CLEMSON — No. 18 Clemson’s offense has become much more than speedy stars C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford.

Just ask starting linebacker Brandon Maye, who hears about it each practice from a mouthy freshman

“Now, we got Dwayne Allen talking trash to us every day,” Maye said of Clemson’s tight end.

There are plenty of Tigers crowing over their expanded roles in Clemson’s revived offense. Tight end Michael Palmer, receiver Xavier Dye and young runners Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper have all become significant contributors as Clemson (7-3, 5-2 ACC) has nearly doubled its scoring average from its first five games to its last five.

The Tigers can clinch a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game with a victory over Virginia (3-7, 2-4) at Death Valley on Saturday.

A big reason has been the stunning turnaround of an offense that had been largely a two-man attack through early October.

Spiller and Ford had nine of Clemson’s 11 touchdowns during a 2-3 start. The duo has scored 12 TDs the last five games. However, 10 other Tigers have added a combined 17 scores as they’ve gone from averaging 24 points a game to 42 during their five-game win streak.

“Our kids finally figured out, ’Hey, if we’re going to be any good, we’ve got to take care of business,”’ Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier said.

Coach Dabo Swinney figured his offensive course was set when Spiller and Ford both passed up the NFL for their senior seasons. After close losses to Georgia Tech, TCU and Maryland early on, some questioned Clemson’s offensive direction.

“We had a lot of drops, guys running the wrong routes and missed assignments on the offensive line,” Palmer said. “Just a bunch of little things where guys were killing drives.”

The flashpoint came against Maryland on Oct. 3. Trailing 24-21, the Tigers drove to Maryland’s 30 or beyond three times in the game’s last four minutes yet came away with nothing.

“That’s something we really took to heart,” Palmer said.

With a bye week ahead, the Tigers worked on crisper execution. Swinney challenged his players and assistants — he and Napier had an angry exchange during one practice — to perform like the special group he believed they were.

That focus was apparent in their next game, a 38-3 blowout over then ACC Atlantic Division leader Wake Forest. Palmer, quarterback Kyle Parker and Harper all scored touchdowns to go with Spiller’s TD runs of 66 and 14 yards.

The new-found versatility was on display again a week later as Clemson accomplished what few thought it could — win a shootout at high-flying Miami.

Spiller and Ford grabbed the headlines — Spiller scored on a momentum changing 90-yard kickoff return just before halftime and Ford caught the 26-yard TD pass in overtime to win the game. However, Swinney praised his offense’s complete performance.

“We really played some good football, in particular on offense,” Swinney said.

The points, victories and varied offensive heroes continued the next three weeks in victories over Coastal Carolina (49-3), Florida State (40-24) and, last Saturday, at North Carolina State (43-23).

Spiller’s backups, Ellington and Harper each had scoring runs of 55 yards or better during that stretch. Tight ends Allen and Durrell Barry caught touchdowns. Slow-starting junior wideout Dye, who quit the Tigers in September, has touchdown grabs in the last three wins.

Virginia coach Al Groh says the reason for Clemson’s offensive rise is Parker’s improvement at quarterback.

The Tigers “have some remarkable playmakers, and he’s very tuned into getting the ball to those playmakers,” Groh said. “So those things work very well” together.

Plus, Clemson’s additional options haven’t slowed Spiller or Ford.

Spiller has had his two biggest individual all-purpose showings in the winning streak — 310 yards against Miami and a school-record 312 vs. Florida State to push himself into the Heisman Trophy race.

Ford ran in a 17-yard score for Clemson’s first touchdown against North Carolina State.

“I think that’s why we’ve been so successful because teams haven’t been able to key in on me and Jacoby,” Spiller said.

That’s the attack Swinney envisioned during summer workouts. He’s glad it gelled in time to turn Clemson’s season. “We’ve had a lot of guys, and that makes it hard” to defend the Tigers, Swinney said. “You can only do so many things.”

And these days, Clemson’s offense seems to have the answer for each one.

 

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