Clemson offense can find its groove on the ground

CLEMSON — Chad Morris has been a record producer.

As the Clemson University offensive coordinator, Morris has churned out smash hits with an explosive vertical passing attack and a perimeter running game.

In 2012, Morris directed Clemson to school records for total offense (512.7 yards) and points (41) per game. The following season, Clemson remixed that standard, averaging 507.7 yards and 40.2 points per game.

Yet, this season, Clemson has slipped on the charts. Those figures have dropped to 432 yards and 32 points per game.

"Outside of listening to music, I don't know that there is much rhythm right now," Morris said Saturday, shaking his head, after Clemson mustered merely 16 points against Syracuse.

Clemson has produced merely three touchdowns through its last 77 possessions. Yet, on Saturday, at least for one drive, Clemson finally found a groove.

Clemson reclaimed possession at its own 24-yard line with a 10-point lead and 8:17 remaining in the game.

The first play, a rush from redshirt freshman running back Wayne Gallman, yielded a one-yard loss. Morris followed with a pass to the edge, a quick strike from quarterback Cole Stoudt to receiver Artavis Scott. Morris called a similar pass two downs later.

After that, the only time the ball was airborne was during the shotgun snap.

Clemson drained the clock with 10 consecutive rushes. Excluding the final snap, on which Stoudt kneeled, Clemson netted 50 rushing yards on 12 carries.

Clemson averaged 4.2 yards per carry along that drive, a yard more than it averaged through its previous 14 possessions.

Gallman rushed for 24 yards on nine carries. D.J. Howard gained eight on his lone touch of the game. Stoudt even pulled the ball on a pair of zone option reads and added 18 yards.

"There were some key situations that they were crowding the box, and the only answer was for a quarterback run," Morris said. "I wasn't going to throw the football. I wasn't going to put it in the air."

The one-dimensional strategy was prudent, considering the wayward passes Morris observed earlier in the game.

Stoudt completed 20 of 21 pass attempts behind the line of scrimmage. That included the pre-snap jet motion quick flips, screens and dumps Morris considers an extension of the rushing attack. Clemson gained 138 yards on those completions.

However, Stoudt completed merely four of 14 attempts beyond the line of scrimmage. That included the 19-yard touchdown he tossed earlier in the fourth quarter— but also two interceptions.

Thus, with a chance to confine Syracuse to the sideline and seal the victory, Morris grounded his offense.

"We were going to run the football and I told them that, 'We are running the football,'" Morris said emphatically. "Cole was going to have to make some plays and pull the ball in some situations, and he did that in two critical situations, which was key. It allowed rhythm to go."

Clemson should attempt to loop that final drive.

Until Stoudt exhibits better accuracy on deep throws, or until starter Deshaun Watson returns from injury, Morris may generate rhythm by deemphasizing the vertical passing game and centering the offense on the ground.

Clemson converted merely four of its first 14 third-down plays Saturday. The Tigers converted twice on third down during that final drive.

It was Clemson's longest drive of the season by nearly two full minutes. Among the 120 drives Clemson has recorded this season, merely five have been sustained longer than five minutes.

Morris has desired to establish an assertive rushing game since he arrived at Clemson, to pound teams on the perimeter and inside the box, and then stun them over the top with play-action passes.

However, at least temporarily, the vertical passing game may present more risk than reward. Clemson was able grind out yardage and clock without it-- and even when Syracuse was expecting the run.

Clemson should be able to replicate that rhythm from the start of the game– even if it induces the record producer to change his tune.

"As a play-caller, you want to be aggressive," Morris said. "I'm aggressive by nature. I want to push the envelope and right now, we're not there. So, we've just got to keep playing, keep fighting and keep scratching."

Follow Manie Robinson on Twitter @ManieBeingManie.