Clemson Football: Offensive line struggles in victory over Yellow Jackets

Much was made of the spring and summer camp for true freshman Blake Miller, who earned the starting right tackle spot for Clemson football.

Miller is big, strong and talented, but he struggled in the first game action of his college career, against a Georgia Tech team that many thought the Clemson offensive line would handle.

That didn’t prove to be the case for most of the night as the Tigers struggled to run the ball and D.J. Uiagalelei was under pressure a good part of the game.

Most of that came from the right side of the line as Miller gave up a sack, a hit and four quarterback hurries and Walker Parks gave up three hurries in 37 pass blocking plays each.

While Miller was marginally better in the running game, there is certainly work to be done over the next couple of weeks before Wake Forest and North Carolina State arrive.

Fans have been critical of D.J. Uiagalelei’s performance, and rightfully so at times, but this is where I say the offensive line giving up 12 pressures on 36 drop backs against Georgia Tech is not a very good performance. At all.

Much was made about Clemson football and improved offensive line play in fall camp, but Georgia Tech pressured D.J. Uiagalelei all night

If Georgia Tech got pressure 33% of the time, what is North Carolina State, Florida State or Miami going to do?

All the usual caveats apply here.  It’s the first game of the season, the first time this line was working together in a game situation, the first for new offensive line coach Thomas Austin and any other reasons you want to suggest for the line’s play.

But the fact is, it wasn’t good enough to get the Tigers where they want to go.

There’s an old saying that the most improvement happens between games one and two and offensive line play is one area that the Tigers need to improve mightily.