It’s safe to say Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is frustrated with the roughing the passer penalties that the Tigers were called for in last Saturday’s 34-21 loss to Syracuse.

“It’s tough to play defense, honestly. Next step, we’re gonna be all flag football,” Swinney said during his weekly radio show Monday night.

A pair of roughing the passer penalties against Clemson on Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli contributed to an 80-yard touchdown drive in the first half of Saturday’s game.

On the first occasion, Clemson defensive end Jahiem Lawson was called for roughing the passer on a second-and-10 play from the Syracuse 20-yard line early in the second quarter, giving Cuse 15 additional yards after a 9-yard completion.

Then, later in the drive, Clemson defensive end Will Heldt was flagged for roughing the passer on third-and-14 from the Syracuse 40. Were it not for the penalty that gave Syracuse a first down, the Tigers would have forced a punt after an 8-yard completion.

Those two roughing the passer calls aided the drive that ultimately ended with a touchdown to give the Orange a 24-7 lead with 9:13 left before halftime.

“It’s hard to coach the defensive guys. Those are massive, massive calls, and we just have to live with it. They called it, and that’s what they think is an accurate call. But it’s really tough to play defense,” Swinney said.

“That’s a third-and-long call, and you’re off the field. So, yeah, it’s hard.”

At the end of the day, Swinney knows there’s nothing he can do about those calls.

“We just agree to disagree,” he said. “But ultimately the calls were made.”