Dabo Swinney: Clemson coaches to blame for third-and-1 pass in OT

Clemson was driving to try and match Florida State with a touchdown in overtime on Saturday when a surprising pass play was called on third-and-short.

With the Tigers facing third and less than a yard, quarterback Cade Klubnik faked a handoff to running back Will Shipley and fired a pass to the left to receiver Adam Randall. The sophomore caught the pass but ended up losing a yard on the play, leading to a fourth-and-2. Klubnik’s fourth down attempt fell incomplete as Clemson dropped its second game of the year by the end of September, falling 31-24.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney was asked after the game what led to the third down pass play and said the coaching staff was to blame.

“At the end there, the third-and-1, just situationally we’ve gotta be better as coaches there and help our quarterback. That ball’s gotta get handed off,” Swinney said.

Clemson called a run-pass option on the third-and-1, and Klubnik threw it outside where the Tigers had three receivers, with only two FSU defensive backs. That is the correct read in most cases. However, Swinney said Klubnik should know in that situation that Clemson needs to run the ball. Still, he said the coaching staff was the most at fault.

“That’s on us,” Swinney said. “We expect him to hand the ball off right there. That’s kind of situational awareness, but that’s where we can be better as coaches. That’s one of those things where yea it’s built in, but again, we can help him right there with just making it a lock call and not even having that as an option. But situationally we’ve gotta learn from it.”

It was overall a well-played game by Klubnik.

The sophomore was 25 of 38 passing for 283 yards, with a passing touchdown and rushing touchdown. He took big hits time and time again and stayed in the game and made plays.

However, he also made a couple of critical mistakes. That includes the third-and-1 decision to pass.

“A young player that’s growing situationally, he’s gotta know that, as well,” Swinney said. “So a lot that we can do better. In a game like that you look back and there’s a play or two.”

Clemson is now 2-2 (0-2) with the loss, while Florida State is 4-0 (2-0). The Tigers play at Syracuse next Saturday, while Florida State has a bye next weekend. The Seminoles will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 7 against Virginia Tech.