CLEMSON: The off week allowed Clemson coach Dabo Swinney to do a lot of evaluating of his 1-3 football team. and he came to one conclusion. It’s his fault, and the fault of his assistant coaches.
At his weekly news conference Tuesday to preview the game at North Carolina this Saturday, Swinney said the blame for the bad start can be placed on the coaching staff for not doing a good enough job of getting the best out of the players. However, he did say that his players, who are now paid and not just on scholarship, have some accountability as well.
But most of all, Swinney said the problem is with coaching, and he’s hoping the off week gave them a chance to do a better job of developing the players. Swinney said he did not make any changes on the staff or shift any coaching duties.
The Tigers are off to their worst start since the 2004 season when they lost four of their first five games. They will try to avoid matching that start against a Tar Heel team in their first season under the direction of six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick. The Tar Heels are 2-2 and will be playing their first ACC game of the season. Like Clemson, UNC was off last weekend.
This will be Clemson’s first trip to Chapel Hill since 2019. The Tigers have won six in a row over the Tar Heels and lead the all-time series 40-19-1. Clemson is favored by 13.5 points.
Some key comments from Swinney:
- Good time for open week, would have had some guys out had they had a game Saturday, should have everyone back for this game.
- Took time out for self evaluation during the open week, not complicated, they have just got to play better, they’ve got a chance to coach and play their way out of a hole, kind of a reset.
- This week gives them a chance to play a complete game, complimentary football, all pulling in the same direction, pleased with leadership, did nice job during the open week handling things, guys have responded the right way, not too late to be the team they want to be.
- North Carolina is a team that’s improving, they’ve had a lot of change, now they are starting to figure out who they are, expects both QBs to play and they are different so that creates challenges, have some players who can really run, impressed with their backs.
- UNC is big up front in the trenches, lot of RPOs built into their system, lot of shots down the field, they know what they’re doing schematically but still growing into their identity.
- UNC big up front on the defensive line especially at defensive end, mostly a four-down team, multiple in coverages, thinks it’s a team that’s getting better.
- It’s been a coaching failure for them so far, but players have accountability as well, they’re getting paid now, not just scholarships, but it’s been a coaching issue and he’s responsible because he hired the staff.
- They’ve had 14 great seasons in a row with 11 championships, nine ACC and two national, so the program is set up to be consistent, and they are doing great academically. The -program is doing it’s part, but for the team this season it’s a coaching failure.
- No changes in coaching responsibility during the open week, he’s got good people, he put them there, they’ve got to do a better job at bring out the best in their players. It’s football stuff they have to do a better job with.
- They have practiced well and that’s what’s puzzling about the game performances, no doubt the players have been affected by the results thus far.
- There’s a lot of ball left. It’s football stuff, and they can fix that. So, let’s go see if they can fix it.
- It’s their job as coaches to get the players to playing better, and they haven’t done their job.