4 undeniable truths Dabo Swinney has to accept about Clemson heading into ACC play

After getting blown out on the road at the LSU Tigers in Week 1, Clemson looked slightly better versus the Georgia Southern Eagles during their home opener in Week 2. Through two weeks, Clemson is improving on defense and has been sound on special teams throughout. However, the offense has left so much to be desired. Until all three phases coalesce, we cannot trust this team.

This is why Dabo Swinney needs to honestly assess his program. The Clemson of old is no more. That being said, there is still plenty left to play for. Clemson has eight conference games left on the schedule, another potential cupcake in Charleston Southern, and the Palmetto Bowl at the end of the season against arch rival South Carolina. It is a small sample size, but Clemson needs to get better.

With that, here are four undeniable truths Swinney will need to accept to help Clemson move forward.

Tait Reynolds is the quarterback of the future, but let's have patience

After Christopher Vizzina was removed from the game after three up-and-down series due to injury, it became abundantly clear that Tait Reynols is the future under center for the Tigers. While he did not lead the offense into the end zone for the better part of the game, he did show flashes of brilliance everyone was talking about all offseason. He generated 216 yards of offense for Clemson in Week 2.

While he only had 38 rushing yards on 14 carries in the ballgame, Reynolds was far more impressive as a passer. He completed 16-of-27 passes for 178 yards, but there were certainly a few moments where we all saw how high his ceiling could be. This is best illustrated by this amazing 20-yard completion to Tyler Brown on a third-and-18 during the second quarter. Can Vizzina make this play?

If there was any gap between Vizzina and Reynolds coming in, the true freshman has totally closed it.

Matt Luke's offensive line and Chad Morris' scheme feels incongruent

This is perhaps the most frustrating part about the first two games of the season. Despite having Matt Luke back for his third season as the offensive line coach, his unit is nowhere near as good as it should be. It has not helped Chad Morris get re-accustomed to calling plays for the Clemson offense. While Morris has received his fair share of flack, Luke is not holding up his end of the bargain either.

Given that Swinney is an offensive-minded coach, this cannot be landing well with him. Tom Allen's defense is playing with a ton of heart and cohesiveness, but the only way to describe the Clemson offense through two weeks is totally disjointed. Getting crushed by LSU is one thing, but struggling to put the ball into the end zone at home versus Georgia Southern is something to be concerned with.

Until these two former Power Four leaders can coach up to their standard, this could be problematic.

Tom Allen getting a second year to coordinate this defense is a big deal

The most impressive part about Clemson's showing against Georgia Southern was how competitive its defense was throughout. Outside of a blown coverage in the first half, Tom Allen's defense played with tremendous poise and togetherness. Players at all three levels showed up big time for this unit. With Will Heldt, Sammy Brown, and Ashton Hampton all playing great ball, Clemson can build on this.

To be frank, this is untrodden territory for Allen. This is the first time he has been a Power Four coordinator in back-to-back seasons at the same place. The former Indiana coach had been a fast mover up the coaching ranks previously. However, Allen settling into Year 2 at Clemson could be to the great benefit of the entire team. He is overqualified for this role, which should help out the Tigers.

While Swinney cannot trust his offensive staff right now, he should lean on Allen and this defense.

Dabo Swinney won't be getting the benefit of the doubt from the fanbase

There is no way around it. This is the biggest realization Swinney has to accept. Clemson used to dominate the ACC. Now, the Tigers are looking like a team that will have to scratch and claw to be able to get comfortably bowl eligible. The one common thread throughout Clemson's decline of late has been Swinney. He is not recruiting well out of high school and the transfer portal is still new to him.

All in all, the increasingly frustrated Clemson fanbase is growing impatient with their iconic head coach. Not to say that the game has definitely passed him by, but it is certainly trending in the wrong direction. For now, Swinney has to accept that he cannot be living on his past accomplishments anymore. If he continues to do that, Clemson may look to part ways with him soon, mutually or not.

If Swinney wants to remain a well-respected coach in the industry, he has to be the difference soon.

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