Clemson Media Day has wrapped up for the coaches, and Clemson fans all across the nation got some pretty important intel out of Offensive Coordinator Garrett Riley this past afternoon; here are the key takeaways from what he had to say today.
Expectations for his second year at Clemson and, looking back on last season, how it’s helped the team prepare for this upcoming season
“We’ve got a lot of returners, continuity with the staff; the staff understanding what we’re about, what we’re trying to accomplish. I think we’ve got some core leadership, too, that we’ve already identified… I would expect us to get off to a faster start, and I know our players certainly expect that, too.”
Garrett Riley
“It was a rollercoaster, going back and watching it. There were a lot of really good things, promising things, and also obviously some things that we’ve got to get correct. It’s always good as a coach once the season ends to decompress for a minute and go back and really evaluate what went on. It’s always a great time for us, and we found a lot of things that we tried to address this spring.”
Leaders for the offensive side of the ball
“Phil Mafah obviously is a guy that’s a quiet leader, by his actions, his play, and doing the right thing. Jake Briningstool comes to mind as someone who’s really improved and immersed into that role; I’m really proud of him. Cade’s certainly improved that [leadership] as well now that he’s played and got credibility that he’s been the guy for a year. Up front, Tristan Leigh and Blake Miller are certainly guys that bring a lot to the table from a leadership standpoint.”
This is very expected as Mafah and Briningstool are heading into their senior years, and like Riley said, now that Cade has gotten a full year of experience at the helm of this Clemson offense, he needs to have traits of leadership within him and his play.
Expectations for Starting Quarterback Cade Klubnik
“I just expect [him to be] sharp. A guy that’s not going to panic, a guy that understands what we’re trying to do. Minimizing some of the bad plays.”
This could be said for any starting Division 1 quarterback, but it’s the truest statement possible, especially for this Clemson offense. We’ve seen Klubnik be under pressure and panic, whether it’s using his legs on a play he doesn’t need to or simply just making the wrong read. These are small tendencies that all players can fix and develop. Last season, small errors led to explosive plays for the opposing teams, ultimately causing a momentum shift that wasn’t in Clemson’s favor. By saying this, Riley seems to have worked with his starting quarterback in being calm and collected while staying precise in the game.
Like Dabo said a few months ago, “He took too many fumbles, sacks, and tackles for loss.” So by helping him with his pocket presence and awareness, this Clemson offense should look much improved in this upcoming season.
Necessities for the offense to play well this season
“Red zone scoring is a big one and certainly explosive plays; those two things are kind of the biggest steals.
Riley hit the nail right on the head with this one, as Clemson’s offense would get cold in the red zone frequently and rarely made explosive plays. While it’s common for teams to often lack explosivity offensively and occasionally go cold in the red zone after driving down the field, Clemson seemed to be running into problems too much.
Last year, Clemson ranked 118 out of 130 in red zone offense, scoring just 44 out of 60 attempts (.733). Considering they have more red zone attempts than all 130 schools, aside from 12, it’s quite obvious they can get down the field just fine; it’s simply just the adjusting once they get there.
Clemson also ranked at 42 out of 130 in explosive plays, with just three single plays being over 50 yards. While most don’t expect a 70-yard Hail Mary every game, there definitely needs to be an increase in explosive plays for the offense.
Importance of Mafah and Riley extremely impressed with the Tight-End corps
“[With a work-horse back like Mafah] You’re going to create some one-on-one matchups, you feel like you’ve got an advantage.”
Mafah’s importance to the Clemson offense has been solidified since this past December, when he ran for 71 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Tigers to a 38-35 win over the Kentucky Wildcats. He opened up plenty of spots on the field for receivers, whether it was Randall, Briningstool, Brown, or even his fellow running back Will Shipley.
Mafah took a big leap last year while splitting carries with now Eagles running back Will Shipley. He posted 179 carries for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Expect a big season from the rising senior.
“That Tight-End group is gonna be exciting to watch. Jake’s a guy that lots of people expect big things from. [I] thought he had a really good season last year and has a lot of momentum coming into this season; he’s confident. Josh Sapp was someone that kind of merged and made some big plays for us, especially in the second half of the season. Look for him to certainly help us as well as Olsen [Patt-Henry], Marcus Dixon, Banks Pope helped us a lot. That’s a group that going to be important for us.
Briningstool was a huge spark for the Clemson offense in 2023, doubling his catches from the season prior and almost reaching 500 receiving yards along with five touchdowns. While these may not be jaw-dropping numbers, the Tiger’s tight end has shown flashes. In their game against a ranked Miami team, Briningstool had a breakout game, catching five passes for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Sapp was just a true freshman this past year, but he was still able to make an impact when the ball was in his hands, catching seven balls for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Not to mention he’s incredibly impactful as a blocker with his six-foot-one, 235-pound frame. Sapp is definitely one of the most impactful returners to keep an eye on this upcoming season.
Patt-Henry, Pope, and Dixon are all still very young and have only combined for a total of four catches and 51 yards. But, all three have a multitude of potential and great frames as they all come in at least six-foot-three, 230-pounds.
Tyler Brown’s growth
“What’s incredible about him is obviously his skill, but mentally, he can just handle things. That’s what I’ve been impressed with with him since day one. I certainly think now he’s going to take that to another step, now that he’s played and been in this offense for a year. Really look for him to certainly improve from year one to year two. He had a good year one; he’s got to take another huge step here in year two.”
Brown came into his true freshman season at Clemson as a three-star recruit and the No. 122 Wide Receiver in the nation. However, Brown showed that rankings don’t always matter, as he worked his way up through the receiving depth chart and ended up being the backup slot receiver for Antonio Williams. In just his third collegiate game ever against FAU, Brown scored a pair of touchdowns.
By the end of the year, he finished with 52 receptions for 531 yards and four touchdowns, including a nine-catch, 153-yard game in a blowout win over Syracuse. Brown led Clemson in receptions and receiving yards, earning himself Freshman All-American status. Expect to see this kid all over the field this year.
What he’s learned from Dabo and Riley’s career trajectory
“A lot of organizational things and obviously the program, the way he carries himself, and how consistent he is every single day. It’s definitely been a joy to be a spine to him and be around him, as well as a lot of other staff that’s been in it a long time.”
“You have long-term goals and try to set out some things for yourself in your professional career and life. But I’m definitely one of those that, wherever I’m at, I’m there, man; if something happens, we’ll see, but I’m certainly happy with where I’m at.”
