1999 Clemson Football Outlook

Aug. 11, 1999

Clemson made significant improvement offensively over the course of the 1998 season. The young offense had to replace four-year starters Nealon Greene, Raymond Priester, Tony Horne, Glenn Rountree and Jim Bundren. All five made professional football rosters in 1998.

As a result, Clemson got off to a slow start offensively in 1998, averaging just 15.3 points, 273 yards total offense and 12.4 first downs per game for the first seven games of the season. But, over the last four games of the year, Clemson averaged 27.8 points, 361 yards of total offense, 222 yards passing and 20 first downs per game. The Tigers had 39 points and 440 yards total offense against NC State on October 31, season highs against the Wolfpack team that held Florida State to seven points.

Clemson had more points in the last four games, than it had in the first seven games combined. The Tigers had nine touchdown passes over the last four games, compared to just four total in the first nine games.

Clemson started eight underclassmen on offense over the last four games, meaning the Tigers should have some experience on offense at the beginning of the 1999 season.

Here is a comparison of the Clemson offense for the first seven games with the final four contests:

  Category          1st 7 games  Last 4 games Points/Game           15.3         27.8 Total Offense          273          361 Rushing/Game         109.6        139.3 Passing Yards/Game   163.3        221.8 Firstdowns/Game       12.4         19.8 Completion %          .510         .556 3rd down Conv. %      .235         .446 Touchdowns/Game       1.86         3.75 Touchdown Passes         4            9 Passing Efficiency   105.5        126.6