Clemson’s offense plays poorly, and DJU plays poorly
This certainly is not an outcome that many Clemson fans want to see, but there is still a silver lining in this circumstance.
We noted earlier that DJU wasn’t the only target of criticism in 2021 and 2022. Fans pointed at the offensive system and the people running it. They pointed at the talent in the wide receiver and offensive line groups.
Even if the 2023 offense turns out to be less potent than Riley’s offenses at TCU and SMU, Clemson fans can still look toward the future with hope. If the current staff is doing a good job evaluating and recruiting talent, then it’s a matter of being patient until the personnel on the field turns over.
A Tiger fan doesn’t need to have animosity towards DJU to acknowledge that if he doesn’t play well for Oregon State this season, then he obviously was a contributor to Clemson’s offensive struggles the past two years, and making the switch at starting quarterback to Cade Klubnik was a step in the right direction. It just wasn’t the only step required to fix the offense.
Because if the Clemson offense plays poorly but DJU shines in Corvallis, the analysis of the situation will be quite different.