Dabo Swinney evaluates Cade Klubnik's performance in Week 1 loss

Cade Klubnik made some big-time plays for Clemson during Monday night’s game against Duke, but the sophomore also made some costly mistakes in the 28-7 loss.

Following the game, Dabo Swinney broke down what he saw from Klubnik against the Blue Devils. Klubnik was making only the second start of his career in the contest.

“He put us in position. But again, we just didn’t finish,” Swinney said. “It’s just that simple. I mean there’s just a lot of things situationally that he’s got to do a better job of.”

Clemson finished with 422 yards of offense, and Cade Klubnik was a big part of that. The Texas native passed for 209 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 34 yards on 12 attempts.

Klubnik did throw an interception, though, and he had other balls that were nearly picked. He also made some mistakes in the run game, whether it be in the zone-read game or sliding before a first down.

“I thought early… the first series, maybe, he missed a pull that probably would’ve gone a little ways. Ended up being a tackle for no gain, maybe. The guy ran us down on the back side,” Swinney said. “He’s just gotta do the routine things a little crisper. And then obviously again, the situational stuff, like the fourth-and-8, making sure we get that.”

The fourth-and-8 play in particular was a back breaker.

Clemson had the ball near midfield trailing 21-7 when Klubnik took off and tried to pick up the first down with his legs. Just before he reached the line to gain, Klubnik started his slide, marking the play dead.

Duke was called for targeting, but because Klubnik slid before he reached the first down marker, it was a dead ball penalty and the Blue Devils got possession. Had Klubnik put his shoulder down or even slid just a second later, Clemson would have picked up the first down.

“I mean we’re still in the game right there. So that was a costly deal,” Swinney said. “But he did a lot of good things. I mean again, he’s a gritty kid. He’s a tough guy. He never quit. And man, I’m glad we’ve got him, because I know who he is, I know what he’s made of, and I know how he’s going to respond.”

Cade Klubnik and the Tigers have a couple of weeks to get things straightened out as Clemson host Charleston Southern and FAU in their next two games, before a likely top 5 Florida State team comes to town.