There’s an old saying that the biggest improvement comes between game one and game two and a similar one that says it comes between year one and two. Clemson football is hoping it comes between years two and three for quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei.
While there’s nothing Uiagalelei can do about the 2021 season, there’s plenty of room for improvement heading into 2022 and Uiagalelei is taking every opportunity to make the necessary improvements, working with a quarterbacks coach on his delivery and footwork.
There are those that think it’s a fruitless endeavor, Uiagalelei is what he showed in 2021 and the sooner the Tigers move on the better.
Many of those are the same people that were sure Uiagalelei was the next superstar quarterback after he filled in for two games for Trevor Lawrence in 2020.
Which is the real D.J. Uiagalelei?
Due to the weirdness of the 2020 season I don’t think we really know.
Playing at home against Boston College, or even on the road at Notre Dame, wasn’t the college football playoff, with all the fans, media and hoopla, but it was an important game in the season on the road for a true freshman.
When I consider the season ahead, I keep going back to the fact that we know Uiagalelei has talent. Is he Trevor Lawrence or Deshaun Watson? Probably not, but Trevor Lawrence wasn’t Deshaun Watson and vice versa.
I fully believe Uiagalelei can be better than the 2021 version, that his ceiling is not forever limited by what happened last year.
A key to me is that Uiagalelei wants to be better. He didn’t spend the winter break home moping. He was working to get better with a coach while on his own time.
There appears to be results this spring, albeit in scrimmages.
Things slowing down for Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, DJ Uiagalelei was outstanding in scrimmage https://t.co/TIN9i8Q5Cd via @steelerwill
— Jason Priester (@JP_Priester) March 17, 2022
I’ll also continue to prosthelytize that not all of what transpired in 2021 was Uiagalelei’s fault. He’s the quarterback and with that the blame will come.
That said, we know there were plenty of dropped passes and I could think of two that may have made a difference in losses. But, there were bad interceptions, inexplicable decisions and baffling choices, too.
We know the offensive line played the worst it has in years and was oft injured, and the same could be said for the wide receivers.
The point is there is enough blame to go around.
Uiagalelei absolutely has to avoid the big play turnover, trying to be a hero type play that likely cost games, or at least chances of wins, against Georgia and Pittsburgh.
To me the formula is rather simple: Stay healthy. Avoid big turnovers. Put teammates in a position to make plays.
Every part of the offense needs to be better, not just the quarterback. That includes the coaches.
That’s a lot to ask from what we last saw on the field in 2021 and even if it all works out, there’s no guarantee of a playoff berth or championship.
D.J. may be better and the team around him may not be the same as the 2016 and 2018 squads.
Those teams had some special players on both sides of the ball. Some All-Timers from a Clemson point of view.
It remains to be seen if this team has the same level of talent, not just at quarterback, but at other positions, too.