Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee address Clemson struggles, Dabo Swinney rant

There is understandably some frustration at Clemson with the way the season is playing out. That led to an upset fan calling the Dabo Swinney call-in show this week and asking what the Tigers head coach has done this year to deserve his $11.5 million salary.

Needless to say, Swinney wasn’t a fan of the question and fired back at the fan with a fiery rant.

The ESPN College GameDay crew discussed what Swinney had to say, as well as what’s going on at the moment at Clemson, on Saturday morning.

“This is obviously unchartered territory for the recent history of the Clemson Tigers, but you’re always going to be a victim of your success, if you have it. Because then expectations are going to be unrealistic,” Pat McAfee said.

“But Dabo’s going to have to get this turned around, because the expectations out of that Clemson Tigers fanbase are always going to be, ‘You’re going to have to win.’ And they don’t look anywhere near where they looked a few years ago.”

Fellow ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit shared what he sees as the biggest problem for Clemson at the moment.

To Herbstreit, it’s one position group in particular that is lacking, compared to past years.

“The one common thing I see – because I still think they play defense – I don’t see the receivers that they had four years ago, five years ago, six years ago,” Herbstreit said. “I’m not even talking about Mike Williams and the guys that go on to the NFL. I’m just talking about really good – Artavis Scott type of guys that make plays. They’ve had some big recruits, but they haven’t hit there in recruiting.”

ESPN College GameDay analyst Desmond Howard also weighed in. Howard said that he spoke recently with ACC Network analyst EJ Manuel, as well as a couple of coaches that have faced Clemson this year.

According to Howard, he was told the same as Herbstreit believes — the problems are on the offensive side of the ball.

“They said the defense is intact. They’re stout. They really have some good secondary players. But the offense, they don’t have the difference makers at wideout, or at the running back position. Now Will Shipley is a weapon, but they weren’t using him right, or they weren’t using them to his full potential,” Howard said.

“And now he’s not going to be in the game today against Notre Dame. But Cade Klubnik, he’s been an issue offensively. Everyone loves the backup quarterback. He came in for DJ, right? He showed some flashes. Like, ‘yea, the future’s bright at the quarterback position.’ But then he got the keys to the car, and he started playing hero ball at times he shouldn’t, and that has cost them in some big games.”