Garrett Riley walked into Clemson’s open-week media session carrying something heavier than playbooks and stats. Before addressing the Tigers’ offensive struggles, he paused to honor a late friend and colleague, Shawn Clark, offering thoughts and prayers to the grieving family.
It was a rare quiet moment before the storm of questions — and it underscored the human side of a coach who knows what it feels like to fight through tough times, both on and off the field.
Then came the football talk. And Riley, unflinching, admitted what everyone has seen: Clemson’s offense is stuck searching for itself.
“We’re kind of in reset mode anyway,” Riley said. “Starting fresh with my guys in full practice. That’s the mindset going forward.”
Searching for Rhythm in the Noise
The Tigers haven’t found offensive rhythm in 2025. Through the first three games, Clemson ran just 60 plays apiece — hardly enough to establish identity. Against Syracuse, the script flipped: more snaps, but most of them came in frantic tempo, chasing from behind.
“It’s been tough from a rhythm standpoint,” Riley explained. “Some of that’s been the situations we’ve put ourselves in collectively as a team. We’ve just got to keep chipping away at execution and toughness.”
That rhythm — or lack thereof — has left the Tigers caught between flashes of potential and drive-killing mistakes. Penalties, drops, and missed protections have piled up, erasing opportunities before they could take shape.
Klubnik, Trust, and the Pocket
Cade Klubnik remains the centerpiece of Riley’s vision, but the senior quarterback hasn’t escaped scrutiny. Critics point to happy feet in the pocket and hesitation on reads. Riley, however, insists the fix is as much mental as it is mechanical.
“There have been times where he’s stood in there and made some really good plays,” Riley said. “But you’ve got to continue to have trust in the guys up front. It’s about your eyes, your trust, and not letting one bad play linger into the next.”
For Riley, Klubnik’s growth isn’t just about standing tall in the pocket. It’s about leading an offense that must rediscover belief in itself.
Receivers, Running Backs, and Fresh Legs
Part of that belief, Riley knows, has to come from the receivers. Too often, Klubnik has scrambled only to find wideouts stuck in neutral instead of breaking open.
“We’ve got to separate more in those scramble situations,” Riley said. “That’s where big plays can happen.”
He pointed to Adam Randall as both an anchor and a cautionary tale. Randall logged nearly 80 snaps against Syracuse, a workload Riley admits is unsustainable.
“Adam’s story is unbelievable, and he’s playing his ass off,” Riley said. “But we’ve got to help him. It’s a long season.”
Confidence Is the Real Battle
If there’s a single thread running through Riley’s words, it’s confidence. Clemson has been in tight, emotional games, only to come up short. The cumulative weight of those losses has seeped into execution.
“You’ve got to play loose, play free, and trust one another,” Riley said. “When we do that, we’re at our best. The short-term memory piece is huge.”
Tempo, he added, may be one of the tools that reignites that confidence. Klubnik, in particular, thrives when the Tigers push the pace.
“I do think Cade does really well in those situations,” Riley said. “It’s something we can continue to build on.”
Embracing the Challenge
Despite the outside noise, Riley leaned into the grind. He knows what comes with the territory. Criticism, questions about playcalling, doubts about identity — none of it fazes him.
“I know I’m young, but this is my 13th year coaching,” Riley said. “I’ve been through ups and downs. You’ve got to be true to who you are, go to work every day, and be confident in what you do. That doesn’t change just because of where we’re at right now.”
He paused, then offered the line that best sums up the moment:
“Anytime you get challenged, you’ve got to dig deep. We’re in one of those times right now. But no matter what, we’re going to enjoy going through the battle together.”