Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris greets receiver Jaylen Brown-Wallace (86) during practice in the at the Allen N. Reeves Sports Complex in Clemson, S.C. Friday, August 7, 2026. Mac Scarce Thu, October 22, 2026 at 2:39 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clemson's passing offense is in trouble, ranking 138th in the nation for passing touchdowns. Offensive coordinator Chad Morris admits the unit has not found success in the air. The team faces Virginia Tech this weekend and must fix these issues to keep their season hopes alive.
The numbers tell a clear story of a stalled attack. The Tigers sit at 111th in average passing yards per game. They are last in the country for scoring via the pass. Even in a 37-0 win over Charleston Southern on Oct. 17, the team threw for only 207 yards and zero touchdowns. More than a month ago, specifically on Sept. 19 versus North Carolina, they last scored a touchdown.
Current struggles look nothing like the start of Morris' first stint at Clemson back in 2011. In his initial six games during that year, quarterback Tajh Boyd completed 15 touchdowns. The team started 6-0 with a much better air attack. Morris notes the difference in production between then and now.
"There hadn't been much success at all in that regard," Morris said, according to Yahoo Sports . He points to timing and execution as the main hurdles. The receivers and quarterback must be on the same page for plays to work. Morris believes the unit is still a work in progress as they try to get everyone aligned.
Head coach Dabo Swinney has defended the freshman quarterback, Tait Reynolds. Swinney praised Reynolds' poise and decision-making after the recent game. He did not blame the young player for the lack of scores. "I thought it was Tait's best game," he said. The coach sees improvement in how Reynolds handles pressure compared to his first start.
While the quarterback gets some credit, the wide receiver group faces harsh criticism. The team took many deep shots against Charleston Southern, but the catches did not come. Junior receiver T.J. Moore was the target on several plays that failed due to drops or tough defense.
Swinney and Morris did not sugarcoat the issues with Moore. They expect more from a position group that was supposed to be the team's best. "T.J. probably had his worst game as a Tiger," Swinney said. He added that it was likely the worst performance the player has had since joining the program.
The entire receiver room must improve to help the offense. Swinney compared the situation to basketball, noting that one player cannot carry the load alone. The unit needs to make the catches when the ball comes their way. Without this, the passing game will remain stuck at the bottom of the rankings.
Clemson enters the back half of the season with a tough test against Virginia Tech. Nationally, the Hokies' rushing defense ranks as the No. 10 unit. They give up 227.3 passing yards per game and have allowed nine passing touchdowns. The Tigers need to find a way to move the ball through the air to win.
A loss would likely end any chance of being in the mix for the ACC title come November. A win keeps the dream of a 10-2 season and an ACC Championship game alive. The team has to fix the passing game quickly to have a shot at these goals. Defense and special teams have carried them so far, but that might not be enough against a strong opponent.
The path forward requires better execution on every play. Morris knows the plays are there to be made, but the team must make them. The timing of the receivers and the quarterback needs to be perfect. If they can get on the same page, the offense could finally start to move forward.
Fans have seen the team win games, but the passing game has been a weak point. The coaching staff is aware of the problem and is working to solve it.
Source: Sports
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