Clemson Football: Dabo Swinney challenging his offense early in the spring

The Clemson football offense has the potential to be one of the best in the history of the sport, but it all starts with development and progress in the spring.

The Clemson football offense has a chance to be special.

When you return names like Trevor Lawrence, Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross, Travis Etienne, Amari Rodgers, Derion Kendrick, Lyn-J Dixon and Tavien Feaster at skill positions, you can’t think but wonder about the potential of this unit.

In addition to all the skill position players that the Tigers have, the offensive line has a ton of talent returning, as well.

Though they’ll be missing Jackson Carman and Justin Falcinelli on the inside, the Tigers return John Simpson and Gage Cervenka as starting guards, Tremayne Anchrum at tackle and have Sean Pollard- a lineman with plenty of experience- playing center.

Jackson Carman is really the only player new to the starting lineup and he was the top offensive tackle in the country a year ago.

With all of that talent- and the fact that Clemson football lost a ton of experience on defense- the Tigers will rely upon the offense to score a lot of points until the defense comes together.

After the first full scrimmage in spring practice, though, Dabo Swinney challenged the offense to play better and said that they had already checked out for spring break. He said that the defense won the day and that the offense needed to show up with more energy.

I think that statement in the media was more of a challenge to the overall unit than anything else.

With a few weeks left in spring practice, Swinney wants to see the offense progress and become elite. He wants to see those guys show up with good energy and step up as leaders. There’s still a lot of young talent on the offense, but it’s time to see them emerge and become more than just play-makers, but guys that set an example and lead day-in and day-out in practice, not just in the games.