Tigers Today: Clemson goals still intact despite loss in Charlotte

On3 imageby:Pete Nakos09/06/21

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Clemson goals still intact despite loss in Charlotte

There’s no doubt Clemson’s loss to Georgia stung. The Tigers did not score a single touchdown and the Tigers offense produced just 180 total yards.

But the 10-3 loss at Bank of America Stadium does not have to be the story of the season. Dabo Swinney made that clear in his Sunday teleconference with the media. Clemson can still win the ACC title and earn its seventh-consecutive berth in the College Football Playoff.

That is not going to happen overnight, either. Saturday night showed plenty of Clemson’s flaws. For starters: DJ Uiagalelei has to grow more pocket awareness, the Tigers offensive line has to improve on the fly. But there were positives, too. Brent Venables defense seemed legit; they’ve taken the necessary steps after the Sugar Bowl embarrassment.

“Congratulations to Georgia. Incredibly hard-fought game. They are a great team,” Swinney said Sunday. “We are a critical-error pick-6 away from a 3-3 overtime slugfest. Our defense and special teams more than played well enough to win. Offensively we really struggled, but we’ll dust ourselves off, own it and get better. The only thing we can’t do is go undefeated; that’s the only thing we know about this team.” 

The Tigers can not piece together an undefeated season. But they can still hoist a national championship trophy in Indianapolis in January. They’ll just have to quickly make adjustments over the next few weeks.

Clemson receiver E.J. Williams to miss several weeks

Clemson sophomore receiver E.J. Williams is expected to miss several weeks, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Sunday night during his teleconference.

Williams injured his thumb against Georgia and it will require surgery. He is expected to miss four-to-five weeks, according to Swinney. The Tigers have a bye week Oct. 9 and Swinney is hopeful Williams will be back around then.

“It’s a pretty simple surgery and it’s probably a four-to-six type week type of thing,” Swinney said. “But he’ll be fine.”

What We Learned from Clemson opener against Georgia

Dabo Swinney has said for years that the opener is the toughest game of the season. That certainly proved to be the case Saturday night against Georgia.

Clemson never found its rhythm offensively in a 10-3 loss to the Bulldogs, scoring its fewest points in the Dabo Swinney era and its fewest since 2007.

ClemsonSports.com senior writer Matt Connolly broke down What We Learned from the Tigers loss in Charlotte.

READ MORE: What We Learned from Clemson opener against Georgia

Counting down

  • Clemson at South Carolina: 83 days

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