If Clemson is going to get back to the promised land, it will be because of Chad Morris. After 12 years away, Morris has returned as Clemson's offensive coordinator. From 2011 through 2014, Morris helped establish the standard of what great quarterback play looks like at Clemson. Tajh Boyd became a star under him, paving the way for Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence to win national championships.
While Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott both had success calling offensive plays after him, Morris set the tone for what should be expected out of the Clemson offense. Dabo Swinney choosing to bring him back highlights two things. He still thinks highly of Morris after all these years. More importantly, he believes he can be the coach to get the most out of Tait Reynolds' and Christopher Vizzina's talents.
ESPN's Pete Thamel touched on Swinney's fingerprints being all over the decision to re-hire Morris.
“Bringing Chad Morris back as the OC is something where you’re letting Dabo lean into the familiar," Thamel said. "He’s the one leading the charge on that. His fingerprints are still all over everything. Look, if that hire works, and they’re starting to move the ball as they did in the early 2010s, god bless him. Chad Morris had a great run as an offensive coordinator at Clemson. Nobody’s going to question that until he left for SMU.”
Thamel then posed the great Clemson dichotomy at hand. Should "Dabo lean into the familiar" or "is further evolution required?"
“'Is further evolution required?' has been the looming question for them for a while. I think there’s skepticism that there’s been enough evolution.
Reaching into one's past is not always a great thing, but it just might work out for Clemson here.
Chad Morris is the reset offensive coordinator hire Clemson has needed
What made Morris so successful at Clemson was that he married tempo with pragmatic quarterback play. It helped to have an immense talent running point in Boyd. It should be no surprise that the Clemson legend is on Morris' offensive staff as quarterbacks coach. Together, they can help Swinney put Reynolds and Vizzina into advantageous situations to succeed. Both can flourish in this system.
With Vizzina, he has been at Clemson for a while now. He saw firsthand what worked and what did not with Cade Klubnik as the starting quarterback. He may not be the best athlete, but his grooming and polish could allow Morris to open up the expanded playbook a little more with him. The best thing Vizzina has going for him is elite receivers at his disposal, including Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore.
As for Reynolds, he possesses the same kind of athletic dynamism that made Boyd and Watson great at Clemson. Morris was there early on with both of them to harness their talents. Reynolds may not be as refined as Vizzina is coming in, but there is a lot to like about this promising freshman quarterback. It would not be a surprise to see him lead the Tigers out of the tunnel before the end of the season.
Right now, we have to appreciate Swinney going all in on the Morris hire. He may not be a great play caller himself, but he knows that Morris has been among the best in the business at it at times. In a way, bringing Morris back into the building does feel like a bit of a palate cleanser. Clemson needed a reset after Klubnik turned pro. Morris may be familiar, but he is brand-new to these Clemson players.
At this time, Swinney has every reason to think a Clemson evolution could be forged out of the past.
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