Grading the Tigers: Flaws are correctable

CLEMSON -- Few in the media or in Clemson's coaching offices or around South Carolina water coolers thought the Tigers would limp to a 2-3 start.

The Tigers are again one play away in critical situations, magnifying execution lapses.

The offense, featuring a rookie quarterback and inexperienced staff, has struggled.

But despite the slow start, not all is lost for Clemson (2-3, 1-2 ACC).

A win against Wake Forest on Saturday could propel the Tigers into a first-place tie in the Atlantic Division. Moreover, perhaps the most talented team in the Atlantic, preseason division favorite Florida State, fell to 0-3 in the ACC Saturday.

To make sense of the Tigers' uneven, opening five weeks, it's interim report card time as the regular season nears its halfway mark:

Offense: D

The numbers aren't pretty.

The Tigers entered the weekend 102nd out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total yardage (316.6 yards per game), 112th in passing efficiency and 83rd in scoring (24) -- and 28 of those points have come via punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns.

One could justify a failing mark attached to this unit, but the grade here is buoyed by playing the nation's 11th most difficult schedule according to the Sagarin ratings.

C.J. Spiller has been brilliant, and Clemson is running the ball more efficiently than last season. But the team sorely lacks a playmaker after Spiller and Jacoby Ford, fields a rookie quarterback in Kyle Parker who has regressed since the Georgia Tech loss, and the offensive line has improved but is hardly a dominant group.

Defense: B

Kevin Steele's group has been solid. With seven games to play, the Tigers have nearly equaled last season's sack total (13) with 12.

The Tigers are 23rd in total defense (286 yards per game), while having to adjust to diverse offenses -- from Middle Tennessee's spread, to Georgia Tech's triple option.

The Tigers have played with consistent energy, perhaps lacking only Steele's ideal relentlessness for an extended amount of time during the second quarter at Maryland.

Special Teams: B

Outside of Richard Jackson's fourth-quarter field goal misses at Atlanta, and a few leaky coverages, the Tigers' special teams have been very good.

Four of the Tigers' 11 touchdowns have come via return, Clemson holds a net-punting advantage against opponents, and Jackson has converted 14 of 19 field goal attempts.

Coaching: C

The Tigers still seem to be one play short at critical points of games. Dabo Swinney says the Tigers believe they can win, and expect to win -- they just need to learn how to win. And he says that must come in part through better coaching. Swinney took the blame for the Maryland fiasco and the first-half woes at Atlanta.

While Swinney might have improved the Tigers' mental and physical toughness, execution, and perhaps usage of offensive assets, must be improved.

Overall: C

Question marks remain mostly on offense, and execution is spotty. Still, Swinney believes the flaws are correctable. If he is correct, a favorable schedule remains, and the Atlantic Division race is wide open. Keep in mind Clemson's losses have come by a combined 10 points against the nation's 11th most difficult schedule.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.