How Clemson Offense Changes If Deshaun Watson Misses Significant Time

With a seemingly innocuous first-quarter play Saturday afternoon, the trajectory of Clemson’s 2014 season and the Tigers’ offense changed dramatically.

Wunderkind true freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson, who had revitalized Clemson’s offense since taking over full time three weeks ago, suffered what Clemson coach Dabo Swinney told ESPN was a “broken finger” on his throwing hand after throwing a stiff-arm at a Louisville defender.

While Clemson scored enough points with backup quarterback Cole Stoudt to survive the Cardinals 23-17 (thanks to a final-minute goal-line stand), the Tigers’ offense faces major questions going forward.

Clemson did not score an offensive touchdown. Its scores came on a 72-yard Adam Humphries punt return and a fumble recovery in the Louisville end zone. The Tigers managed just 229 yards of total offense, the second-lowest total in offensive coordinator Chad Morris’ three-plus seasons at Clemson.

If Watson misses significant time with the injury, the offense will change in a major way.

When he took over for Stoudt (who began the season as the starter), Watson gave the Tigers’ hurry-up, no-huddle system a real energy boost and another offensive dimension.

He threw for a Clemson single-game record six touchdowns against North Carolina and piled up 435 yards, 19 short of CU’s single-game record. Teaming with sophomore wideout Mike Williams, he gave the offense a deep, vertical dimension it simply didn’t have with Stoudt.

Watson is also a much better running threat than Stoudt: He began the day with 137 rushing yards to Stoudt’s 37.

Without Watson, the Tigers’ offense becomes much more grounded. And that’s not a good thing.

RICHARD SHIRO/Associated Press

Clemson has struggled to find a consistent ground game behind an uneven offensive line. The Tigers entered the game averaging 155 rushing yards per game, which ranked No. 78 nationally.

Among a group of four tailbacks (C.J. Davidson, Wayne Gallman, Adam Choice and D.J. Howard), none has really done anything to distinguish himself. Davidson entered as the Tigers’ leading rusher, averaging a paltry 30.2 yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry.

Saturday, Clemson gained 72 yards on 32 carries, but Choice showed promise, rushing for 61 yards on 16 carries and displaying power on the Tigers’ final scoring drive.

Still, Stoudt is a far more limited vertical passer than Watson. He entered Saturday with 487 passing yards on the season and one touchdown against one interception.

Saturday, he completed 20 of 33 passes for 162 yards with an interception and could have had several more after making poor throws into tight windows.

With Stoudt, expect more short passes, bubble screens and different looks at the line of scrimmage designed to confuse opposing defenses.

With Boston College, Syracuse, an open date and Wake Forest ahead in the next month, Clemson won’t be tested like it was Saturday. But the load heaped on a standout defense and an already-struggling running game just got bigger if Watson’s injury is serious.