On the Mac & Murray CFB Show, former Clemson offensive lineman/ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain and former Georgia quarterback/ESPN analyst Aaron Murray discussed Duke’s statement win over Clemson, as well as what’s going on with Dabo Swinney and the Tigers.
Murray weighed in on Clemson’s defense, which allowed 361 passing yards and 439 total yards to the Blue Devils, who scored 46 points in the 46-45 victory over the Tigers at Memorial Stadium last Saturday.
Clemson dropped to 134-1 all-time when scoring 45 points in a game.
Tom Allen’s defense is currently tied for 64th nationally in points per game allowed (24.0) and ranks 54th in total yards per game allowed (350.3).
“I don’t even think underachieving is the right word,” Murray said of Clemson’s defense. “What is worse than underachieving? Because they’ve been so far from expectations with the talent that we know that is on that roster, that has not been met. And the fact that these games are happening in your stadium. … You can’t even say the talent plus homefield advantage, and you’re still giving up 40-something points? I know Duke is electric on offense, but you gotta have some pride at some point. I sit back still flabbergasted by how far the mighty have fallen on the defensive side of the football.”
Mac Lain brought up how Swinney was absolutely furious and chewed into his defense/secondary on the sideline after Clemson gave up 28 points to Duke before halftime.
“You saw Coach Dabo Swinney really laying into the defense, the staff, players,” Mac Lain said. “He was going after Tom Allen. A bunch of just poor things happening, and the secondary in particular, the safety position, was just bad. Blowups everywhere. … He laid into them.”
Swinney’s team has hit a new low this season after falling to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in ACC play.
Mac Lain – a former first-team All-ACC selection who played at Clemson from 2011-15, when the Tigers captured two conference championships and made a national championship appearance – says Clemson’s longtime head coach is “in a bad place right now.”
“This is the sad part. It’s my coach. … That’s my guy,” Mac Lain said. “I’ve seen it all. I know it all with him. And so when I see his eyes, his heart, his emotion, his mindset — he’s in a bad place right now. This sucks. This sucks to watch. And he’s the only one that can get himself out of it. That’s why he’s the leader. That’s why he’s the guy. I obviously hope and pray that he does, because I think he’s great for college football, great for my university. But he’s not having fun right now. And obviously so – I mean, they stink.”
You can check out more from Mac Lain and Murray in the following video: