With 2 Losses, Clemson Is a Far Cry From Its Enduring Playoff Standards

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Robert Griffin III, the former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback at Baylor, termed Clemson’s offense “archaic” on the ESPN broadcast — and Swinney didn’t argue.

“The criticism is warranted mainly because of exactly where we are ideal now,” Swinney reported. “That’s what we display screen, so with the way we’ve done, you’re likely to get criticism and you’re likely to get reviews and factors like that and you know what? Hey, that comes with the territory for the reason that the expectation and the common at Clemson and who we are, we’re not conference that. It is just that uncomplicated.”

Swinney had hoped that a stout defense, which did not give up a touchdown right up until Saturday, could carry Clemson until eventually the offense jelled. But the offensive futility left the protection gassed as North Carolina Condition (3-1) sluiced by it as the match progressed. Neither did it help that two of Clemson’s defensive stalwarts — linebacker James Skalski (shoulder) and defensive deal with Bryan Bresee (knee) had their shoulder pads off by the stop of the activity. (In extra time, Clemson freshman tailback Will Shipley was assisted to the locker place with an obvious still left knee damage.)

Basically, Clemson was fortunate just to get to extra time.

North Carolina Point out kicker Christopher Dunn missed two late field objectives — from 51 and 39 yards, the latter on the remaining engage in of regulation — that would have gained it.

When his final kick sailed large left, the Clemson sideline erupted, certain that they would make the most of a different opportunity. And when Uiagalelei uncovered Ross clearing free of charge in the conclusion zone to place Clemson ahead by 21-14, Swinney slapped his quarterback on the helmet as he arrived to the sideline for a career perfectly carried out.

“C’mon D,” a person yelled from the sideline. “One quit.”

It was a thing they could not regulate. Turner committed defensive keeping to give the Wolfpack the ball at the 3. And on 3rd-and-purpose, quarterback Devin Leary observed slot receiver Thayer Thomas large open up in the close zone just after he ran through site visitors.

Swinney and other coaches pleaded with the officials to throw a flag for offensive interference, expressing it was an illegal decide on enjoy. But their cries ended up halfhearted — probably because even on the site visitors sideline it did not go unnoticed that the perform mimicked the 1 Clemson received a national title with when a pick freed Hunter Renfrow to catch the winning pass.

But that was almost five several years in the past, and just one of several signals for Clemson on Saturday night of how their circumstance has changed.