Clemson football does not look like the best team in the country.
Before Clemson football fans get mad at that statement, the goal isn’t to look like the best team in the country in October. The goal set by head coach Dabo Swinney is to be the best team in the country heading into mid to late November.
Clearly, this team has a lot of areas that they must improve upon now if they are going to get there.
Sure, Clemson football was able to beat Virginia Saturday night, but it was ugly in every sense of the word. Coaches, players, and fans would agree Saturday night was their worst regular-season performance since last year when they went to Chapel Hill and escaped UNC with a one-point victory.
Saturday night, Clemson football made a lot of mental mistakes and that allowed an overmatched UVA team to keep this game much closer than the score may indicate.
The most alarming area for the night was once again the Clemson football offensive line.
They got pushed around by Citadel two weeks ago and tonight was much of the same. On Travis Etienne’s first touchdown of the night, he was hit four different times in the backfield but was able to run through the tackles and take it in 16 yards for the score.
All night long, running backs and quarterback Trevor Lawrence were running for lives against a defense that will be among the ACC’s best but is far from one of the most physical that the Tigers will see as they move toward December.
The Clemson football secondary was highly inconsistent yet again.
They would make an outstanding play or two and then blow a coverage and give up a big play. That unit has to become more consistent, especially with the quarterbacks and playmakers that they will see over the next month.
Overall talent is the one thing saving Clemson football from Clemson football right now. They are far and away from the most talented team in the country and that is winning games for them right now.
After three games, we still have no idea who is going to step up and help senior receiver Amari Rodgers – who had an incredible night making some outstanding plays. Frank Ladson had a couple of moments Saturday night but was still inconsistent with his route running, he looks like the one that is trying to make that push to give the Tigers a second threat from that position.
In addition to the win, there were a couple of fantastic things to come out of Saturday night’s win.
Freshman defensive tackle Bryan Bresee recorded his first collegiate sack and sophomore running back Chez Mellusi scored his first touchdown of the year – he had three in all of 2019 as a true freshman.
It’s always better to have to correct mistakes after a win and the Tigers clearly have a lot of mistakes to correct. With a good Miami team up next, the Tigers will face their first real test on the field next Saturday night in Death Valley.