Gridiron Heroics
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • New York Giants Sign Former Commanders Cornerback
    • Trouble for the New England Patriots?
    • Atlanta Falcons Defensive Tackle Comes Back From Retirement
    • Dallas Cowboys Signing Running Back After Ezekiel Eliott Cut
    • Michigan Football Recruiting: Crystal Balls Galore After Weekend Visits
    • Indianapolis Colts Sign Former Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver
    • Philadelphia Eagles Sign Former Chicago Bears Linebacker
    • Cleveland Browns Sign Quarterback To One-Year Deal
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Writers
    • Write for Gridiron Heroics
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Gridiron Heroics
    JOIN OUR FB GROUP
    Gridiron Heroics
    Home»College Football»Clemson Tigers»How DJ Uiagalelei and the Tigers offense can bounce back
    Clemson Tigers

    How DJ Uiagalelei and the Tigers offense can bounce back

    Wyatt MillerBy Wyatt MillerJuly 16, 2022Updated:July 16, 2022No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    DJ
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Clemson’s offense was unusually bad last season. They ranked last in the ACC in passing efficiency as well as 100th in the FBS in total offense, according to Yahoo Sports. Their biggest weakness was the downfield passing attack, as quarterback DJ Uiagalelei completed just 56% of his passes. The sophomore threw just nine touchdowns and 10 picks en route to a 10-3 finish. 

    It was a far cry from the Trevor Lawrence or Deshaun Watson days when the Tigers were near the top of the FBS in most offensive categories, from efficiency to yardage. That being said, Dabo Swinney won’t let the offense falter twice in a row. 

    The team failed Uiagalelei

    Last season, Clemson had their worst offensive output in the last 12 years, averaging just 324 yards and 20 points per game. For reference, the 2020 squad averaged 502 yards and 43.5 PPG. 

    Uiagalelei was ranked the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in 247Sports’ Composite rankings for 2020. So, his underwhelming season came as a shock to Clemson fans as well as college football fans everywhere. He looked extremely uncomfortable in the pocket through the first seven weeks of the season, during which they suffered all three of their losses. He threw for over 200 yards just once in that span.

    Surrounding Talent

    One opposing coach thinks that their dramatic drop off could have been due to their loss of elite surrounding talent such as Travis Etienne, Amari Rogers and Justyn Ross, according to ESPN. 

    “The amount of times on third-and-18 last year that they would throw a checkdown to Etienne and he’d make eight people miss and gain 26 yards, that happened all the time,” the coach said.

    Etienne, Rogers and Ross were all vital for the Tigers’ success in 2020 and have yet to be adequately replaced. Along with those skill positions, the Tigers’ offensive line play was lacking last season.

    “Their offensive line play is hurting more than their running back play,” one ACC coach said. “Etienne was a great player, but there’s a lot of runs where he wasn’t touched until he’s in the second level, and you’re not seeing that right now.”

    They addressed this in the recruiting class of 2023 by accumulating three four-star offensive line commits in the past few months. Now that Clemson has seen what they can produce without the offensive superstars of years’ past, expect Swinney to adjust the playbook a bit so Uiagelelei can play to his strengths. 

    Here’s how Swinney can help DJ take the Clemson offense back to Championship form in 2022:

    Get Uiagalelei comfortable with his receivers

    Greg Biggins, a 24/7 Sports national recruiting analyst, said Uiagalelei has, “generational strength,” but is, “much more than a big arm.”

    He also possesses phenomenal touch to all three levels of the field, according to Biggins, who said that he is viewed as a natural leader and should be an early pick in the NFL Draft. 

    Joe Ngata
    Joe Ngata is primed to take over the top receiver slot for Clemson this season.

    Clemson will feature a pair of 6’3” receivers this season, including deep threat junior Joseph Ngata and the physical sophomore Beaux Collins. Ngata’s combination of speed and length makes him tough to cover down the field, and Collins is the guy you want in a jump-ball situation. Think Martavis Bryant and Tee Higgins for historical Tiger comparisons. 

    Their lack of elite receiver play last season was one of the biggest pitfalls for the Tigers, so that is an area that Swinney will surely have attended to in the off-season. These are two pass-catchers who could prove to bring out the best in Uiagalelei next season.

    Receiver Skillsets

    Ngata will allow him to stretch his rifle of an arm, while Collins will be able to make tough catches, working primarily in the first two levels of the field. If these two could emerge as dependable pass-catchers against SEC and Big 10 opponents, then Uiagalelei would likely feel more confident in the pocket. 

    They also have a 6’5” sophomore receiver by the name of Dacari Collins, who could serve as a matchup nightmare near the goal line. He was featured on NCAAF Nation’s Breakout Watch because his large frame could help him fill Clemson’s need for a standout receiver. 

    Although a 10-3 season wouldn’t be considered a failure by most programs, Clemson fans have come to expect greatness from Dabo Swinney’s offense. They still expect it in 2022. The talent is there, it’s just a matter of execution. 

    Off-season work

    One way DJ can improve the rapport with his receivers is by improving his footwork through his progression, according to offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter.

    The two have worked all offseason on improving his footwork while playing in the Clemson system. That has helped Streeter identify his strengths and weaknesses when it comes to play type. 

    “We’ve had great communication about what he likes and what he feels comfortable with,” Streeter said. “I’ve been able to listen to him, hear him out on a few things he would like to do footwork-wise that he can be more comfortable with as long as it fits the offense and the timing of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

    With improved footwork and some weight lost, DJ Uiagalelei has a chance to return to the top of NFL Draft boards in his junior season. To do so, he will need to muster a performance typical of a 21st Century Clemson quarterback. 

    Related

    For More Great Football Content

    Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

    Checkout our latest podcast!

    [powerpress_playlist limit=1]
    Clemson Tigers Dabo Swinney DJ Uiagalelei
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Wyatt Miller
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Follow my Twitter @wymill07 for team content and links -- Coverage: Carolina Panthers and Clemson Football -- Education: Studying Newspaper and Digital Journalism & Sports Analytics at Syracuse University -- Experience: Copy Editor for the Daily Orange Sports

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    New York Giants

    New York Giants Sign Former Commanders Cornerback

    By Jordan SiglerMarch 21, 20230
    NFL

    Trouble for the New England Patriots?

    By Jorden HamptonMarch 21, 20230
    Atlanta Falcons

    Atlanta Falcons Defensive Tackle Comes Back From Retirement

    By Jordan SiglerMarch 21, 20230
    Dallas Cowboys

    Dallas Cowboys Signing Running Back After Ezekiel Eliott Cut

    By Jordan SiglerMarch 21, 20230
    FOLLOW US
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    READ MORE
    2022 college football season 2022 Fantasy Football 2022 NFL season Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Big Ten Browns Buffalo Bills BYU BYU Cougars BYU Defense BYU football BYU Offense Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns College Football Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Fantasy Football Football Green Bay Packers Jalen Hurts Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers LSU Tigers Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants NFL Ohio State Buckeyes Patrick Mahomes Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks SEC Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tom Brady Washington Commanders
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.