Clemson Football: What You Should and Shouldn't Be Concerned About After Week 2

Week 2 is in the books for the Clemson Tigers, and it ended in style with a 73-7 win over South Carolina State on Saturday.

In the first two weeks, we have seen some positives but also some negatives. Which of these issues should be a concern moving forward, and which ones are being overblown at this point?

Quarterback Controversy

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I covered this issue in my article on Monday, so I will just touch on it here. Head coach Dabo Swinney made it clear to David Hood of TigerNet.com that there is no quarterback controversy, saying, “Cole (Stoudt) is our starter.”

Cole Stoudt is the starter, plain and simple, because of his experience and knowledge of the offense at this point. When you start trying to name a starter based on potential talent it gets tricky, but Swinney and his coaches know which quarterback gives the team the best chance against Florida State in less than two weeks.

Deshaun Watson can help this team as the backup and can provide Clemson with a spark on offense by coming in the game and running the zone read. This isn’t an issue at all, so no concern here for the Tigers moving forward.

Verdict: Not a Concern

Offensive Line

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Coming into the season, we knew there would be some new faces on the offensive line who would have to step up. Per Robert Thorne MacRae of The Clemson Insider, Swinney thought starting right tackle Joe Gore could have done more in the second half against Georgia, saying, “He had some struggles in the second half."

Kalon Davis has been the best lineman we have seen, and he has the versatility to move around to other positions if needed. Jay Guillermo started for the Tigers at center against South Carolina State, so it will be interesting to see if he starts again against the Seminoles.

The Tigers need more consistency out of Gore and Isaiah Battle if they are going to be able to contain Florida State’s defensive line. David Beasley missed the Georgia game because of a suspension, so it will be interesting to see if he gets the nod against Florida State or if Reid Webster gets another start at left guard.

This unit is a concern for the Tigers moving forward because they just don’t have a lot of depth. They can’t afford any injuries, and they need a couple guys to step up before the next game.

Verdict: Concern

Not Having 1 Standout Running Back

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We have seen five running backs used so far, and that’s not a problem at all. It’s not a big deal that we haven’t seen one guy get the majority of the carries like in past seasons. Chad Morris is keeping the position wide open, and it’s allowing the young backs to showcase their talents early in their careers.

We saw good things out of redshirt freshman Wayne Gallman and true freshman Adam Choice against South Carolina State; the duo rushed for a combined 151 yards in that game.

C.J. Davidson had a solid game in the opener against Georgia, and Kurt Fleming looked good in mop-up time late in the game against South Carolina State. D.J. Howard won the position early on because of his knowledge of the offense, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if we see a different starter in the backfield when the Tigers take on the Seminoles.

All five of these running backs can contribute and help the Tigers win games, so this is definitely not a problem.

Verdict: Not a Concern

Tight End Production

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Tight end looked to be one of the strongest positional units in the preseason, but we haven’t seen the Tigers utilize those guys much so far. Jordan Leggett—who appeared ready to have a breakout season—has only two catches so far this season, so that’s a bit of a concern.

The injury to Sam Cooper hurts in terms of run blocking, but Jay Jay McCullough has stepped up in the passing game and had a solid performance against South Carolina State. He caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown in that one.

The fact that Morris isn’t using Leggett in the offense is a bit of a concern. By the end of the year, I expect all these tight ends to be contributors, but it’s a concern right now that the Tigers need to address.

Verdict: Concern

Defense

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In the box scores, Georgia putting up 45 points doesn’t look great on the defense, but it wasn’t as bad as it seemed for those who watched the game.

The Tigers played well defensively for three quarters, but the offense not being able to sustain drives eventually wore the unit down. The quick possessions by the Tigers offense put more pressure on the defense to step up and make plays, and that eventually worked in favor of the Bulldogs.

This unit is not a concern moving forward. The front seven looked dominant against South Carolina State—yes I know, an FCS opponent—but it was a solid performance nonetheless. The Tigers didn’t play down to their opponent and were constantly around the ball.

The offense will need to help out against Florida State by sustaining drives, and the defense will need to win the battle up front against an experienced Seminole offensive line.

Verdict: Not a Concern