Clemson Football: Five Takeaways from the Spring Game

Reminder: A Scrimmage is not a Real Game

Spring Games must always be taken with a grain of salt. No matter the outcome, it is important Clemson Football fans neither overreact to positive observations, nor sweat over deficiencies. Remember, it’s only April; we’re still a long way from kickoff.

Nonetheless, the Spring Game does provide a glimpse of insight into what Dabo Swinney and company have been up to behind closed doors.

Here are the 5 key takeaways fans should consider following the Spring Game.

1. Working over the Middle

If we’ve learned anything from watching Clemson football, it’s that Dabo loves the long ball. Over the past few years, deep routes down the sidelines have become the bread and butter of the Tiger’s passing attack.

While this approach has yielded positive results–it’s hard to complain too much based upon what the team has been able to accomplish–it has somewhat limited the Tiger’s ability to score.

Judging by the Spring game, new offensive coordinator Garett Riley will look to address this issue by incorporating more versatility within the offensive scheme.

On Saturday, Clemson quarterbacks found receivers over the middle far more than they have in other games in recent memory. Similarly, they utilized tight ends more often as well. This approach seems reminiscent of the west-coast offense, a different approach than what the Tigers have used in the past, but one they could employ successfully.

The Tigers have the offensive talent and speed to turn short passes into big gains. Consistently finding receivers on routes over the middle will allow the offense to work at a more methodical pace, while also isolating opposing linebackers in mismatched coverages. Furthermore, any adjustments the defense may make could help set up perimeter passes, bringing Dabo’s favorite passes (the long ones) back into play.

While the deep ball will undoubtedly still be an integral aspect of this offense, it is reassuring to see Riley trying to develop alternative methods the Tigers can use to score.

2. Quarterback Play

Again, one should not overreact to anything seen in a Spring Game, but there were a few decisions from quarterbacks Cade Klubnik and Christopher Vizzina that raised some concerns.

Though he completed eight of his first nine passing attempts, Klubnik also threw two interceptions during the game, causing fans to question his decision making. Likewise, Vizzina threw interceptions in each of his final two drives, one being the pick-six that cost his team the game.

Conversely, however, the quarterbacks also showed several encouraging signs. Both displayed confidence and competence within the pocket. Klubnik especially displayed his versatility as a dual-threat quarterback, running throughout the game to gain positive yards when receivers were not open.

Again, it is so early in the process that one hesitates to look too deep into any mistakes that will likely (hopefully) be resolved come September. Expect Riley to focus on cleaning up these miscues during the remainder of the offseason.

3. Defense played with a Chip on their Shoulder.

There’s been a lot of debate this past offseason over which players will be starting for the Tiger’s defense come September. From the front four to the secondary, there are very few positions that are locked up, leaving room for members of the depth chart to prove themselves.

The Spring game was their ultimate chance to do that, and several players took the opportunity to do so.

Peter Woods, Barrett Carter, and Kylon Griffin each stated their cases, totaling 7 tackles for team Orange according to ClemsonTigers.com. Woods also blocked a field goal in the fourth to keep the game tied at 13. Similarly, Bubba McAtee and Sherrod Covil Jr. led team White with 6 tackles a piece.

The most impressive performance of the day, however, came from freshman safety Khalil Barnes. Barnes garnered attention early in the game with a big tackle for loss on a screen pass in the first quarter.

He would continue to shine throughout the contest, but his biggest play came in the 4th, as he jumped on a pass from Vizzinia and took it 22 yards for a pick-six, a score that would give his team a 20-13 lead and seal the win for team White.

Regardless of which players emerge as the starters, it is good to see strong depth throughout Clemson’s defensive roster.

4. Running Back Depth

There is no debate who the Tiger’s starting running back is coming into 2023. Will Shipley will be the premier back option, and will likely be the prime leader of the Tiger’s offense.

However, Shipley did not play in this year’s Spring Game, giving Clemson fans an opportunity to see the depth within the position. What they saw was a very encouraging sight.

Phil Mafah, the presumed second string option, looked especially impressive, using his unrivaled breakaway speed for several spectacular rushes. Domonique Thomas also enjoyed an eventful afternoon, as his 63 yards earned him the honors of being the game’s leading rusher according to ClemsonTigers.com.

Keith Adams Jr. also displayed a noteworthy showing. While the Clemson legacy did not receive the same number of carries as his counterparts, Adams ran with unrelenting strength and power, breaking through tackles and constantly fighting for extra yardage. It’s no wonder why Dabo Swinney refers to this young back as “the sledgehammer.”

All the running backs looked very good in this contest, and will undoubtedly provide Shipley some much needed repose in the upcoming season. Hopefully, this showing will encourage the coaching staff to rely more heavily on the ground game in 2023.

5. The Team Looks Balanced

It was very encouraging to see this team in totality. For the most part, there was not any single premier deficiency on either side of the ball. Players from each positional unit proved their capability, indicating that the team will be well balanced in 2023.

There have been a lot of questions that have arisen during this offseason: Who will start? What will the new offense look like? Are the Tigers good enough to get back to the championship?

While fans are still several months from having those questions answered, the Spring Game proved that, once again, Clemson will be a team with the talent to win the ACC and fight for a playoff berth in 2023.