productive when Nick Schuessler and Kelly Bryant have come into the game. Schuessler has completed 12 of 18 passes for 173 yards, while Bryant has completed 4 of 5 for 19 yards. Bryant has also rushed for 36 yards and is averaging 4.0 yards per carry.
Running backs: B
Wayne Gallman has been the workhorse this season. He already has 584 yards and five touchdowns, and is on pace to record 1,200 yards. He is averaging 97.3 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry. He is averaging 17.7 carries a game. He runs with determination, power and speed. He has really improved with his patience when it comes to waiting for the holes to open up in the zone-running schemes. He seldom gets caught for a loss and he always falls forward. Zac Brooks has emerged as the Tigers’ No. 2 guy. He has rushed for 128 yards and scored two touchdowns. He is averaging 9.1 yards per carry, while catching three passes for 31 yards and scoring another touchdown. After Brooks, Clemson’s production at running back drops way down. C.J. Davidson goes down on first contact and has not been productive at all with his opportunities, while Tyshon Dye did not get carries against Louisville or Notre Dame, and had just seven combined yards in his five carries against Georgia Tech and Boston College.
Jordan Leggett has been the most productive tight end to this point. He has hauled in 15 catches for 157 yards and has scored five touchdowns.
Wide Receivers & tight ends: B
Losing Mike Williams on the first drive of the season set the offense back a while and it took some time to adjust. Charone Peake has struggled in his role in replacing Williams at the boundary position, and in turn it has hurt what Artavis Scott can do on the outside. But with the emergence of freshman Deon Cain the last two weeks, Scott is starting to see things open up more on the field side and as a result the Clemson passing game is starting to take off again. Cain (13-263) caught five passes for 96 yards against Georgia Tech and then followed that with a two-catch 97-yard night against Boston College. Cain, who is averaging 20.2 yards per catch, had a Lynn Swann like one-handed catch for 30 yards in the BC game, while he also hauled in a 67-yard pass play from Watson. With his explosiveness, Clemson’s passing game is only going to get better. Though he has been doubled team most of the year, Scott has still found ways to get the football. He leads the Tigers with 39 receptions—21 more than anyone else—for 443 yards and four touchdowns. Last week’s 10 catches for 162 yards was easily his best game of the season. He had receptions of 50, 33 and 51 yards in the game. Hunter Renfrow (11-154-1 TD) has also come on as a reliable target for Watson, while Peake has hauled in 11 pass for 165 yards and two scores. Ray Ray McCloud and Trevion Thompson have also shown flashes of what they can do as well. Jordan Leggett has been the most productive tight end to this point. He has hauled in 15 catches for 157 yards and has scored five touchdowns. He has become Watson’s go-to guy in the red zone. He became the Tigers’ second tight end in history to score at least one touchdown in four straight games. He is easily on pace to break Dwayne Allen’s and Brandon Ford’s record for touchdown receptions in a season by a tight end, which was set at eight.
Offensive line: A
Is there any group on this Clemson team that has exceeded expectations other than the offensive line? The answer is no. After Isaiah Battle left the team in the summer, it meant the Tigers were going to have to start true freshman Mitch Hyatt, to go along with a couple of seniors in Eric Mac Lain and Joe Gore that played very little in their career’s prior to the season opener and a sophomore guard in Tyrone Crowder who was still raw. To make it more complicated, the most experienced player and starter in center Ryan Norton, spent much of the season on the bench with a banged up knee. Despite all of these things working against them, the offensive line has flourished. Hyatt has become a star sooner than most expected. Gore and Mac Lain have provided the leadership this group needed and Jay Guillermo has come in at center and has become the rock of the offensive line. The Tigers have rushed for 200 or more yards in four of their six games this season. The 112 yards they got against BC’s No. 1-ranked defense last week marked the first time in this season the Eagles allowed a team to go over the 100-yard mark.
Defensive line: A
How many teams can afford to lose all four starters and its top six players on the defensive line and still be just as good the following year? Not many. But that’s exactly what Clemson has done through the first six games of the year. The Tigers rank ninth in the country in tackles for loss per game at 9.33. As expected, Shaq Lawson has been unblockable at times. He has a team-high 11 tackles for loss, while the surprise of the team, fellow defensive end Kevin Dodd, is right behind him with eight tackles for loss, including a team-high 4.5 sacks. Though senior D.J. Reader left the team in August to deal with personal issues (he returned on Monday) the Tigers had no drop off inside. Carlos Watkins has been a beast as he has recorded 35 tackles and 3.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage despite being doubled teamed in most cases. He also has an interception returned for a touchdown and made the play of the year against Notre Dame. Freshman Christian Wilkins has been a space eater and has 43 tackles to go with his 3.5 tackles for loss, while sophomore Scott Pagano has 34 tackles and has been excellent against the run. Reader’s return should only add to the quality of this defensive front.
Linebackers: B
When you look at who has played, it is clear the Tigers have been very productive at the linebacker spots. Inside backers B.J. Goodson (60) and Ben Boulware (58) lead the team in tackles, while Boulware has an amazing 13 quarterback pressures, four passes broken up and one interception. Travis Blanks and Dorian O’Daniel have been solid on the strongside as well with a combined 29 tackles and 7 tackles for loss. But the biggest concern is the Tigers’ lack of depth at the two inside positions. Goodson and Boulware have played just about every snap the last four games with Boulware playing 72 snaps against Notre Dame. Kendall Joseph and Jalen Williams did not play a single snap at linebacker in each of the last four games. The lack of experienced depth is an obvious issue as the Tigers head into the second half of the season.
Cordrea Tankersley has stepped up and has been a solid force with five passes broken up and two interceptions.
Secondary: A
The Tigers secondary has recorded four of the team’s seven interceptions so that obviously needs to get better, but when you look at the fact opponents are completing just 43.8 percent of their passes (2nd nationally), it’s obvious they are getting it done on the back end. Safeties Jayron Kearse (34 tackles, 4 TFL, 4 PBUs) and T.J. Green (53 tackles 4 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU) have been beast in the running game and in coverage. Cornerback Mackensie Alexander has shut down everyone he has gone up against, while Cordrea Tankersley has stepped up and has been a solid force with five passes broken up and two interceptions. Both are team highs. The Tigers have also got solid play from Ryan Carter at nickel back and Jadar Johnson at safety.
Special Teams: B
Freshman Greg Huegel did a great job coming in for Ammon Lakip, while he served his three-game suspension, and took over the job. He has made 8 of 10 field goals, including a long of 47 yards giving security to the field goal kicking position. Lakip has come back and has taken ownership of the kickoff duties and has since recorded seven touchbacks. Punter Andy Teasdall has also been a pleasant surprise for the Tigers. The junior is averaging a net of 38.9 yards per punt and has already dropped 11 points inside the 20 and has forced 10 fair catches. Clemson has greatly improved on kickoff returns with a 26.4 yards per return average which ranks fourth in the ACC. Clemson is still shaky in punt returns, averaging an ACC worse 2.3 yards per return. The kick coverage team did allow Louisville to return a kick 100 yards for a score, but the punt coverage unit is giving up just 3.3 yards per punt. Opponents are averaging 25.0 yards per return.
Coaching: A
Dabo Swinney has done a great job making sure his team is prepared each and every week. Clemson has trailed just twice all season and in both instances they responded with ensuing drives that tied the game. Jeff Scott and Tony Elliott have settled into their roles as co-coordinators on offense and in the last two games the Tigers have averaged 38 points and 534.5 yards. Robbie Caldwell has done a great job with the offensive line considering what he had to work with to start the year, and he has really made them a solid unit. On defense, Brent Venables might be the best play caller in the game, while Mike Reed has the secondary playing at a high level and as good as anyone in the country. Dan Brooks and Marion Hobby have done a great jobs making sure the defensive line did not have any drop off after losing all of last year’s dominating unit.