Tigers Want To Be Pushed Offensively

The Clemson football team is in a good place offensively heading into the 2019 season. In fact, they are in a better than good spot offensively.

CLEMSON--The Clemson football team is in a good place offensively heading into the 2019 season. In fact, they are in a better than good spot offensively.

The 2019 season will mark the second time in school history (and the second time in the last four years) that Clemson has returned a 3,000-yard passer (Trevor Lawrence), a 1,500-yard rusher (Travis Etienne) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Justyn Ross) in the same year. The only other Clemson team to welcome back such a trio was the eventual national champion 2016 squad, which returned quarterback Deshaun Watson, running back Wayne Gallman and wide receiver Mike Williams.

Clemson’s 2018 campaign joined the 2015 season as one of only two in school history to feature 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards. Clemson, Oklahoma and UCF were the only FBS programs in the country to average at least 245 yards passing and 245 yards rushing per game in 2018.

All of that returning firepower for the Tigers means one thing for opposing defenses--get ready for more questions that will require answers.

"I think it's really freedom in what you can do offensively," co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said. "Even though we're starting over, we're starting on a little bit higher level with a guy like Trevor--even as talented as he is. There's a difference in him Year Two to Year One and the conversations that you're able to have with him. Then those guys up-front--you're having the talks that normally you may have later in fall camp, you're having them in spring ball. But just being able to be able to do a little bit more and strain them a little mentally post-snap is probably the biggest difference."

The challenge is not only for opposing defenses--it is for the coaching staff as well.

The Tigers' coaching staff must manage the expectations of returning a dynamic offense that amassed a school-record 7.35 yards per play average, which shattered the previous record of 6.50 from 2006. The Tigers ranked in the top two in the nation in plays of 20-plus yards (104, second), 30-plus yards (59, tied for first), 40-plus yards (35, first), 50-plus yards (23, first) and 60-plus yards (13, tied for second). 

They also recorded a school-record 19 touchdowns covering 50 yards or more, annihilating the previous record of 14 set by the 2006 squad. Players who scored 18 of those 19 touchdowns of 50 yards or more a year ago return for Clemson in 2019.

"But you don't let up as a coach or change your mindset or relax," Scott said. "You have to continue to push and that's what this group wants and what they deserve.

"I can remember, offensively, us going from winning the national championship to that next year not being the same. Obviously we have different guys, but still you want to have that consistency and get better. That's the challenge for this group is that we have to start over and even though last year was one of the best years of offense in Clemson history, we want to to be better than that."

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