In 2011, Chad Morris came to Clemson with one and only one desperate command: go fast. In 2026, it is different – a word: "Tough."
For his part, the architect of the Tigers’ current spread offense traveled the nation as a self-imposed “fly on the wall” in 2025. He visited programs like Utah and Wyoming, watched the analytics of the game and came to an understanding — the “pure tempo” puzzle was finally solved by defenses.
“In 2011, it was tempo,” Morris said. “Defenses have caught up with that, for sure. Tempo now is the ability to play at the pace that you want now in various structures.”
The “Morris 2.0” offense, as he describes it is far less a track meet and far more a tactic-meeting offensive siege. He wants a “two-back, run-oriented play-action shot team.” Though he continues to want to “travel” down the field, he now defines success in “shots” a quarter.
"We would like to push the ball down our own field at least three times per quarter," Morris said. "That’s the ball that’s in the air, 25 yards or more, three times per quarter."
Chart it. Let’s figure it out.
The evolution involved a move toward 12-personnel — leveraging two tight ends to establish structural tension for defensive coordinators. Morris likens his new approach to a pitcher who has finally discovered his off-speed stuff.
“I think it is a pitcher who has off-speed to go along with the fastball,” he said. “And then you throw a knuckleball in there. It's the teams which will change pace with this, providing defenses with plenty of problems.”
However, the ultimate goal is not points, it's a mental edge. Morris argues that to get physical runs sets the tone for an entire campus. "If you're a tough football player … people at the bistro will work harder. You’re just a tougher football team overall."