Clemson starts preseason camp. 5 questions the Tigers’ offense must answer
Clemson began preseason practice Thursday after a strange offseason that included navigating summer workouts through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Tigers are near the top of every notable preseason Top 25 poll. Still, there are some unknowns heading into the 2020 season.
Here are our top five questions for Clemson’s offense that must be answered during fall camp:
Who becomes the go-to receiver for Trevor Lawrence?
The news that Tigers star receiver Justyn Ross will miss the 2020 season due to injury was overlooked by some nationally with so much going on in the college football world this summer, but the loss of Ross is a huge blow for the Clemson offense. The rising junior led Clemson in receptions with 66 last season after leading the Tigers in receiving yards as a true freshman in 2018. When healthy, Ross is one of the best receivers in the country, and he likely would have been a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Without Ross, the leading returning receiver is running back Travis Etienne. Clemson has plenty of talent at wideout, including veterans Amari Rodgers and Cornell Powell. Underclassmen Frank Ladson Jr., Joseph Ngata and E.J. Williams have potential but have to live up to it. Clemson can make its way through the ACC without a stud receiver, but Lawrence needs to find a guy he can trust with a close game on the line.
Can Clemson build depth on its offensive line?
The Tigers must replace four of their five starters up front, but the first unit should be just fine. Jackson Carman has the size, quickness and strength to be one of the best left tackles in the country. Matt Bockhorst, Cade Stewart, Will Putnam and Jordan McFadden are moving into new starting roles, but all each played more than 190 snaps last season. The backup group is where youth and inexperience could be a problem.
Clemson loves to rotate its linemen and build depth for the future, but doing so this year could lead to some struggles. And if there are any injuries on the offensive line, it could be a major concern. Clemson is likely to have multiple freshmen in its two-deep on the offensive line, with a couple of those expected to be true freshmen. The ACC has plenty of talented defensive fronts capable of challenging Clemson’s offensive line, particularly the backups.
Are there enough carries to go around behind Travis Etienne?
There is no question who Clemson’s top running back is. Etienne is arguably the best in the country. However, behind Etienne there are plenty of capable backs anxious for touches in Tony Elliott’s offense.
Lyn-J Dixon is the favorite to win the backup running back job after rushing for 635 yards and six touchdowns while averaging more than 6 yards per carry in 2019. But rising sophomores Chez Mellusi and Michel Dukes also have plenty of potential. Darien Rencher is a senior and veteran leader who has earned some playing time, while freshman Demarkcus Bowman arrived at Clemson after being compared by Dabo Swinney to Tigers legend C.J. Spiller. Etienne is the name everyone knows, but Clemson has plenty of capable backs who will be battling for playing time this fall.
Can Braden Galloway be a legitimate threat in the passing game?
The junior tight end appeared in only 14 games over his first two years after missing most of last season due to a suspension for testing positive for ostarine. Still, Galloway has proven in limited playing time that he can be a difference maker for Clemson’s offense. Clemson 2019 starting tight end J.C. Chalk had 60 receiving yards over 15 games last season. Galloway caught two passes for 60 yards in the national championship game alone.
Chalk returns as Clemson’s starting tight end, but don’t be surprised if Galloway ends up with a bigger role in Clemson’s offense. The former Seneca High star is big, fast and athletic, making him a matchup problem for opposing defenses.
Will any players have a problem playing for Danny Pearman?
Clemson’s tight ends coach and special teams coordinator this offseason admitted to using the n word during a practice in 2017, saying he “made a grave mistake” while scolding former tight end D.J. Greenlee for using the word during a practice. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney spoke with Pearman about the incident in 2017, but Pearman was never punished over the racial slur. Swinney said this summer of the incident, “We handled it in private.”
Swinney released a video addressing the incident, but he has yet to meet with reporters or answer questions about it. It will be worth monitoring if any Clemson players, particularly tight ends or special teams contributors, have a problem playing for Pearman this fall. It will also be interesting to see if Pearman has any recruiting-related issues moving forward.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
