NORTHWESTERN COMMAND - So it turns out the Tigers' offense is not the sleek sports coupe you drive off the lot.

It’s the Huffy you buy that comes in the large cardboard box. And in that box are a million pieces that need to be properly fitted together.

You need patience.

But patience is fleeting.

You grow frustrated.

You scream.

You toss the directions (aka The Plan).

But in retrospect Clemson's offensive struggles should have been a surprise, as our own Gene Sapakoff did some nice digging today:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/oct/08/tiger-triotribulation/

“It is rare for a college football program to have a head coach in his first full season as a head coach, an offensive coordinator in his first full season as an offensive coordinator and a starting quarterback playing college football for the first time.

How rare? I checked.

Among the 65 teams in the ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big 10, Pac-10 and Big East, Clemson's trio of Swinney, offensive coordinator Billy Napier and redshirt freshman Kyle Parker stands alone. Among all 120 FBS teams, they stand virtually alone.

Wyoming has a first-year head coach (Dave Christensen) and a true freshman quarterback (Austyn Carta-Samuels). Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo served as co-offensive coordinator at San Jose State.”

Mr. Sapakoff – who I believe joins me as the only person with a surname of Russian orgin in South Carolina (outside of Myrtle Russia) – further mentions the nice job BC’s experienced offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill is doing.

Mark Whipple, another veteran offensive coach, had done a fantastic job – albeit with a lot of offensive assets – in Miami.

And it’s fair to wonder whether such experience would have resulted in another win or two at Clemson this season as these loses have come by a combined 10 points.

I know a tremendous burden of the blame has been placed upon the offensive staff.

I’d say the jury is out on the Clemson offense, but apparently it took the jury about a five-second deliberation after the Maryland game.

But I think the anger, the blame is a bit misplaced. It's more about the Jimmies and the Joes – and the Jimmies and Joes buying in - than the Xs and Os.

Clemson’s woes are more about a rookie quarterback, average offensive line and Jaron Brown’s hands than they are about an inexperienced offensive staff.

I don’t think Whipple would have the Tigers looking like the 1999 St. Louis Rams, and remember Jacory Harris is a sophomore, with a year’s experience.

But there is some good news.

You have to think cohesion and overall production have to be better in the second half.

And this partially assembled offense isn’t exactly taking on a schedule akin to the French Alps leg of the Tour de France. The ACC Atlantic is like a beach cruise, so there is hope for a turnaround.

The Best-Case Scenario, Big Picture Approach: Clemson ends the season well, and you have a young offensive staff that improved and gained experience going into next season, and you avoid major turnover, allowing Parker and company to stay in the same system.

Worst Case: Maryland and TCU played out over and over again. Clemson Nation screams for change.

I am not a football coach. And as Pearman pointed out when I asked about Chris Hairston's knee earlier this season, I am also not a doctor.

But to improve the Clemson offense we offer a modest proposal:

MORE TWO TIGHT END SETS AND MORE DWAYNE ALLEN

When we talk about the Jimmies and Joes, the best Joe not being utilized is Dwyane Allen. (I'd be interested to see Bryce McNeal, too). If Clemson's best 11 are on the field on offense - Allen would be among them.

Napier indicated with the wide receivers struggles he might be looking at employing more two tight-end sets, and specifically more Allen.

I like Napier’s thinking on this - though when I asked Dabo about it Wednesday, he didn't seem quite as high on increasing Allen's targets.

Allen is a bit immature, a bit unpolished. But he has speed, hands and athletic ability to be a mismatch in the center of the field.

He could help the team’s red-zone woes, and open up room for Spiller and Ford in the passing game.

And Spiller has been underutilized in the passing game. Parker says defenses are slanting coverage to Spiller, but Spiller should have more than 10 catches. Swinney said Parker missed Spiller on several occasions at Maryland.

And what young quarterback doesn't love a quality tight end to play pitch-and-catch with?

Of all Clemson’s offensive woes, the lack of a second option at receiver is arguably the biggest problem. And Allen came in more highly regarded than Brown, Brandon Clear, Xavier Dye or Marquan Jones. He is talented.

And as Napier said it might be time to live and die with him – if the Tiger are to turn around their offensive fortunes.

We’ll have more in tomorrow’s P & C.

TS

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