Cade Klubnik's Potential in Garrett Riley's Offense: A Game-Changer for Clemson

Saturday afternoon, Clemson football finished their first scrimmage of fall camp. As we head towards kickoff of the Duke game next month, Tiger fans are excited to watch quarterback Cade Klubnik's potential in the new offensive system under Coordinator Garrett Riley.

Let's examine how Klubnik's skills align with Riley's offensive strategies after one scrimmage and what this means for the Tigers heading into 2023.

Klubnik is an energetic and talented young quarterback who showcased his abilities as a freshman in 2022, completing 61-of-100 career passes for 697 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in 224 snaps over ten games (one start). He also rushed 42 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Despite his accomplishments, there are concerns about his pocket presence and the pressure of improving Clemson's passing game, which ranked 61st in the nation last season.

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On the other hand, Riley brings a reputation for innovative and high-powered offensive strategies as the air raid arrives in Clemson. Riley transformed TCU’s offense from a struggling unit in 2021 to the nation's ninth-ranked scoring offense in 2022, with 38.8 points per game and 22 plays from scrimmage of 50 yards or more. His success earned him the 2022 Broyles Award, presented annually to the nation's top assistant coach.

Following Clemson’s scrimmage on Saturday, Swinney noted that the offense was using the entire field, including several big plays from Cole Turner, indicating that the scheme is working well.

“Huge play down the sideline-- two or three. I think he was the leading receiver, maybe him and Brinny (Jake Briningstool), about four catches or so,” Swinney noted. “We spread the ball all over. We had a bunch of guys touch it, which is going to happen in what we're doing.”

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Cade Klubnik and Garrett Riley speak during Clemson’s spring game in April.

Riley's offensive philosophy revolves around an up-tempo and creative approach, incorporating a balanced mix of both passing and running plays to exploit defensive weaknesses. This balance and his ability to establish the run game effectively contributed to TCU's offensive prowess.

If you didn’t know this, take note: This is the same offense that Kliff Kingsbury ran at Texas A&M when QB Johnny Manziel ran roughshod over the SEC to a Heisman Trophy win as a freshman. 

Klubnik's combination of arm talent, athleticism, and football IQ makes him a promising fit for Riley's offensive schemes. His accurate throws, quick decision-making, and ability to extend plays with his legs could complement Riley's strategies well.

It wasn’t a perfect day for Klubnik as he did have a pick-six to fellow Cade-- Denhoff, who returned the mistake for a score.

"It was a zone pressure call, and just kind of fooled him a little bit,” Swinney noted of the mistake. “Denhoff dropped into a hook zone. ‘Quarterback’ Cade just didn't see it. It was just a good call and a heck of a catch."

However, adapting to a new system and building chemistry with the receiving corps might pose challenges, especially given the roster's injury history, but some young names are emerging, according to Swinney.

"Noble (Johnson), Tink (Kelley), and Tyler (Brown) are really in a good spot. Noble is a big-body dude, that's made progress since the spring. He's had a couple of pretty good days together,” Swinney said.

“Hopefully, we can stay healthy and really bring these guys along at the proper pace and develop some elite depth. Tyler had a big play today. Misun (Tink Kelley) is just a natural football. He's a baller. He's got no fear. We just need them to really develop into the depth players that we need.”

As we anticipate the upcoming season, how Klubnik will perform in Riley's offense remains to be seen. Clemson's chances of success are undoubtedly heightened if he can quickly capitalize on his strengths and adjust to the new system.

Only time will tell how this quarterback-coordinator pairing unfolds against other programs, but it certainly creates excitement and intrigue for Clemson football fans.

Honestly, after one scrimmage, there is still a lot to be determined, but flashback to Manziel-- now imagine another quarterback from the state of Texas, wearing No. 2 and making plays in a Mike Leach-designed offense-- I’ll take it.

What are your thoughts on this quarterback situation? Share your opinions in the comments below, and stay tuned for more updates from ClemsonSportsTalk.com.

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