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Clemson football: 5 problems that will continue to linger even after 2021 ends

By Andrew Boardwine

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables react during the fourth quarter at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., September 25, 2021.Ncaa Football Clemson At Nc State
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables react during the fourth quarter at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., September 25, 2021.Ncaa Football Clemson At Nc State /
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D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson football (PHOTO COURTESY OF IMAGN)
D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson football (PHOTO COURTESY OF IMAGN) /

The 2021 Clemson football season has been nothing short of a disaster and it’s one that Tiger fans will be sure to want to forget as soon as humanly possible.

Clemson hasn’t been able to get anything going on the offensive side of the ball putting up numbers that even FBS bottom-feeders like UMass, Vanderbilt and Rutgers would find disappointing and, to make matters worse, the Tigers have suffered 14 season-ending injuries at the time of this writing.

While we all are hopeful that the Clemson football program can get back on track after 2021 and become a national powerhouse again, there are problems that will continue to linger even after this season comes a close.

The good news? The vast majority of these problems can be fixed with good decision-making, sound coaching and a willingness to change.

Still, here’s a look at five problems we’ll all be talking about well after the 2021 season comes to a close.

Five problems that aren’t going away for Clemson football even after 2021 ends

1. D.J. Uiagalelei’s mechanics and immobility

Unfortunately, D.J. Uiagalelei isn’t going to just get better overnight.

While Uiagalelei looked like the next great Heisman contender in a couple of starts his freshman season, he has been a shell of his former self to this point and there are more issues than promise right now as we head into the final month of the regular season.

Much of Uiagalelei’s problems stem from bad mechanics– as even the most casual of fans can notice when watching him throw– and a serious lack of mobility.

Uiagalelei isn’t going to just get faster overnight or pick up the right mechanics. It’s going to take an entire offseason of him honing in on his craft and learning to regain his confidence.

There is no doubt that Uiagalelei has the potential to be a great quarterback, but he’s also going to have major competition this spring in the form of incoming 5-star QB Cade Klubnik, who may very well push him for the starting job before it’s all said and done.

But, that’s not the only issue the Tigers will face this offseason.

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