CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Morris hoping
Stanton Seckinger celebrates a touchdown against Syracuse.

Morris hoping "Uncle Mo" about to put on his orange shirt


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Chad Morris Chad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
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hopes that Uncle Mo is getting ready to put on an orange shirt.

Clemson’s offense has faced suspensions and injuries during a star-crossed 2014 season, but the Tigers have managed to win five in a row on the back of a strong defense. Morris hopes the offense is about ready to chip in and do its part.

“We are able to win despite some of the situations we have had, which is a good thing,” Morris said. Thursday in the WestZone. “I would much rather have it that way than the other way. I know what it's like to be sitting up here after playing really well but making a couple of mistakes and losing a ballgame we should have won. I think it's a matter of time. Eventually, things will have to start bouncing our way. Maybe our luck is changing, and maybe Uncle Mo has himself an orange shirt and he hasn't put it on yet but maybe has him one. We aren’t going to panic and we are going to get some guys back in the near future and that is going to help everybody.”

Morris said the offense would function a lot better if it would just finish drives.

“We have been one of the top teams in the country in red zone offense. The thing I would say right now is we are putting drives together and we aren't finishing,” Morris said. “We are getting so close and getting ready to walk into the end zone and we drop a pitch. We make a great cut and a safety makes a shoe string tackle and he falls down. Have a great throw to Adam HumphriesAdam Humphries
Sr. Wide Receiver
#13 5-11, 193
Spartanburg, SC

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in the flats and he is ruled out. We just aren't finishing drives. We are not bogging down the whole time. It's just our inability to finish a drive. We just have to execute - we have 10 guys doing the right thing and one guy does the wrong thing. We have a guy miss a block out on the edge. It's getting 11 guys on the same page and getting them doing the same thing on a consistent basis.

“We are able to win despite some of the situations we have had, which is a good thing. I would much rather have it that way than the other way. I know what it's like to be sitting up here after playing really well but making a couple of mistakes and losing a ballgame we should have won. I think it's a matter of time. Eventually, things will have to start bouncing our way. Maybe our luck is changing, and maybe Uncle Mo has himself an orange shirt and he hasn't put it on yet but maybe has him one.”

Prior to the 2012 season, Morris and his staff visited with Nevada head oach Chris Ault to learn more about the Pistol formation and offense. Morris had hoped the Pistol would create running lanes for Andre EllingtonAndre Ellington
Running Back (2008 - 2012)
#23 5-10, 195
Moncks Corner, SC

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and help out an inexperienced offensive line.

With Clemson’s offensive line struggling this season, I asked Morris about using the Pistol and he said the staff has discussed using it. However, based on their study of similar spread offenses that led the country in rushing, they concluded that the current zone-read was the better option because it provides a quicker read for the quarterback.

"When you're in the Pistol and you're running the zone read, you're actually bumping your quarterback back a yard from that defensive end,” Morris said. “That was one of the things we felt like we maybe didn't get to the end quick enough with Tajh (Boyd) at times. So maybe putting our back in an offset position, we're creating more of a true downhill run with the backs that we're wanting, and give them the ability to break it both front door and back door on the zone. And that's critical on any inside zone, is the ability to bend it back. And then again, getting that quarterback just one yard or one step closer to that defensive end that he's reading would maybe allow us to get to the end quicker.”

Other notes

On what Watson’s running ability brings to the offense

“I think any quarterback - regardless of who it is - it isn't going to be perfect and won't be blocked perfect every time. You have to step up in the pocket and make some guys miss and set a rush point and know when to slide and keep your eyes down the field. Deshaun was doing that really, really well. We call it hitch, hitch, throw or go - knowing when to go and when to take off. There were several times the other night that Cole did a job of that and would get down. The one thing that Deshaun brings that as he moves in the pocket and steps up his eyes are constantly down the field looking for that next guy that is coming open down the field. People are having to cover the receivers for an extended period of time and can't come off the receivers. I think we saw that out there when he hit Artavis ScottArtavis Scott
Fr. Wide Receiver
#3 5-11, 190
Oldsmar, FL

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a few weeks ago. “

Stanton SeckingerStanton Seckinger
RS Jr. Tight End
#81 6-4, 241
Isle of Palms, SC

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“Stanton Seckinger is working out at both tight end and wide receiver. He has had some big time catches in key moments in games. He has been able to provide a little bit of a spark there.”

Who is the starting running back?

“It's Wayne [Gallman]. It's definitely Wayne. I thought he did a great job and carried the ball 28 times. I thought Wayne did a much better job this week than he did the week before in setting up his blocks. Wayne is such a violent runner and so fast and everything he does is full speed. The average person would say that's a great thing, but when you're running a zone and have to set your blocks and see the down linemen and be able to make the cut off the down linemen you can't be at full speed. You have to have a feel for it and I thought he did a good job of that last week, knowing when to slow down and hit it back door. I thought C.J. ran hard. We had to have a drive the other night, but it's unfortunate that he took his eye off the ball or he walks into the endzone. He will keep responding.”

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