Clemson vs. Georgia Tech: Report Card for Tigers' Loss to Yellow Jackets

The No. 5 Clemson Tigers were an extremely gracious homecoming opponent for Georgia Tech Saturday night.

Instead of playing like a team that was trying to prove to the nation that it belonged in the BCS Championship discussion, Clemson looked more like a mid-level Big East team.

Georgia Tech (7-2, 4-2 ACC) carved up the Tigers in a 31-17 victory to ensure no ACC team will participate in the title game.

Clemson (8-1, 5-1 ACC) still has plenty to play for this season, but Saturday’s loss was very bitter for a team that otherwise has consistently found ways to overcome obstacles for the victory.

The luck ran out in Atlanta Saturday.

Clemson Offense

Tajh Boyd has been the leader on offense all season, but he didn’t have any magic Saturday night.

Boyd threw for 295 yards, including 153 of those to super freshman Sammy Watkins. However, he looked rattled by Tech’s pressure and threw two interceptions.

Clemson opened the game with a nice drive, but it stalled and the Tigers had to settle for a field goal; which was all Clemson could muster in the first half.

The Tigers answered with a quick strike in the second half when Boyd hit Sammy Watkins for a 48-yard touchdown.

But four turnovers and only 21 minutes of possession on offense ios not going to get it done.

Grade: C

Clemson Defense

Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has worked some magic with a young group, but the Tigers looked shocked over Georgia Tech's triple option attack.

Tech quarterback Tevin Washington proved he hasn’t forgotten how to run it, shredding Clemson’s defense for 176 yards on the ground. 

Orwin Smith also scored two touchdowns, but the defense looked good early, though.

Clemson’s defense opened with back-to-back three-and-outs against a very solid offense.

Following a turnover, Paul Johnson’s offense punched it in for 7-3 lead and the Yellow Jackets got into a rhythm Clemson really had no answers for.

Clemson allowed 17 points in the second quarter and the game was pretty much over at that point.

Grade: D

Clemson Special Teams

Kicker Chandler Catanzaro made an early 34-yard field goal, but missed a big one with 4:22 left before the half.

Tigers wideout Sammy Watkins averaged 20.7 yards on kickoffs, but he never had the one huge game-changing return.

Clemson’s coverage teams did a quality job, not allowing Georgia Tech backs Roddy Jones or Orwin Smith to hurt them.

Grade: B

Clemson Coaching

Head coach Dabo Swinney is known as a players’ coach, but he’s not known as a great game planner and strategist.

That was never more evident than Saturday night as Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson put on a coaching clinic, as Swinney sort of watched helplessly.

Swinney’s job last week was to make sure his team was ready for a tough road environment, but didn’t do his job.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has a young unit, but that is no excuse for the ill-prepared defense against Tech’s triple option.

Grade: F

Overall

The loss virtually cost Clemson any shot at the BCS Championship (a long shot regardless).

Now the Tigers have to regroup and remember that the ACC title is the ultimate goal.

Clemson will be favored in its next two games, then the Tigers close with rival South Carolina.

If Coach Swinney can navigate the final three games unscathed and get Clemson to 11-1, that will be a huge success for a coach who entered the season on the hot seat.

The Tigers had their bad game of the season, and it came against a fired up Georgia Tech team chomping at the bits for an upset.

A lot went wrong for the Tigers in Atlanta, but Clemson still plenty to play for. 

Grade: D