ESPN’s Greg McElroy isn’t completely out on Dabo Swinney, Clemson yet

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What concerns the ESPN analyst this time is not simply the loss itself. It is how Clemson got there and whether some of the issues exposed can realistically be fixed quickly.

McElroy believes Dabo Swinney’s continued preference for developing most of his roster internally can create an early-season disadvantage against teams built heavily through the transfer portal.

“We know they have the money. We know they have the building. We know they have the resources,” McElroy said on Always College Football. “What they don’t have is a head start every time they start the season.”

That became noticeable against LSU.

Clemson had to replace several players who left for the NFL, and while Swinney was more active in the portal than he has been in previous years, the Tigers still leaned heavily on players already inside the program to take larger roles.

McElroy contrasted that approach with LSU’s aggressive use of experienced transfers.

“If you had taken [more] transfers in, they might already be on third base, whereas Clemson is trying to get them from first to third in an offseason,” McElroy said.

The offensive problems went well beyond one position, too.

Christopher Vizzina entered the game as Clemson’s starting quarterback before freshman Tait Reynolds received an opportunity, but McElroy saw problems throughout the unit. Protection broke down, receivers struggled to separate, the running game offered little help and the offense rarely appeared capable of making LSU uncomfortable.

“He’s not the exclusive reason,” McElroy said of Vizzina.

That is what makes Clemson’s response worth watching.

Swinney has already shown more willingness to adjust than in previous seasons. Clemson brought in a career-high number of transfers and reunited with Chad Morris in hopes of giving the offense another spark.

McElroy expected those moves to produce more noticeable changes.

“I do like Chad Morris still. I think he’s a good coach,” McElroy said. “Thinking this offense might change a bit, yet it didn’t change at all.”

There is still precedent for Clemson recovering.

The Tigers were crushed 34-3 by Georgia to open the 2024 season, endured weeks of criticism and eventually recovered well enough to win the ACC Championship and reach the College Football Playoff.

That memory is why McElroy is hesitant to declare Clemson finished now.

“We have seen this program climb out of bad news cycles before,” he said.

But Clemson’s challenge may be bigger than simply ignoring outside criticism and improving as the season progresses.

The Tigers have already started making some of the changes people spent years demanding. Now they have to prove those changes are enough.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: ESPN’s Greg McElroy isn’t completely out on Dabo Swinney, Clemson yet

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