Chad Morris may no longer be drawing up plays inside Memorial Stadium, but the former Clemson offensive coordinator remains deeply tied to the Tigers. In a wide-ranging conversation on our daily radio show, Morris addressed several hot-button topics for Clemson fans: the narrative around Dabo Swinney “meddling” in offensive play-calling and the development of senior quarterback Cade Klubnik.
For years, when Clemson’s offense hit a rough stretch, a familiar refrain has circulated: Swinney is in the headset, dictating plays and handcuffing his coordinators. Morris, who helped build the foundation of Clemson’s up-tempo spread attack from 2011–14, pushed back strongly on that idea.
“First of all, I love my Tigers, and I am Clemson through and through. That’s a program that’s so passionate and so deep into the Morris family and who we are—it’s so much about the Clemson Tigers,” he said.
“There’s nothing Coach Swinney would do to come in and try to meddle in anything. Coach Swinney is about everybody being aligned and on the same page. He’d come in and say, ‘Hey, what about a screen here?’ or ‘What about a run here?’ That’s what head coaches do. They see the game from another angle.”
Morris explained that as a play-caller, he welcomed those moments of input. Being on the sideline allowed him to connect with players like Tajh Boyd, but it also narrowed his view. A reminder from the head coach could be the difference between a missed opportunity and a game-changing call.
“Sometimes you’re looking through a straw, and you’ve got to have people around you saying, ‘Let’s think about this.’ As far as ‘meddling’—no, I don’t agree with any of that.”
Morris also turned his attention to Clemson’s current quarterback. Klubnik has faced scrutiny after early struggles against LSU and Troy. The senior entered his senior season after throwing for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2024 and was expected to contend for the Heisman Trophy.
Through the first two games of 2025, Klubnik has completed 37 of 62 passes for 426 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions (59.7%). That’s a slower start compared to last season, but Morris emphasized that patience is key.
“I think the biggest thing right now—and I recruited Cade—is just patience. The older you get, the game slows down. There’s so much buildup from the media, from the fan base—the pressure that sits on the quarterback. Sometimes guys have just got to play through it.”
To help quarterbacks refocus, Morris often used what he called the “ABC” method: three simple reminders written on a wristband. He used it with Deshaun Watson and his son Chandler Morris (QB at Virginia) and now sees it as fitting for Klubnik.
“ABC stood for three things: when things aren’t going well and there are a thousand things to think of, let’s focus on three. Maybe A is eye placement, B is breathe, C could be release point or footwork. Every quarterback’s three things are different, but it keeps them grounded.”
Despite the ups and downs, Morris expressed confidence in Klubnik’s trajectory.
“Cade’s a tremendous quarterback. I think things are going to work themselves out. Sometimes you have to go through challenging times. Do the simple things really well, and everything else will come into play.”
For fans frustrated by play-calling chatter or quarterback inconsistency, Morris’ message was clear: Swinney empowers, not interferes, and Klubnik has the tools to lead.
In Morris’ words, his connection to the program hasn’t wavered: “First of all, it’s an honor to be on here talking Clemson Tiger football. I think the fan base in Clemson is as good as they get. I’ve been all over this country, and in good and bad times they’re always going to show up—and that’s what you love about that.”
