The "Slant-Right Utah 56" Edition

We spend some time talking offensive playcalling with Chad Morris, plus Faxon Childress stops by the show to talk about his thoughts on Clemson's 1-3 start.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Each time, or Clipson Sports Talk with Lawton Swan. Now

(00:43):
finally Clipson Sports Talk has come back two drive time.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Hello everybody, Lord Swan back in the saddle once again.
It is the show that Shakes the south Land. Clemson
Sports Talk for you each and every afternoon as you
make your way around the great state of South Carolina
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(01:11):
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(01:34):
And the Show that Shakes the south Land has brought
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Mets Plumbing mets Plumbing dot com. Two two six seven
one o eight. That's two two six seven one o eight.
That's Mets Plumbing all right. Coming up. Chad Morris, former
Clips of Tiger offitsive coordinator, will be a part of
the program We are still hoping to get word from

(01:57):
our buddy up in the upstate FACS and Childress to
see if he is going to be able to record
a segment with us as well. Just want to try
to get up with him to talk about the Tigers
and what he's seen now that he's had a couple
of days to decompress. Clemson back on the gridiron next Saturday.

(02:19):
That's not this coming Saturday, Next Saturday against North Carolina
at noon on ESPN. The Tigers one and three, a
stunning one in three, the tar Heels two and two.
And when you talk about decorated coaches at the collegiate

(02:43):
and the professional level, when you talk about Bill Belichick,
it gets no bigger than those two. Of course, u NC,
excuse me, opened up with a loss to TCU forty
eight team at home in the opener, had back to
back wins. They beat Charlotte twenty to three and Richmond

(03:07):
forty one to six before falling thirty four to nine
against UCFO. Against Power four competition, North Carolina has actually
performed much worse than Clemson has against Power for competition,
So at least you have that going in your favor

(03:28):
if you're the Tigers, I know. Notably, though, the way
that Syracuse game went this past weekend certainly leaves a
lot of people feeling doubt about the rest of the schedule.
And I said it the other day, like when we

(03:50):
went through it at the beginning of the year, I
thought there was the possibility and I don't think it
was far fetched that this team could go undefeated if
they could beat LSU and certainly South Carolina at the
end was another game that you had to mark, and
it felt like those two booking games could deliver either
twelve zero or ten and two, maybe eleven to one.

(04:11):
But then in the midst of falling behind to Troy
sixteen to nothing, you kind of start to think, uh,
this schedule might be tougher than we thought, or maybe
the schedule's not necessarily tougher, but Clymson is just worse
than you believed. And so you get beat at Georgia

(04:31):
Tech on a walk off, it feels like a gut punch.
Maybe that's one of those games that got you twice.
You know, that wasn't really a conversation piece that anybody
had surrounding that Georgia Tech loss and the way it happened,
that it could be a game that beats you twice.

(04:51):
You know, that's a thing that used to talk about
quite a bit back in the day. Don't let that
loss beat you twice. But when you think about how
good Clempson has been and how much they've bounced back
over the years, the thought process that Dabosueeni might lose
two games in a row did not seem did not

(05:17):
seem like something that was gonna happen. And look, even Vegas,
I mean, having Clemson what seventeen and a half point
favorites going into that, I mean that lets you know
that the belief that Clemson was going to win that
game was not some far fetched idea Vegas. There are
times in my life when I think about Vegas and

(05:39):
I go, you know what, these guys have some kind
of time traveling ability because they're right on it and
instead Clemson gets pounded. Wasn't even close. Literally, the worst
I felt watching a Clemson game in a long long time.
I even thought when Florida State rolled into Death Valley

(05:59):
and home with Clemson in twenty thirteen, a Florida State
team that went on to win the National Championship of
going defeated fifty one to fourteen I think was the
final score in that game. Even that team, I felt like,
as good as they were, Clemson fault. This was the
first time I felt like Clemson hasn't fought, maybe since

(06:24):
they lost that bowl game. As I said before, the
South Florida the car Quest Bowl or whatever it was
called back in the day in Charlotte, Like that was
a game where I felt like they didn't fight. And
very few times under Dabos Sweeney's leadership have I felt
that way about Clemson. But here we are, and with

(06:48):
a couple of weeks to get ready for a matchup
with North Carolina, I think it will be interesting to
see how this this whole thing shakes out for the Tigers.
They've just struggled so badly on both sides of the ball.

(07:10):
But offensively, I mean, if we're being honest, offensively, that's
where you just kind of scratch your head. I mean
they've scored ten, twenty seven, twenty one, and twenty one
points total. Like this was an offense that pretty much

(07:36):
everybody expected to put up huge numbers and it just hasn't.
I mean, we're four games in, going into five games
and kay Klubnik has not even thrown for a thousand
yards yet has not thrown for a thousand yards. And

(08:01):
then conversely, and we'll talk about the offense with Chad
Morris in just a few minutes. But conversely, you got
Florida State who goes out and gets Gusta ma Alson
to come in, and I know their competition hadn't been
what Clemson's has been. Even though they did face Alabama.
They're averaging fifty eight points a game, they got twenty

(08:21):
four touchdowns this season. Florida State has already scored twenty
four touchdowns. And to witness and watch Clemson meander around offensively.

(08:43):
We'll hear something from Garrett Riley today on the program.
I mean, the Tigers have right now, what ten total
touchdowns averaging nineteen point eight points per game. Hell me,
Florida State is forty points per game better than Clemson.

(09:05):
And I know the competition, I get it, I get it,
I get it. But may are you joking?

Speaker 3 (09:10):
Right now?

Speaker 2 (09:13):
Only a handful of teams in the country are worse
than Clemson offensively. Oklahoma State, who fired their head coach yesterday,
is one hundred and thirty second out of one hundred
and thirty four teams. UCLA who fired their head coach
is one hundred and thirtieth. Oregon State has won twenty sixth.

(09:34):
They're an independent but a former Power four team. Stanford
is at one hundred and seventeen out of the ACC,
Northwestern is one hundred and thirteenth in points scored out
of the Big ten, and then Clemson one hundred and eleventh.

(09:58):
So that's what in terms of the Power Force schools
won two not going to include Oregon State three for
fifth worst, fifth worst offensive points per game production in
the country. I mean, that's that's pretty indicting. Quite frankly

(10:25):
on Garrett Riley. Speaking of Garrett Riley, he met with
the media yesterday and talked about this Clemson Tiger team.
We'll jump into some of that. Plus we've got former
Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris coming up here in hour
number one for you. But Riley met with the media
yesterday and he had an opening statement. UCF assistant former

(10:51):
Appalachian State head coach Sean Clark passed away suddenly at
the age of fifty. He had been hospitalized, and Scott
Frost's head coach at uc F said he was doing
okay and then stable condition, but then he died unexpectedly
on Sunday. Riley and Sean Clark coached together back in

(11:15):
twenty nineteen, Garrett Riley's one season at app State before
he left to go to SMU. Here's Garrett Riley's opening
statement on the passing of Sean Clark.

Speaker 4 (11:25):
I would be remiss if I didn't, you know, mention
a friend of mine, colleague, former colleague of mine, Sean Clark,
and in the passing and the news that we had,
you know, a day a day and a half ago.
So just want to tell his family that they're certainly
in our thoughts and prayers and we love him, and
you know, I hope that they can navigate a difficult

(11:46):
time like this.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yeah, there's no doubt about that. And you know, I
remember when coach Clark was at app State, really liking
him and their competitive fire while he was there. It's
kind of a gritty head coach. But back to Garrett Riley.
Riley was asked about some of the takeaways that he
had from Clemson's loss to Syracuse. Offensively, I feel like

(12:08):
it's hard to do, you know, to to move the
ball like that and obviously the name of the game
is points, and we got we gotta find ways to
certainly score.

Speaker 5 (12:18):
And you know, be much better at that. So, you know,
I think.

Speaker 4 (12:21):
There's there's some good takeaways. There's some positives certainly that
we just got to build on. Is certainly in a
by a week where it's kind of reset mode anyway,
and kind of starting fresh from that standpoint, starting tomorrow
with our guys, you know, with the full practice. So yeah,
at the end of the day, we know we have
to score more.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
Garrett Riley was asked to give some evaluation to this
offense four games into the season.

Speaker 4 (12:45):
Some strange games, you know, I mean for us and
just kind of our style of play to only have
sixty plays basically in the first three games, you know, sixty,
sixty and sixty, and then this game you get a
lot more plays, and you know, you're kind of in
a whole when you're playing catch up and all that
second half and kind of had to go almost two
minute mode, you know, in the third quarter just because

(13:07):
of the style of game it was. So it's just
been it's been tough from a rhythm standpoint, I think
with some of the just situations that we've put ourselves
in collectively as a team, you know, So, I mean
some of that's hard to say right now, but we
certainly just you know, got to keep tripping away at
the execution and and the toughness that our team needs.

(13:27):
And and that's what we'll be fighting fighting for this
week and a bye week for sure.

Speaker 2 (13:32):
Garrett Riley was also asking about Kay club Nick's playing
those miss layups that we've heard so much about with
the way Kate's been playing and not seeing maybe open
receivers when you go back and watch it, and how
do you kind of work a guy out of that?

Speaker 4 (13:44):
Yeah, I mean, that's that's the challenge for us as coaches.
You always want to put them in position the best
position possible. And I think I think just the reality
is the way in which we've come up short as
a team and some of these games thus far, you know,
Alwa's probably affected us too much. So I think that's
that's been a message for me with Kate and and

(14:05):
certainly with our side of the football, is like we've
we've got to we've got to learn to have more
of a short term memory, you know what I mean,
And and that's easier said than done. I mean, this
has been an emotional, you know, few few weeks with
just the style of games that we've had and uh
and coming up a bit short. So you know, you
got young people and you're having to battle through all
that together. And you know, that's what I told our

(14:27):
guys yesterday, is like, we're gonna have yalls back no
matter what. And we just got to find ways to
keep swinging and and learn from this and really apply
the short term memory mindset of uh.

Speaker 5 (14:39):
Of just moving on quicker, you know.

Speaker 4 (14:41):
And I think just if we do that collectively and
don't let one bad player, one negative play kind of
compound as the game goes on, then I think we'll
be in a much better spot.

Speaker 2 (14:51):
Garrett Riley was also asked about who makes a call
if you want to go to a backup? You know,
who makes a call if you want to play Christopher
Zina over K Club.

Speaker 4 (14:59):
Than all those sort of decisions are a collaboration, but
we haven't been we haven't been close to that yet.

Speaker 2 (15:06):
Garrett Riley was also asked about by the way, I
do want to say, I thought that was a funny statement,
kind of nervous, nervous statement there that we haven't got
close to that, we haven't got close to Christopher Posito.
How bad does Kate have to play to get close
to Christopher Posina? Anyway, Garrett Riley talked about or was
asked about happy feet in the pocket, the cade's got

(15:29):
even when there's not pressure, and how you go about
fixing that in season?

Speaker 5 (15:33):
Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 4 (15:34):
I think you just got to keep pointing it out
and working that and trusting and showing them the times
where he has done it, because there has been times
where he has stood in there, you know, this year
and has made some good plays within the pocket. But
you just got to continue to have trust and upfront
and and where your eyes need to be and just
really basic routine stuff and what we require at the

(15:54):
quarterback position. So again, I think a lot of times,
maybe some bad things or some opportune stuff happens in
the game and you just kind of let that linger
too much, and that that's just kind of what I've seen,
you know, at times with him and just our offense
in general, is we got to move on quicker like
we really got to have that short term memory gart role.

Speaker 2 (16:15):
It was also asked about the wide receivers when Kate
Letney does break out of the pocket, maybe not working
back to help him enough. And if that's if that's
something that they've seen as well.

Speaker 4 (16:25):
Yeah, I mean there's kind of get into a scramble
drill situation, as we call it as coaches. It's actually
something you rep and you rep it in fall camp
and you try and build that in your practice plan.

Speaker 5 (16:35):
And we've got.

Speaker 4 (16:36):
Guys that that you know, need to separate a little
bit more when those situations arise, you know. I mean
that's where we feel like there's some big plays to
be had with a guy like Kay that can scramble
and can throw on the run and create. And he
made a couple the other day that created and result
in a touchdown. The one to him and Adam Randall
really was was what turned in to be a scramble drill.

(16:59):
So yeah, we've got to be better there, Like we're
leaving too much meat on the bone in some of
those situations.

Speaker 2 (17:04):
I feel like Garrett Riley was asked if confidence was
something that the Tigers were still working on as well.

Speaker 4 (17:11):
Yeah, I mean, again, I think this is the reality
of coming up a bit short in a few of
these games and tight games and obviously emotional type games.
You know, you got to bounce back from that, and
so that's constantly a battle you're always.

Speaker 5 (17:28):
Going to have with your team.

Speaker 4 (17:29):
But you know, I think us as coaches, we got
to set the tone with that and let them know
that we believe in them and we got their back
and we're gonna go find a way and we're going
to keep swinging. And so I think that's I think
it starts with us kind of leading that charge.

Speaker 5 (17:41):
But you know, I think we have confident people.

Speaker 4 (17:45):
I think we just got to understand that we got
to keep swinging and keep chipping away.

Speaker 2 (17:49):
Kind of a funny question. He was asked about the
running back rotation and Adam Randall's got the boatload of
the carries. But here's what he had to say.

Speaker 4 (17:57):
Yeah, I mean, I definitely wish we would have gotten
them more snaps. Again, some of it's the not many
plays in the first three games and the way that
those went, and then you know, certainly in this game,
I wish we would have probably rolled them a little
bit more. Certainly in the second half, like I said,
it kind of became a tempo second half in almost
a two minute drill it felt like for most of

(18:19):
that second half. But yeah, I wish we got those
guys in there a little bit more.

Speaker 5 (18:23):
For sure.

Speaker 2 (18:24):
Garrett Riley was also asked about Gideon Davidson and his play.
Here's what he had to say on Gideon's play so
far and opportunities.

Speaker 4 (18:32):
Yeah, we got a team to get a you know,
a package.

Speaker 5 (18:36):
Or just get him rolling in there earlier.

Speaker 4 (18:38):
And I think that'll be a plan for sure moving forward,
is to really roll those guys earlier. Adam's done a
great job obviously, He's been a great spark for us,
and his story is unbelievable and he's playing his ass off.
But you know, I think he played about eighty plays
or so the other day. So we just got to
help him that way too. It's a long season for
a guy like that, so we got to collectively helps

(19:00):
that unit.

Speaker 6 (19:01):
All right.

Speaker 2 (19:02):
That's Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. We've got Chad Morris
coming up and we'll talk to him about Clempson's offense
just a little bit and what he's seen. You know,
what it's like to be at the fourth game of
the season to self scout. We didn't get to Garrett
Riley's answer. He had a question about eye candy window dressing.

(19:22):
If you will, we'll talk with coach about that as well.
Just get his thoughts on them because he utilized it
a lot. He utilized it a lot. And then in
hour number two, after facts and Childress, we did confirm
with facts and he'll be here after hour number two,
I will or after facts and Childress in hour number two,
we'll get the rest of our conversation or interview with

(19:43):
Garrett Riley up for you, so make sure you stick
around for that. All right, quick break, we'll come back.
Chad Morris, former Clemson Tiger offensive coordinator, joins the program
right here on Fox Sports Trading Goo fourteen hundred and
on the iHeartRadio app Keep it Locked. Welcome back, Climpses,
Sports Saloons. While with you on a Wednesday afternoon NATO

(20:04):
three four five zero zero eighty six. All right, Chad
Moore's former Climpson offensive coordinator, head coach at SMU and
head coach at Arkansas Joint's here on the program. He's
been in Charlottesville all weekest Son Chandler. Phenomenal the way
they're playing right now up there with the Cavaliers. They've
got Florida State on Friday at seven o'clock. Called ESPN coach.

(20:25):
I'm sure you and the missus are having a great
week in Charlottesville. What a beautiful town. My sister used
to live up there, in a little town called Rutgersville,
right outside of Charlottesville. And man, that is just a
beautiful area of our country.

Speaker 3 (20:39):
You know it is. And we've thoroughly enjoyed it. And
obviously being able to come up here and be around
Benn at the office smokest of the week or all
week and watching practice and you know, like I said before,
I do some work for those guys up there and
kind of from the offensive standpoint and some consulting stuff
and helping those guys out from some scouting, you know stuff.

(21:00):
And it's been good at the LEAs are just now
starting to turn and as I'm sure they are in Clemson.
And but it is beautiful area. And I remember coming
up here in twenty thirteen with our team and and
when Taz and Sammy and we just put on a
show up here, and and uh and it was in
early October, and I just remember how pretty this time

(21:21):
of year is up here.

Speaker 2 (21:23):
That's when football weather really kicks in. Like I know,
we're playing earlier and earlier, but for me, that kind
of crisp fall evening it you can't beat it. The
fresh cut grass. I know a lot of teams are
playing on turf these days, but man, fresh cut grass
on a football Friday night, I'm all for it.

Speaker 3 (21:42):
Well, you know, you smell some of that, some of
that wood burning, got a little smoke, you know, from
the tailgate, and it's just when it gets a little
cris that smoke stays a little lower, and you know
it's getting close to hunting season, so everybody's getting excited
about that too. So it's it is, it's it's that's
when you know football season is really in full gear.

Speaker 2 (22:02):
Yeah, I think I think hunting season kicks off in
South Carolina on Elvis's birthday. That's probably pretty fitting. That's
pretty anyway. Yep, another ruffle.

Speaker 3 (22:12):
Yeah, good though, man, I appreciate it. And he's playing really,
really well. I had a tremendous game last week and
I said ACC Player of the Week, and so you
know he's just having a he's enjoying it and he's
playing really well, as they all are.

Speaker 2 (22:27):
Yeah, and that matchup will be two of the top
five offenses in the country. Our listeners might not know
that Virginia number five in the country with five hundred
sixty four and a half yards per game. Florida State
comes in with six hundred and twenty eight point seven
yards per game as the top team in the land
in terms of yarded So it should be uh, they
should be up and down the field there at Scott
Stadium in Charlottesville. And speaking of offenses, you know, it's

(22:50):
been tough for Clemson, there's no doubt about that. But
this is a bye week, a chance for Clemson to,
you know, maybe learn some lessons from the things that
they've dealt with over the the first four weeks of
the season when you're in a little bit of a rut.
And Garrett Riley was kind of asked about this about
the lessons you can learn through adversity. I mean, I'm
sure there are plenty of times you could point out

(23:12):
throughout your tenure where you know you were struggling and
you learned a lot and got better from it. I mean,
how does that kind of work as a coach when
you're in the midst of a season.

Speaker 3 (23:22):
Well, you know I always said this, even with our
players and my time at Clemson. You know, everybody's an
All American when it's seventy two part of cloudy, right,
But but you really find out kind of who you
are what you have, and you know, went it's one
hundred and four degrees out there, and it's third and
one or fourth and one, and you know when the
heat's bearing down on the back of your neck. And

(23:43):
so you know, I think I think right now, you know,
as they go into this open week, and and as
as everybody does, and we did it too, as you
go in through a self scout routine, and and you
know I would make sure I did it every three
weeks or every two weeks, but this was the open
week come so soon. You know, I'm sure they really

(24:05):
because they've had so many other things going on, they
hadn't had a chance to really focus much in on
themselves as far as a self scout standpoint. But what
you do, as I'm sure he's doing, is is you
know what Tennessees do? We are? We are we putting
on video. Well when you start looking at that, and
you may look more. I know I would, and I

(24:26):
may look and say, you know what, maybe we haven't
had the success we're reaching where we may not have
a lot of tendencies because we really haven't had an
identity or really what we're doing well. So at that
point you kind of you kind of hit reset and
you go, Okay, we got to go back and find
out what what over the first three weeks four weeks
of the season have we done well and try to

(24:47):
build off of that, And and I'm sure there's a
lot of that going on, and and you know, because
you do, you've got you've got the for the most part,
you've got half the three quarters of your season just
ahead of you with a chance to get some things
turned around. But you have to find out what have
we done well? As much as much as you know
you would love to sit there and go, okay, we've

(25:08):
been playing really well and we put tennancies on tape
for the opponents that that necessarily hadn't been the case.
So it's more so you better go back and find
out what what, what can what what have we done
well and what can we build off of?

Speaker 2 (25:23):
And and nowadays, I mean, I can't imagine what it
was like when you were beginning as a coach. But nowadays,
like they talked during that that Clemson Syracuse game, that
that weather delay clipson that they were able to watch
the entire game, the cutups of that game, because everything
is sliced and diced instantly by analysts and computers and
whoever knows what I mean, I gotta imagine there are

(25:44):
just spreadsheets and like all kinds of statistical things you
can look at. How do you sort of see the
forest for the trees?

Speaker 3 (25:53):
Well you can, I mean, and I'll always tell our guys,
you know, you would get you can't have so much
information and you get constipated, so to speak. You know,
you can't have that. You know, from a coaching lingo standpoint,
talk wise, if you have too much stuff, you just
you're over process. So you just really have to go

(26:14):
back and hey, what what forget everybody else?

Speaker 5 (26:18):
What are we doing?

Speaker 3 (26:19):
Well? What can our guys do? And and and and
and From a cordinator standpoint, and I believe it's happened
to me several times, is is you know somebody in
the room and evily would whether that was Tony or
whether that was Jeff or Danny or Robbie or whoever,
would look and go, hey, you know, Chad, we got

(26:39):
too much on. There's too much on these guys. And
you know, you can't wear your feelings on your shoulder.
And even coach twenty would make say, hey, are we
do we have too much in and and then it
caused you to go back and go, you know what,
maybe we did so what can we scale back? What
can we do well? And and then you build off
of that and and again it's happened to me many times,

(27:00):
and you just adjust and adapt. And so you know,
during the course of that game, because I watched it,
I watched every play, and you know, and I figured
that's what was happening at halftime, and you know, you
do you can you can go in and you can
see every defensive front, how they adjusted the trips, how
they adjusted to two by two sets, two by one
with a two back set. You know exactly what what

(27:22):
pressures they're bringing and and you and you try to
make your adjustments and evolve off of that.

Speaker 2 (27:28):
That's Chad Morris hanging out with this shore on the program.
We'll hit a quick break, We'll come back more. Coach
right after this lowd and Swan Clympsones Sports saw coach
Chad Morris will us say, if you're up in Tiger Town,
don't forget about our friends at Alumni Hall on the
corner of campus on College Avenue and downtown Clemson. It's
Alumni Hall for all your officially licensed Clempson Merchandise has
T shirts. Tell ya Gear Moore, go check them out today.

(27:49):
It's a lovenight haul or online at the lovenight haul
dot com. All right, coach. So, one of the questions
that Garrett Riley was asked today was about eye candy,
you know, the motions, pre snap motions, things of that nature,
and he kind of called it a catch twenty two.
He did call it a catch twenty two, and you
talked about how, you know, they liked to utilize it,
but utilizing it too much. You felt like he kind of,
you know, maybe congestings a little bit for the offensive

(28:12):
line and some of the calls that they have to
make an adjust. I mean, you had a lot of
that in your game, and so what are your thoughts
on the benefits of it. I've always thought, again, as
I told you last week, I'm undefeated him winless as
an offensive coordinator. But I always thought it gave me
a little peek at what the defense was trying to do,
but it didn't necessarily determine that they were.

Speaker 3 (28:32):
What are your thoughts on it when you when you
talk to what I do and what the way you
know we would run our system is. You know, I
was all about the eye candy. I was all about
because I felt like what it did for us, you know,
as the many from the from the speed SUITEP motions
to the misdirections in the backfields. You know, I felt

(28:53):
like it slowed the flow of the backers down. And
so you know, I'm a firm believer and I'm one
hundred percent believe that that you whether you call it
eye candy, I call it window dressing. Whatever it is,
you have to you know, you you at least have
to make I did felt like I had to make
those backers slow down or maybe make those backers have

(29:16):
to false key, and all I needed was them to
hesitate or maybe a safety needed to hesitate off of
different you know, motions that I would present and and
so you know, you did it in a way to
where it didn't didn't didn't mess anyone up. You know,
we would have calls that that would work our old
line and you know it's where you know again, this

(29:37):
is just this is the way we did it. But
we always talked about our motion was called speed and
and we would bring speed. And any time I made
a call to the old line, or Taj or Deshaun
or Cole made a call to the old line, he
would put speed and then call to play. And that
basically just told the old line that, look, there's a

(29:57):
the box is going to be changing. So when motion happens,
there's gonna be someone leaving the box and there's gonna
be someone entering the box. We call them birds. There's
gonna be a bird coming in the box and a
bird leaving the box. We're working up on tracks and
when you hear that speed and so it just alerted
the old line, hey, look you're not working to a man.
You're working to a to a level and understand there's

(30:20):
gonna be somebody there. And I loved I love the
window dressing. I think it really helped us in the
run game. And you know, I just and I think
it also helped us in our play action Shot game too,
because it made the safeties have to flat foot you.

Speaker 2 (30:39):
Chad Morris with us here on the program. All right,
so give us if you don't mind. I don't know
how much this will give away the simplest play call
that you had in your I think when I was
playing pool, I was like, we're gonna run a We're
gonna run like a twenty eight on two.

Speaker 3 (30:53):
That was it.

Speaker 2 (30:55):
Give me the simplest play call of your playbook in
your opinion.

Speaker 3 (30:58):
Well, hey, all right, I'll give you simple one real quick.
You know, Let's say the ball was on the left
hash and it would be slant right speed. Here we
go there speed. Emotionally, there's gonna be some changing happening.
There's gonna be some motion happening here. So it's left
hash slant right speed, and I would go brown Atlanta
back there it is. That's your simple play call. Wow,

(31:19):
and and and all that does is it just told us.
It told the formation. So the formation was slant right.
The next thing happens is the motion, which was speed.
And I have different calls. We could have we called
we have a motion called utah, we have a motion
called zip, we had return. I mean, there's different motions
per player. So if I wanted someone else to motion,

(31:40):
then I could call a different term with it. But
and then so you you go formation, then you go
your motion, and then you go the direction of the play.
So you're telling now, So when I said, you know,
whether it was brown or whether it was red, or
whether it was eight or nine. And you know there's
different things you use for for directions you could do

(32:01):
you know, from from hot and cold to north and south.
You know those are all different direction calls. For the
old line telling me to go right or left, we
would use brown or black. So if I go brown,
then that would tell hey, we're we're telling the old line.
We're working to the right. And then the back call
would tell the h back what we're doing. We're backing

(32:23):
the we're backing the zone. So we're gonna split flows
on it. And so that was it, and it it
told the guy in speed that hey, once you're you're
you're you're flying by when the ball snapped, before you
get to the center, you're gonna grab two elbows. We
call him rock the baby. You're gonna carry your fake
out and you're gonna hold the backside safety. You're gonna
grab we said, grab a clown. Get somebody on defense

(32:44):
to follow you you did you grab a clown? And
so that's that. That's that's coaching lingo right there.

Speaker 2 (32:50):
I love it and I hope I hope.

Speaker 3 (32:53):
Your audience can pick all that up. But that that
is a true coaching lingo. If we were sitting in
an offensive staffer and right.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
It's incredible. And so I'm thinking, now, so if you
if you had someone else's playbook in front of you
and they've got completely different terminology, is it sort of
like when I'm trying to read Spanish where there's enough
that I kind of understand what they're saying here on
this play call? Like, how would that work for you?
If you found some mysterious playbook laying around? Can you

(33:23):
pick it up and go, Okay, they're calling trips right,
this guy's gonna do a zip back whatever.

Speaker 3 (33:28):
Yeah, you know, you would probably know just enough to
get yourself in trouble.

Speaker 2 (33:34):
If you're in it for time, that's awesome.

Speaker 3 (33:37):
That's probably what it would be. You would know just enough,
but you'd be real scared about some of those final terminologies.
You gonna be careful what to say, but you could
kind of picture a little bit of So yeah, I
mean it's there's a lot of it. That's this very
it's we always call it same but different. There's a
lot of similarities, but it's different in some regards. But

(33:59):
again it's it's also about you know, I always felt
and still do, I think you got to be able
to play fast and you but but still be able
to change the picture for the defense. But again, that's
my philosophy and that's what made us successful when we
were there, and that's just you know, that's just what

(34:21):
I believe. And so yeah, I can understand where Garrett's
coming from from a from a eye candy standpoint, but
to me, it allowed me to be creative with the
way we would call our plays.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
Again, if you're just joining us, that's former Clemson offensive
coordinator Chad Morris, former head coach at SMU and Arkansas.
He's up in Virginia getting ready to see his son
Chandler and the Cavaliers face off with Florida State Friday
night up at Scott Stadium, seven o'clock. All right, Well,
a quick break, we got one more segment with coach.

(34:55):
We'll put a bow on our time with coach had
Morris when we get back and in our number two
out of the Gates Facts and Childrens from one to
five to five, The roar in the Upstate joints us
keep it locked. Final segment of our one Clemson Sports
Thought Chad Morris still hanging out with us here. Coach
In video games, when you find a play that works,

(35:17):
people kind of call that being cheesy and you just
go back to it over and over. What was your
first kind of favorite play call that you just kind
of felt like, oh, this was gonna work about every time,
whether that's collegiate, whether it's high school. Did you have
one where you just kind of felt like anytime you
pulled it out, we got a real shot here.

Speaker 3 (35:33):
Yeah. Absolutely, And we ran in them many times and
and we would throw it to either DeAndre.

Speaker 6 (35:38):
Or hold On.

Speaker 2 (35:41):
It's the it's a handoff behind Taj turns his back,
fakes a sweep, and then we crank a deep bottom,
fixing a.

Speaker 3 (35:48):
Call that was fixing a call to put it on
the right hash. And I'm gonna put it on the
right hash. And if Toaz was right here today, he'd
tell you exactly this was the call. And it's slant right,
So balls on the right hash, slant right. I've called
the formation so I've now got I've got I've got
uh Sammy into the boundary or you know, I got
DeAndre to the field by himself, and we would go

(36:11):
U tah. So here you go. There's your there's your other,
there's your other motion. So it's slant rights formation U tah.
U tah means that there is a U in the motion.
So if you remember, Sammy would kind of come in
or Adam Humphries would come in and he would go
over the top behind Tash right. Okay, we would fake
to Andre. We'd fake the high raighways, fake to our
running back with Adam choice and so Todds would fake

(36:35):
from his left to his right and then he would
turn and he would fake again to Sammy over the
top or wherever that is over the top in motion,
and he would take a three step drop and next
thing you know, he's hitting DeAndre right down down the sideline.

Speaker 2 (36:48):
Or I think he's. Yeah, he had that back out
of the backfield too to check it down to I
think several times that is it happening always?

Speaker 3 (36:55):
Always, That's what we tell our quarterback says, Look, he's
always open. So when you get lost or you get stuck,
he's gonna be sitting right over there by the sideline
ride below the numbers. Just throw your eyes over there
and he'll be there to help you get out of trouble.

Speaker 2 (37:10):
That's awesome, coach. All right, Final thing, I think our
listeners are gonna love this, I really do. Final. Final thing.
Do you always have a counter like for what the
defenses is kind of bringing to the table or are
there moments in a game where you just are kind
of in the backyard drawing it up and say, guys,
look we got to go to something that looks like this.

Speaker 3 (37:31):
No, no, no, no, we are very very very very
few times would I ever ask our guys put our
coaches in a situation to do something that we have
in practice. And so no, no, I never. I don't
want to say never, because I'm sure that it was.
You know, do you listen to your players and they say, hey, coach,

(37:53):
and I'll give you an example of you know, if
you remember we're playing we're playing floor or the state
at home, and they you know, and then we hit
Sammy on a double move. It was a it was
a quick it was a slant and go. We call
it slug go, you know, And that that that may
not be something that we had really repped a lot

(38:14):
during the week. But when when the when the players
would come over and say something to you, you listen
because you know that you're there out there, they're seeing it.
And Sam, you came over with that series beforehand and
he said, Coach, they're biting on the slant. Let's think
of slant and go. And we might have ran that
once during the week, but but it was something like you, Okay,

(38:36):
here's what we're gonna do, and we would draw, we
drew it up. You go, okay, don't forget. It's a
three step and quick nod and then you got to
get vertical. So something like that is you when you're
gonna talk double move. Yes. As far as a whole
different scheme, no, No, I would never put that on
my coaches to to do that. I mean, it's that's
on us to get these kids prepared for the adjustments

(38:59):
at the defense is gonna make and and usually everything
we we have has an answer off of it. If
you walked into our offensive staff room, you would see
all our formations up and you would see what's the
answer versus these three pressures. And I don't need a
bunch of answers. I need one answer, and we would

(39:19):
have our answers and we would know we could get
to those answers, and the kids knew. We called it
a third it was a third down blitz answer day.
So when when we knew we were going to get
this look it usually has happened on third down, this
was the answer we would get to. And some of
the kids knew it, and it was it was you know,
Taiz and I would always talk about it's almost kind
of cultish because you you you sit there and it's like, okay,

(39:42):
like if you watched us on a on a on
a Friday or a Thursday. At practice, we would be
like a bunch of little bunch of guys huddled around
the left hash and we would we would get spread
out and then we would walk over to the forty
five yard line on the right hash, and then we
would step up and go to the forty yard line
on the right hash and go over to our and

(40:02):
then we go to the left hash. We'd work our
way down the field and talk about the landmarks and
I would I would tell them then, this is what
I'm thinking on these these these are my landmarks, shots,
guys and so, and we would walk our way all
the way down from the thirty to the twenty five
to the twenty to the tenth, and this is what

(40:22):
we're thinking when we hit these hashes. And so what
I wanted it to be, Thoughton, was when we hit
those landmarks and I called that the kids to do
what I was fixing a call. And so that was
the way we practiced. And so it was there was
a lot of a lot of just you know, really
really just these kids knew what they had to know

(40:43):
what I'm thinking. And and then if they didn't like it,
Taje would tell me several times, hey, coach, I really
don't like that. I'm not good at that. Okay, Hey,
you know what. I love the play, but you don't
like it. I ain't the one throwing it.

Speaker 6 (40:55):
You are.

Speaker 3 (40:56):
It's out and we're gonna put do something. What do
you like, Todd? And and so that's that's just part
of it. And and so but that's how we Yeah,
that's exactly how we would work it.

Speaker 2 (41:07):
Man. That is incredible. Yeah, insight, coach, that is awesome.
Chad Morris with us every Wednesday talking college football again.
His son Chandler and the Virginia Cavaliers facing Florida State
this weekend or excuse me, Friday night up at Scott
Stadium in Charlottesville. Coach, thank you so much for your time,
and y'all enjoy the rest of your time there in Virginia.

Speaker 3 (41:27):
Well, I appreciate it. And hey, I know the Tigers
are on an open week this week, and uh but
it'd be a good, hopefully be a great night Friday
night in Charlottesville. Go go, Who's.

Speaker 2 (41:38):
Go wa Who's Indeed, I'll be rooting for Tony Elliott,
Chandler Morris, a bunch of Clymses staffers and Chad Morris
will be up there as well. Coach, thanks for your time.
All right, that's awesome, man. What are you talking about, Swaddie?

Speaker 5 (41:52):
That?

Speaker 2 (41:52):
I like, We've had some great segments over the years.
That one's that one's got to be right up there.
I mean, that's got to be right up there. Chad Morris,
former Clubs of Tiger offensive coordinator breaking it down. I
can't remember how the play calls slant right, utah something
something another. Touchdown Tigers, That's what I called it. Touchdown Tigers.

(42:13):
I cannot believe that was the play and you knew
it when you watch it developing a game, You're like, oh,
here it comes, here, it comes you know what? Speaking
of that hour number two coming up right around the bed.
Keep it locked.

Speaker 1 (42:25):
Each time for clips and sports talk with Luwton Schwan.

Speaker 2 (43:06):
It is our number two. That's drivetime right here on
the show that Shakes the South Wway and Clemson Sports,
talt Log and Swan hang out with you on a Wednesday.
Facts and Childress one in five to five of the
Roar in the Upstate joins us, the youngest member of
the crew up there in the Upstate and a part

(43:28):
of the Tiger Tailgate show. And just you know, reminds
me a lot, if I'm being honest, reminds me a
lot of myself back in the day when I got
started in this business. He's got better hair than I
do though, or did even then. All Right, what's up, Facts,
how are you, buddy?

Speaker 6 (43:47):
What's going on? And always a pleasure to join the program,
and teptically appreciative of the compliments as well. Been a
crazy month and tiger time to say the least. So
let's dive right into it.

Speaker 2 (43:57):
Yeah, So let's put this into perspective on the the
time that it has been facsin since Clemson's had a
one in three start. I have been doing my podcast
for twenty years. I started in two thousand and five.
I've never done a show where Clemson football has started

(44:18):
the year one in three. I mean that's how long
it's been, dude, all the way back to four. That's insane.
Were you even were you even alive? And O four
you're you're like you were a toddler.

Speaker 6 (44:30):
Yeah, in two thousand and four, I was a toddler.
I just turned two right before Clempson football season got
started up. So I got to say that this is
pretty unprecedented territory for myself as well, just with like
being a conscious and a live human being. I remember
some bad seasons. I remember where I was when Tommy
Bowden got fired. I remember going six and seven. Definitely

(44:50):
was you know, brought into the world in a not
great era of Clemson football. But a one in three
start is not something I can say I remember as
a conscious human being.

Speaker 2 (44:58):
Loden Fax, I'm not gonna put this like solely on you, okay,
because you're not the only person that believed this team
could be good. We all thought that this team could
be good. But you're a guy who has excellent insight
and analysis into these players. You're around them quite a bit,
you can you know some of them from you know,

(45:19):
certain aspects of your life and your role there in Clemson.
How shocked are you today that this is where we sit.

Speaker 6 (45:29):
Out of ten, no hesitation sent out of ten. I'm
extremely shocked. And you know, you go back through the
years of Clemson football and you look at some of
the rosters, and you look at some of the quarterbacks,
and you look at some of the just general talent
level on some of those teams, and it's like, Okay,
you know, if you were to sell me that, you know,
the twenty twenty one Clemson team after the Georgia loss

(45:51):
went one in three because there were no wide receivers
healthy and DJ was struggling as a first year starter
and the offensive line was pretty bad, I would have
been like, yeah, you know what, maybe there is a
backward scenario where you get to one in three. Never
in a million years would I anticipate this group of
players that I still believe possessed an immense amount of
talent at multiple key positions would start one in three.

(46:12):
So I'm absolutely floored. I whipped on my evaluation of
this team in the preseason, as did the majority of
the country. Right you mentioned where it wasn't just local media,
PFF had Clemson is the number one team coming into
this season. Even Paul Finebaum was given some national love,
saying that this was a team that could be a contender,
the athletics putting out pieces. Did Dabbo get it right?
And did everybody else get it wrong? And now four

(46:34):
weeks later, after all the steam, all the hyphe etc.
It's dooms dead and Clempson South Carolina for lack of
better term, And you're sitting one and three for the
first time in twenty plus years. And it's really hard
to process and hard to fathom some of the things
I've seen on tape thus far.

Speaker 2 (46:50):
The other thing that kind of bizarre about what's happened.
And I don't know if you feel this way. And again,
it's not one hundred percent club, there's no doubt about
but a lot of it is on Cade. And when
you look at his all time record at Clemson versus DJ,
I mean DJ blows him out the door when it
comes down to success at Clemson. Has has this done

(47:14):
anything for the thought process of the fans of how
quote maybe bad DJ was.

Speaker 6 (47:22):
I think that there's a lot of people taking that
you know, graphic that's been put out with quarterback wins
and losses right running with it. I do think it's
important to also remember that in that graphic, DJ's being
credited for wins against Syracuse in which he was benched
for Cad and Kate came in and won the game.
And he's also being credited with the win against North
Carolina where he started the game and was benched after

(47:42):
the first drive. Then club Nick came in and won
the ACC Championship MVP. So, you know, again, like many
things in life, there's people on one side of the equation,
there's another, you know, group of people on the other side.
The right answer is probably somewhere in the middle. DJ
probably wasn't as bad as Clemson fans made it out
to be real time, and maybe came Plubnick wasn't as
good as he performed last year down the stretch Man.

Speaker 2 (48:05):
Just a strange, strange time up in Clemson. And you
can listen to facts and each and every day on
one of five to five, the Roar from nine until noon.
You can follow him on Twitter at facts and p
xp go following today's facts and Childress. All right, facts
and so where do we go from here? I mean,
you like to believe that the bye week couldn't come
in a better time, kind of giving the way Clipson

(48:27):
stumbled out of the gate. Certainly you look at North Carolina,
what's happened to them? Against any power for team, They've
been obliterated. This feels like a week where you should
get back to good when they get around to it
next weekend. But my goodness, man, this team has just
been so off. You listen to the players. I heard
you there at the press conference asking questions, what's the

(48:47):
feeling you get about where this team is mentally as
they get some extra time to get ready for their
next trip onto the field.

Speaker 6 (48:54):
Well, you know, I've got some hope and some wishful
thinking that they're going to be able to write the
ship turn this thing around. But you know, just objectively speaking,
I don't know if anybody can say they have confidence
in this Clemson football team against anybody with the pulse
right now, Like it's I said on my show, I
said on Tiger Tailgate. I said all week that I
thought if there was a chance for Clemson to have

(49:16):
a big breakout week offensively and kind of right the ship.
Syracuse was the matchup last week, Right, the team that
gave up three hundred and fifty plus yards to Colegate.
They trailed the Yukon on their home field for over
fifty minutes of that game and got taken to overtime.
Really should have lost that game to Yukon on their
home field, and Clemson just came out and got popped
in the mouth. So I've kind of taken a step

(49:38):
back a third of the way through the season now
with four out of twelve games gone, and just am
reevaluating where I'm at on this Clemson team, because albeit
still believing in the roster, still believing in the talent
level to a certain extent, what I saw last Saturday
and Death Valley was a bunch of quitting and was
a bunch of players that didn't want to play hard
for Clemson And that's the most disappointing part of it

(49:59):
to me, and something I could have never anticipated in
the preseason, you know, with the messaging about the leadership
that this group had and player led leadership, which I
still think exists to a certain degree, but clearly there
were some cracks in the armor there after the Week
one lost to LSU that just continued to get, you know,
blown further and further open, was culminated in what we
saw on Saturday. So again, Clemson's going to be more

(50:22):
talented than every team they play on their schedule the
rest of the way, but they were also more talented
than Georgia Tech and significantly more talented than Syracuse and
it didn't matter. You have to attack every single down
with one hundred and ten percent, and until I see
Clemson do that and give the effort level requisite to
deserve to win games, I'm not projecting Clemson to win
big or anything close to big in any matchup against

(50:42):
any opponent.

Speaker 2 (50:44):
I think there's another aspect of the nil deal too,
and rev share that comes into it. So when you
know when I was in school and when some of
the coaches were players, there was an arrogance that's some
of these guys had because they were athletes on campus.
You fast forward to where we are today, not only

(51:07):
do you possibly have arrogance from some of these guys,
but now You've got access to money and things that
they otherwise would not have had previously. And I think
that is a different aspect of this era that we're
dealing with now. Clemson's not I've made sure to say
this all week, right, Clemson is not in a vacuum.

(51:28):
I mean, other schools are navigating this system and doing
it really well. I mean, is there something in there
in your mind about the management and oh man, I
don't even know how. I don't want to call it
control of the player, but just what they've got, you know,
from the access to money and fame and all of

(51:49):
that being a part of this slide at Clemson.

Speaker 6 (51:52):
I think it's fair to assess some of the blame
with that. But again, you kind of hedit at the
beginning of your tangent there, Lawton, which is that this
is something that every team in the country is dealing with.

Speaker 3 (52:01):
And when I.

Speaker 6 (52:03):
Watched Tennessee play Georgia and when I'm gonna watch Alabama
play Georgia this weekend, or whether it was even Iowa
Rutgers right on Friday night, efforts not an issue for
ninety eight percent of schools. Efforts never been an issue
for Dabo Sween his program, which has been you know,
revere and rightfully so as the you know, top program

(52:25):
and the pinnacle of culture within collegiate athletics in his
entire seventeen year tenure. And I think that that's kind
of why this is such an uncomfortable spot, says staring
down the barrel of one in three with the supremely
talented roster in a fractured culture, because I never anticipated
Clumson to end up here. So while I do believe
Nil probably has some element in this, right, there's a

(52:45):
human factor to where if your checked clear and regardless,
where is your motivation stemming from a lot of these
guys are going to be first round picks going to
the league. They're willing to just put certain things out
of side, out of mind because they've got different goals
coming up this April. I do think there's something to
be said about that. But at the end of the day,
we've got a sixteen year sample size of Dabo Sweeney

(53:07):
being able to adequately motivate and put his players in
position to succeed. And this is the outlier. I'm gonna
side with Dabo Sweeney ten times out of ten that
he still got it when it comes to motivation, when
it comes to inspiring guys to play hard, and maybe
the player leadership here just isn't as strong as we
were told in the offseason. Maybe the guys in the
locker room don't want it enough, because that's what I

(53:28):
saw on tape on Saturday. And I know coach Sweeney
is doing everything he can to win, and nobody wants
to win more than that guy. So still, I'm just
a little stun that we're here, to be completely candid,
never in my life have seen a Clemson football team
quit the way that they did on Saturday, or at
least that's how I felt in my evaluation, and when
watching Aaron Murray and Eric McLane and doing their stuff

(53:50):
with their podcasts and film evaluation, Aaron Murray said the
exact same thing about clumbs are getting punked up front
on the lines of scrimmage on both sides, just like
they did against Georgia Tech. And I think that was
exacerbated against the Syracuse team that again has nowhere near
the talent level that Clemson does in multiple key positions.

Speaker 2 (54:08):
Facts and Childress again on Twitter at Facts and PXP,
We've got him for about eight more minutes here today.
So with that, there are guys given a ton of effort,
right like Adam Randall, it's amazing. Tristan Smith like in
limited limited action looks like a guy wants to run
through a wall for you. I don't. What I really
can't like fix in my brain is why maybe you

(54:31):
haven't given Christopher Vezina just a chance to see if
there's a spark something like it's not unheard of to
play your backup quarterback to spark the team. It makes
the belief amongst me and others obviously out there that
the Zena may not be any good, and then that
scares the mess out of you for what next season

(54:53):
might be.

Speaker 6 (54:54):
Yeah, and I think that's you know, a fair take takeaway,
just based on what the messaging looks like, right, And
you know, obviously Kave Clubnick came into this season with
pretty lofty expectations. He was the Heisman favorite, he was
the projected number one pick by PFF and a bunch
of other different mock drafts, including the Athletic, and he
just hasn't lived up to those expectations thus far. Now,
I don't think it's all on Caid. I do think

(55:16):
that it's kind of being thrown under the bridge by
the majority of Clemson fans that the pass protection has
regressed to twenty twenty three level or arguably worse, and
that is definitely playing an element into Clemson's failures. But
at the end of the day, I do understand your logic,
which is, hey, sometimes you just need a spark. That's
where you kind of need to find a way to

(55:37):
deploy the backup quarterback. Maybe he can provide that jolt
and that's what you need. But your point about the messaging,
where since we haven't seen a change that would indicate
maybe there's a lack of trust, lack of belief. I
do think there's some truth to that. Unfortunately, because if
there was a time, in my opinion, it was halftime
of the Troy game, is when I would have thrown
Chris Servazen out there for a series to see if

(55:58):
you can give your offense a little bit of a shot. Now,
obviously Kate Clubnick was able to respond that's the one
one Clemson has on their schedule. But I wouldn't be
opposed to seeing CV at some point this year. I
just think that if a move were to be made
and if that was a viable option that the coaching
staff felt like gave them a good enough chance to
win or a better chance to win, we would have

(56:18):
already seen it. So reading between the lines, don't feel
great about Plumpson's quarterback situation next year.

Speaker 2 (56:24):
Just to be candidates, ah Man again. You want to
listen to him every day nine until noon. He's facts
and Childress Facts on Sports is the Show. So Peter
Woods met with the media yesterday and he said something,
and the way he said it, I don't think that
it necessarily came out the way he wanted it to,

(56:45):
but I kind of get what he's saying. He said,
quote facts and you were there. If I had ten
sacks and fifteen tackles for loss, I'd come in here
and say I've got to get better. So my answer
to your question is that I that I have to
get better take full accountability for that. And I'm sure
TJ would say the same. And he mentioned the fact
that he felt like they would still be one in

(57:07):
three even if he had those numbers. But I mean,
can we be honest, like, if he had multiple sacks
in these games, Clemson's probably not one in three. I mean,
I think he's saying, if we were one in three
and I had done this, I would still tell you
I've got to be better. But I mean, wouldn't Clempson
have won some games if he had those types of numbers?

Speaker 6 (57:26):
Yeah, I think it's fair to say that they would have.
And like, listen, it's not even just about the numbers.
It's about you know, people have blown Dabbo Sweeney off
the planet Earth for saying the phrase a couple plays away.
But reality tells us that you go to the top
of the food chain in the NFL world, you go
all the way down the totem pa. I was listening
to Aaron Rodgers this week, and you want to know

(57:48):
what something Aaron Rodgers said is every football game I've
ever played in is determined on five to ten plays,
and those are the swing plays. Those are the momentum plays.
Pumpston has consistently lost the swing plays in the mo
momnium plays this season. A prime example of this this
past Saturday. Right, it's second and long for Syracuse on
the second play of the game. This is play number two,

(58:08):
play number two the entire game. You just get off
the bus.

Speaker 3 (58:11):
TJ.

Speaker 6 (58:11):
Parker completely with say tackle for loss as the guy
uncontested in the backfield behind the line of scrimmage has
a big time chance to make a momentum play. It
would have said Syracuse way back, probably to the point
of being third and twelve, third and thirteen, defense would
have had a chance to get a three and out.
You have a chance to get off the field, right,
that's a big momentum swing early in the game. Instead, TJ.

(58:33):
Parker misses the tackle, you give up a chunk play.
That chunk play is compounded with another chunk play on
top of it from the orange, and you give up
seven points. That turns into the on side tick right,
and all of a sudden boom, you're down ten to zero.
Before you can even process what's going on. And kay
Klubdeck hasn't touched the football yet. So when I hear
Peter would say something like that, I don't fully agree

(58:55):
with him that if he had those numbers, Clemson would
still be one in three. But I think that it's
for a little bit different of a reason. It's those
swing plays, it's those momentum plays. It's that one tackle
for loss that you could pick up on second down
to make third down a little bit more difficult, and
maybe Syracuse just runs it up the middle in punts
because it's the beginning of the game. Then all of
a sudden, Kay Publick and the offense are getting their

(59:15):
game scripts. They're trying to get their first drive off
which worked, and then all of a sudden, you could
be up seven to oh if TJ. Parker makes that tackle,
but instead you're down ten to oh right in the
span of six minutes because he misses it. So that's
what I've hyperfixated on is those five to ten key
momentum plays, and it feels like Clemson's oh for the
season on those thus.

Speaker 2 (59:35):
Far again following him on Twitter at fax and PXP
Faxson Children's host of Facts on Sports on one though
five to five they're or in the Upstate, all right,
vacs And so final final question for you, Dablosweeney said
a couple of weeks ago, he said, uh, and we
might go six and six, but I don't think so.
All right, what do you say, are they better than

(59:57):
six and six? Will they finish better than six?

Speaker 3 (01:00:01):
Yeah?

Speaker 6 (01:00:01):
I do think they'll finish better than sixty six. And
you know, again, it's I'm just going to bank on
implied probability for my assessment when it comes to that,
I understand you were just a seventeen point favorite at
home and you were down twenty in the fourth quarter
and got embarrassed. But if you don't, if you aren't
able to get up and beat a future of North
Carolina team in a week and a half, we need

(01:00:22):
to start having some different conversations about the future of
Clemson football because that would be inexcusable for an onslot
of reasons. I just don't think the schedule is very strong,
and even games that looked like they were going to
be pretty difficult at the beginning of the season, I e. SMU, Louisville,
and South Carolina, none of those teams have impressed me
thus far. SMU has no defense at all and they've
already lost two games. South Carolina has massive foundational issues

(01:00:46):
on both sides of the balls, specifically with their offense
and play calling, and they can't really run it. And
then Louisville, I'm not a big believer in their quarterback
Miller Moss and they got taken to the wire by
James Madison. So again, I think Clemson's going to be
favored in the remaining eight games. Take that for what
it's worth. They were also favored in what all three
of the games they've lost so far, So maybe I've
got no idea what I'm talking about, but this roster

(01:01:08):
is way too talented to go six and six, and
it would be extremely disappointing if that's the record or worse.
They really need to find a way to turn this around,
Lowton and at least salvage seven to eight wins at minimum,
plus a bowl game to make things look a little
bit better optics wise, because this impacts you're recruiting, This
impacts everything with your program at this juncture. So wishfully
hoping that Clemson's going to turn it up from an

(01:01:29):
effort level. I think the talent will start to shine
through against some inferior competition in a similar fashion to
what happened last year, and hopefully you can roll the
ball out and just start having some fun. I mean,
it looks like Clemson is just pulling teeth out there
playing football. Nobody's celebrating, nobody's hyping each other up, nobody's
having fun. Just want to see the joy return to
the locker room for the Tigers.

Speaker 2 (01:01:48):
There you go, Facts and Children nine until noon every day.
Facts on the Sports one of five to five of
the Row in the Upstate and podcast of his show
are also available. Facts and have a great week, my man,
thanks so much.

Speaker 6 (01:01:58):
Yeah, I appreciate you, Lowton.

Speaker 2 (01:01:59):
Thanks there, go Fax and Childress hanging out with us
year on a Wednesday afternoon. We'll hit a quick break.
We'll come back with a little bit more from Garrett
Riley's press conference with the media. Obviously, the offensive numbers
are just atrocious this year, and the brun of that
obviously fallen on the OC. Garrett Riley, we'll hear more
from him when we get back. Keep it a lot

(01:02:20):
right here on Fox Sports Radio fourteen hundred Lawton Swan
back with you Wednesday afternoon. That was Fax and Childress
before the break. Enjoyed here and from faxon and get
his thoughts on it. Garrett Riley, Clemson offensive coordinator, met
with the media yesterday and he was asking about the
tight end room and if he feels like those guys
are getting involved enough in these ball games. Clemson's tight

(01:02:41):
ends against Syracuse had five of Clemson's thirty seven receptions
in the ball game. Here's what Garrett Riley had to
say about balance on the offense.

Speaker 4 (01:02:52):
Yeah, I mean that's shooting again. Balance for me is
ball distribution. I know, we had a lot of people
and then we threw the ball sixty times the other day,
so we had quite a few people catch the ball.
But yeah, I think that group has shown production when
they've had opportunities, and I think, you know, hopefully those
opportunities will grow for them as a whole, because I.

Speaker 5 (01:03:10):
Think they can handle it.

Speaker 4 (01:03:12):
They've you know, all three of those guys that have
really played in that room have you know, shown some production,
some good things that they're doing.

Speaker 5 (01:03:19):
So I trust them for sure.

Speaker 2 (01:03:21):
Garrett rob was also asked about you know when he's talking,
you know, like like a schemer, maybe a scheme of
guy open, we should have done this here versus what
ended up happening there. Maybe even sometimes the players don't
make the play. Here's what he had to say about that.

Speaker 5 (01:03:36):
I mean, you always have things that you would want back.

Speaker 4 (01:03:40):
I can think of a lot of games where we've
probably been rolling and scored a bunch that day and
I wish we.

Speaker 5 (01:03:44):
Had some things back. So you're always going to have that.

Speaker 4 (01:03:48):
But yeah, I mean we're always going to self evaluate
and be brutally honest within ourselves.

Speaker 5 (01:03:53):
I mean, you have to do that if.

Speaker 4 (01:03:55):
You want to adapt, if you want to continue to grow,
if you want to get better. And so we certainly
have to do that as coach, that's no secret, and
we got to do it as players as well.

Speaker 2 (01:04:03):
Now we've talked about the fact that Tristan Smith in
a couple of opportunities has looked like one of the
guys fighting as hard as he can. He is a
huge wide receiver, and gar Rod was just flat out
ask like, what does Tristan Smith have to do to
get on the field.

Speaker 5 (01:04:16):
More so, he's.

Speaker 4 (01:04:18):
He's really done a lot better job in the last
couple of weeks of just some of the detailed things
what we asked him to do in practice and some
of the consistency that way. But yeah, you saw what
he did and he's I don't know if surprising.

Speaker 5 (01:04:31):
Is the right word, but like he's really good with
the ball in his hands.

Speaker 4 (01:04:34):
You know, for being a six' five, guy you usually
don't think of that style of play.

Speaker 5 (01:04:40):
With those sort of receivers that are that.

Speaker 4 (01:04:42):
Way but, yeah he's he really does he does some
good things with the ball in his. Hands SO i
think he's starting to earn more, trusts you, know just
from a consistent sea level of knowing what to do
and assignment. Wise SO i definitely look to see him
getting more and more as this season goes. ON i
was excited to see him make it really a nice
play the other.

Speaker 3 (01:05:01):
Day that was.

Speaker 2 (01:05:02):
Awesome Garret riley was also asked to give some thoughts
and insight into why he thinks the, offense you, know
has apparently been performing well at, practice but there's a
disconnect when it comes to game.

Speaker 4 (01:05:13):
Day, YEAH i mean that's it's such a it's such
a hard, question you. KNOW i, mean obviously we would
love to pinpoint. THAT i just think a lot of it,
is honestly just the play and loose and playing free
and playing within our system and trusting one, another and
like just doing that on game day because when we do,
that AS i see it in, practice AS i look back,

(01:05:35):
on you, know last, season when we were playing, well
it felt like, OFFENSIVELY i, MEAN i think that's when
we're at our, best and so even through the, struggle
even through some tough times right, NOW i think it
always kind of comes back to that of just going
out and playing confidently and playing loose and trusting one.
Another AND i think when we do, that you, know
you create more, Fun you create more opportunity for, everybody you,

(01:05:55):
KNOW i think you can get in a rhythm more
consistently that.

Speaker 2 (01:05:58):
Way garrett was also asking if you Feels kate Club
nick has more confidence when The tigers are playing up.

Speaker 4 (01:06:05):
TEMPO i do think some of the production is good
when we do, it you. Know AND i think from
a skill, standpoint from the offensive line of just kind
of getting lined, up getting the call and, GOING i
think it is certainly a weapon of ours that you,
know we may need to build on for, Sure BUT
i do think he does well in those. Situations, YEAH

(01:06:28):
i mean just in the two and a half years
or Whatever i've been with, Him, like just, OVERALL i
think he's comfortable in that style of.

Speaker 2 (01:06:35):
Play Garret riley was also asked that question we mentioned
With Chad morrise, earlier if you missed it about the eye,
candy the window, dressing if you, will And clem's is
not having a lot of, that even though they've done
a little bit more of it. Lately Here's Gary riley
giving his thoughts on.

Speaker 4 (01:06:49):
It it's kind of catch twin two a little bit
like at times you do want to have the window
dressing and try and create eye violations and try and
make it hard on the, defense but at the same
time you got to be mindful of not you, know
maybe making.

Speaker 5 (01:07:01):
It harder on, you specifically with the old.

Speaker 4 (01:07:03):
Line the more movement there, is the more the box
and changes for, them.

Speaker 5 (01:07:06):
Especially if you're talking about running. Game but, YEAH i, MEAN.

Speaker 4 (01:07:09):
I think you utilizing that and having that as a
tool within our system is certainly has been good to
us less couple of. Games but you, KNOW i also
think we got to do what we do too and
do what we've been practicing and, doing finding ways to
really just get in the rhythm and get in the
flow of the game better than what we have in
these first couple of.

Speaker 2 (01:07:28):
Games riley was also asked about the pre snap penalties
that sort of Had clemson playing at times behind the
chains and really slowing down drives that looked like they
were building.

Speaker 4 (01:07:38):
Up, YEAH i, mean you, know whether it's, that whether
it's a you, know you drop a, BALL.

Speaker 5 (01:07:43):
I, mean there's just been a number of things that
have halted some. Drives but, YEAH i Mean we certainly
got to cut those.

Speaker 4 (01:07:49):
OUT i, mean those those are just kind of momentum
killers with the, Drive so we certainly got to improve
in that.

Speaker 2 (01:07:55):
Area Garrett riley was also asked about the end of
the first half again And syracuse Wear Clemson delayton calling
the time. Out they ended up breaking a big one
With Adham randall and then trying to figure out how
to get a field goal and they end up having
to throw a Hail mary at the. End here's what
he had to.

Speaker 4 (01:08:13):
Say you, know we had five seconds left and we
felt like if they were going to allow us to
just get a few yards there and still get out of,
bounds then let's do it and then we can make
that decision whether or not to throw a Hell mary
or whether to potentially try a long field. Goal SO
i thought that was definitely the right right, idea and
we just didn't connect, THERE i, know With bryant on the,

(01:08:35):
sideline you, know so that was disappointing because it was certainly,
there and then you know on the Hell, mary you,
know just didn't didn't work out. There kind of had
a collision down the, field but just didn't work. Out
BUT i thought we gave ourselves a.

Speaker 2 (01:08:47):
Chance and, Again i'll just go back to it. Again
it's not all On Garret. Riley he didn't make the
decision on the time. Out but if the timeout called
is when it should have been, called you probably have
thirteen seconds, there thus making that a play that doesn't
have to be such a quick out, route you give
yourself a little bit more wiggle room in terms of

(01:09:09):
the pace of that. Play it was just incredibly. Frustrating
and that's another aspect of this that's so. Bad like
the players did not look like they played, hard but
the coaches look ill. Prepared the coaches look like they
did not get the pretest or the. Notes it's like

(01:09:30):
they were just there and, going what's? Happening what are
we doing this? Situation and that's one thing that's always bothered,
Me LIKE i get it to a high pressure. Job
you're doing it in the public. Light but, man just
when you see wasted, opportunities and that's what we saw,
there all, right with a quick. Break when we come,
back a legend Of march madness in recent years, retires

(01:09:55):
we'll tell you who when we get. Back Lawton swan
back with you on A. Wednesday Thing facts And. Childress
thank it To Chad morris for joining the program, today
and again thank you for stopping By Alumni hall right
there on the corner of campus On College avenue in Downtown.
Clemson It's Alumni hall for your officially Licensed clemson merchandise,
HATS t, shirts Tell, Gate Garrid. Moore check out those

(01:10:17):
brand New Nike Dry Fit. Polos you're gonna love. Them
and again let them know that we sent. You ask
thembout Their Alumni hall. Rewards past program Plus clemson, students,
faculty a military get ten percent off on shopping in
store At Alumni. Hall don't. Forget you can check them
out online At Alumni hall dot, com get to them
through our website or, newsletter and we also retweet some

(01:10:41):
of their. Posts the retweets won't get you a benefit
from for, us but that's all. Right we want to benefit.
Them we're last on the totem pole of beneficial we
want them to be. First go check them Out Alumni.
Hall all, Right, so Sister jean, retiring you, Say, SWANYA

(01:11:02):
I i don't, Remember sister Gene, WELL i, say, well
where were? You where were you When Loya chicago was
making their run in twenty, Eighteen Sister jean announces her
retirement due to health. Concerns she's one hundred and six

(01:11:22):
and she's hanging it. Up come, On Sister, jean you
got another? Year inn't you to get out there For
loell In? Chicago? No but, man what the? Story what the?
Story it? Was she served as a campus minister in
chaplain for The ramblers men's basketball team since nineteen ninety. One,

(01:11:43):
yeah she was at retirement age. Then her absence was
first noted during the twenty twenty five spring semester when
she didn't attend the N it semi. Finals back In,
April Sister jean wrote in her, book or, WROTE i

(01:12:03):
GUESS i should say let your dreams become a. Reality they. Said.
Quote While Sister gene is no longer able to physically
to be physically present on, campus she remains a beloved,
friend trusted, advisor and Loyal. Rambler the one hundred and
six year Old catholic nun became a phenomenon during Loy

(01:12:31):
there it is hate saying. It loyola's epic final four
run is an eleven Seed back in twenty, Eighteen, loyola
Who that's? Hard upset sixth Seed, miami three Seed, tennessee
seventh Seed, nevada ninth Seed Kansas state in the twenty

(01:12:54):
eighteen tournament and lost to three Seeded michigan in the final.
Four but she was. Everywhere she was absolutely everywhere during that.
Season so Sister jean retiring at the at one hundred
and six years, young good for. Her stick him with

(01:13:18):
kind of fun storylines. Here there are some big games
in college, football but one that's got the attention of
the country Is Old miss AND. Lsu, Now Lane kiffin,
tweeted this is so odd man that we are in

(01:13:39):
this day and. Age Lane kiffin tweeted a couple of days,
ago take the? Over What? Yeah Old miss HOSTING lsu
three point thirty Vault Hemingway stadium In oxford ON Abc
saturday fifty five and a. Half Old miss favored by

(01:14:02):
one and a, half and the head coach tweets take the.
Over but an additional storyline in that game is, This
Lane kiffin's, Daughter Landry, kiffin is currently DATING lsu linebacker

(01:14:29):
went weeks and that news sort of broke on social
media AS i understand, it this. Week so you've got daughter,
boyfriend father rival taking, place and not to, mention the
boyfriend's a linebacker and the father is an offensive. Guru,

(01:14:55):
NOW i don't know how close these two Are landry And,
witweeks BUT i mean they're, dating and obviously both of
these teams hope to be playing football At. Christmas but
Whenever christmas takes, place whenever these individuals get, together you,

(01:15:18):
know at the college, age sometimes you do bring your
significant other home for the. Holidays there will be A
hallmark movie about, it for, sure for. Sure but, yeah
what a weird twist there is going into that. NOW

(01:15:41):
i also gotta bring this up, too because it just
popped into my feed AS i was sitting here looking
at that. Tweet Frankly, howard great, name by the. Way
Frankly howard tweeted At facts And childress for Something factions

(01:16:01):
said on his. Show and this is beautiful, though AND
i want to see if you agree with. This totally
agree With. FAXON i would rather go one and eleven
with players giving one hundred percent effort than watch whatever
the CRAP i watched On saturday. Was it was an
insult to the fan base talking About clemson and their

(01:16:24):
performance Against. Syracuse AND i do think that's part of
the issue that people have right now With. Clemson it's
not about. LOSING i think some of you deal well with.
Losing what you don't deal well with is whatever is

(01:16:49):
that What Frankly howard, Said whatever the crap that was
that you watched On saturday where these guys were not
giving their. All you give your all and. Lose i'm
okay with, it but don't give, me you, know some

(01:17:10):
bull crap effort and then expect me to sit here and, go,
well it'll be better next. Week it'll be better next. Week,
no that's not HOW i. Roll all. Right final segment coming,
up big recruiting get For clemson women's hoops five star.
Alert we'll tell you about it.

Speaker 7 (01:17:28):
Next what have you done for me? Lately it's a fair.
Question just don't lose sight of the bigger. Picture don't
forget history looking for us At. Clemson the answer to
the questions what have you done for me? Lately what

(01:17:49):
have you? Done always are the.

Speaker 5 (01:17:51):
Same we.

Speaker 2 (01:17:57):
Win final segment on A Wednesday Clemson Sports. Talk So,

(01:18:48):
hey LOOK i got Admit Shawn, Poppy Shawn poppy and
The clemson women's basketball team getting the job dne he
was fascinating when we interviewed. Him absolutely loved our conversation with.

(01:19:14):
Him AND i know you don't want to tip your
cap to the Lady Game cox or just the Game cox.
WHATEVER i know that was a topic of contention at some. Point,
sorry BUT i have said, that, like one of the
benefits of Having Dawn staley coaching in this state is

(01:19:34):
that women's basketball is popular in this state and you
can get players to come play here because If South
carolina can do, well we can do. Well and you
get to Play South, carolina you have that. Benefit so
The tiger signed five Star Julia scott or she, COMMITTED

(01:19:57):
i shouldn't say. Signed she's a si foot three forward
From Albertus magnus In New, york committed To clemson Over
michigan And Notre. Dame and what's crazy IS i was
looking at some of the women's basketball recruiting, stuff, which

(01:20:20):
if we're being, fair is few and far. Between but
she's ranked twenty fifth overall in the. Country they also
have a girl committed Named Kemora fields who's twenty seventh,
overall And Mia green who is forty fifth. Overall so
what that means is in the twenty twenty sixth. Class

(01:20:43):
and again these are, commitments not. Signed they can leave
and go somewhere. Else but in the upcoming basketball, Class,
clemson the women's team has three top forty five players. Committed,

(01:21:05):
Now South carolina might have six of the top ten
for ALL i, Know but that's, okay that's. Okay South
carolina's a mountain to climb in and of. Itself but
where you start climbing in your, league and where you

(01:21:26):
start climbing in the country is by getting recruits like
this to commit and hopefully come To. Clemson because if
these commitments, stick or if you add another top fifty,
prospect if you end up with four of the top
fifty women's basketball players in the, COUNTRY.

Speaker 3 (01:21:49):
I, mean.

Speaker 2 (01:21:51):
You're going to compete in your. Conference you're going to
make THE ncaa tournament at some. Point And i'll take
it one step. Further you might not Beat South carolina
in the regular, season but if you're good enough and
you're in the postseason and they get knocked, off you,
know maybe some of the big teams kind of fall

(01:22:12):
by the. Wayside so let me see what Is South
carolina done in the twenty twenty sixth class because it's
gotta be. GOOD i, mean come, on you don't you
just don't recruit women's hoops and Have South carolina not
dominated right, now and you just tip your cap, obviously

(01:22:36):
you tip your cap To Dawn. Staley all. Right the
number one player in the country's name is j C.
Ibbie she's out Of Legion Prep. Academy she's committed To.
Tennessee the second rate of prospect is committed. To it

(01:22:58):
looks Like. Virginia, HECK i do not See South carolina
on the. LIST i See Kimora, Fields SO i mean
it's possible right now THAT i, mean these girls at
the top are going TO i mean there's no way

(01:23:18):
these girls aren't looking At, FLORA i mean aren't looking
At South. Carolina the girls FROM I Amg academy Of,
Florida Kelsey. ANDREWS i, mean there's no way she's not
Considering South. Carolina but, yeah just to have that many
of the top, talent and it's. WEIRD i don't See
South carolina in this list FROM, espn but, maybe you,

(01:23:41):
know Maybe South. Carolina let's see verbal. COMMITS i don't
see any that's, strange. HUH i see The clemson, Girls uh, not,
listen don't take this. Game cocks are tuning in peeking
over the, fence hanging out with me, thinking Ohso lody
thinks the clips of women are on the come up,

(01:24:02):
here so you.

Speaker 3 (01:24:03):
Could continue to peek over the fence at the best
radio showing the.

Speaker 2 (01:24:07):
NAKED i just know there was no way that you
couldn't go down any. Further that was for. SURE i,
mean that Was that program was pretty much pretty sad
for a long. Time so thank you To Sean poppy
for giving us something to talk about and potentially something
to look forward to with the women's team next, year
as long as he can keep these girls committed for

(01:24:29):
the long. Haul All, right we'll be back, Tomorrow thursday.
Edition already you kidding? Me the bye week is going,
by AND i guess technically that's What i'll say to
you now, Bye we'll be back. Tomorrow till, Then as,
always y'all take care now and Go. Tigers