Adjustments the Clemson Tigers Must Make During Their Bye Week

An off week is just what the doctor ordered for the Clemson Tigers because of the way the offense has struggled lately. The open weekend will allow the Tigers to shore up some of their weaknesses, and it will also be good for the injured players to get some extra rest.

The break could help guys like Charone Peake and Martin Jenkins recover, as both of them are listed as questionable for the Wake Forest game.

Healthy or not, there are some adjustments the Tigers need to make this week as they head into the final chapter of the season. In order to win the road game against Georgia Tech and the rivalry showdown with South Carolina, Clemson needs to focus on three areas in particular.

Red Zone Struggles

The struggles within the 20-yard line have stood out the most, and this is the biggest adjustment Clemson has to make moving forward.

The Tigers have been in the red zone 33 times this season, but they have only scored on 24 of those trips. According to CFBStats.com, they have scored on only 72.73 percent of their trips, which is tied for 112th in the nation right now.

Over the last few weeks, there have been too many field goals on drives that could have resulted in touchdowns. The offense has been able to get by with field goals because of the way the defense has played, but turning those opportunities into six points is essential in the upcoming games with Georgia Tech and South Carolina.

Stephen Bailey of The Post-Standard, notes just how much Clemson's defense saved the offense in the Syracuse game.

Turnovers on Offense

Again, with the way Clemson is playing defensively the turnovers haven’t hurt them much. Despite turning the ball over four times against Syracuse, the defense was able to hold the Orange to just six points, but those things can’t happen moving forward.

The Tigers will see a couple of outstanding offensive units in November, so scoring 16 points likely won't result in a win against Georgia Tech or South Carolina. Georgia Tech ranks 22nd nationally in scoring, and South Carolina is averaging 35.1 points per game.

Per David Hale of ESPN, the Tigers have four more turnovers than touchdowns the last three games.

The problems with turnovers should improve when quarterback Deshaun Watson returns, as he has thrown only two interceptions this season, but the consistency up front also has to improve. Manie Robinson of Greenville News notes that head coach Dabo Swinney says two turnovers were because of offensive line breakdowns.

Kick Return

A quick way to help a struggling offense is to start with the ball closer to your end zone. Whether you start on the 18-yard line or the 40-yard line can make a difference, and the returns can have an impact on momentum.

The Tigers are averaging just 17.43 yards per kickoff return, which is 124th nationally, according to CFBStats.com.

Per Scott Keepfer of Greenville News, Swinney recently said that "We've got to look at things schematically and personnel-wise—the guys who are blocking.”