ACC Football Power Rankings, Week 5: Clemson spirals out of control

12. Clemson Tigers (2-2, 1-1)

Lots have been said and written about the Clemson Tigers after their loss to North Carolina State this past Saturday. After the loss to Georgia, they were given grace because the Bulldogs’ boa constrictor defense has done this to everyone.

Then there were 14 points against Georgia Tech. Was this more about the exponential improvement by the Yellowjackets, or was something amiss with Clemson’s offense? Even so, it was easy to say, “their defense will keep them in games until the offense gets it together.”

Well, against North Carolina State, the defense needed the offense to make a play, and they could not. Clemson mustered just 214 yards of offense and ten first downs. Clemson’s defense held the Wolfpack scoreless for two quarters, and the offense could do nothing.

The offense did lose two of the best players in school history, Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. That should not be dismissed. Sometimes it is not how many you lose; it is who you lose. Of all of their issues on offense, the trenches are the most problematic.

There are four former four-stars on this line, and it is the most talented offensive line Dabo Swiney has had at Clemson. The offensive line play, however, gets position coaches fired.