CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Sunday that dropped balls are a big part of why the Tigers’ passing game has gone nowhere this fall, even as his team moved to 4-2 with Saturday’s win over Charleston Southern.
The numbers are stark. Clemson has two touchdown passes through six games, fewer than any of the 138 programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and ranks last in the ACC and 111th in the country in passing yards per game.
Swinney said the problem has several parts, including the growing pains of a young quarterback, and he counted four touchdown chances Saturday that went unfinished. Two catchable scoring throws were dropped, and on another play freshman Tait Reynolds scrambled rather than throw to a wide-open receiver, giving up a likely 35-yard touchdown.
Reynolds has hit on 65 percent of 154 throws, good for 943 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. Most of his throws stay close to the line: against Charleston Southern, 21 of his 26 passes were aimed within 5 yards of scrimmage. On balls thrown 20 yards or more this season, he is 2 for 21.
Offensive coordinator Chad Morris had promised before the season to push the ball downfield more than twice a quarter. Clemson hosts Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. Saturday on ESPN.
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