Clemson football mid season report card

Going into the season I felt it was important that Clemson start fast. I wanted to see the Tigers jump on their opponents early. Clemson scored 177 first-quarter points in 2019. So far the 2020 team is averaging 15.5 points in the first quarter. At this pace assuming they play 14 games, they will score 217 first quarter.

After six games, Trevor Lawrence has been as good as any quarterback in the nation. He is completing 70.7 percent of his passes along with 17 touchdowns. Lawrence was a career 65 percent passer coming into the 2020 season.

The 70 percent plateau was a logical next step in his development as a passer.

After watching Joe Burrow abuse defenses checking the ball down to Clyde Edwards-Helaire last year, there was no reason with Eitenne’s elusiveness he could not be a big factor in the passing game.

Through six games Travis Etienne is the second leading receiver on the team with 22 receptions. The more ways you can get Travis the ball the better. He will continue to be counted on in the passing game as we await the development of a reliable number two from the wide receiver group.

Two weeks ago it seemed like if Trevor continued to play at the level he has been playing it was going to be a foregone conclusion. In recent weeks Mac Jones turned in an exceptional performance against Georgia.

Justin Fields made headlines last Saturday throwing one incomplete pass in his debut. Trevor has played about as well as he could through six games with the exception of a couple of throws.

I have the feeling Lawrence is going to have to have a spectacular performance against Notre Dame and be great down the stretch to beat out Fields and Jones.