Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney told reporters this summer he'd be raked over the coals if the team failed this season due to not making an aggressive push for a quarterback in the transfer portal.

The offense, and quarterback play, has been a big reason for Clemson's three losses this season. Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds' mistake at the end of the loss to Virginia Tech stands out as an example of issues with the offense this season. Certainly, Clemson's 18-13 win over Syracuse on Saturday shows how long the Tigers have to go before they're a force in the ACC. 

There's no doubting that Swinney can still be a great coach at Clemson. But some have suggested he might need help with the roster as college football has changed in recent seasons with the transfer portal and NIL.

A strong general manager could be a solution for Clemson. That would allow the GM to make decisions, like adding help for the offense in the transfer portal, while Swinney figures out how to develop talent and coach them on Saturdays. 

When speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Swinney said he didn't think that would be the right fit for the Tigers.

"I'm gonna make the roster decisions as the head coach," Swinney said, via video from Fox Carolina.

He added that he wouldn't make all of the roster decisions, as the staff collectively decides who they need. Swinney doesn't want to hire an outsider to tell him who will be on the roster, as he doesn't think that dynamic would work.

Is Swinney's plan for the roster working now? 

For the second season in a row, the Tigers will miss the College Football Playoff in a 12-team format. The fall off with Swinney has been steep. It's clear he hasn't built the right roster to compete in the ACC.

For Clemson to be competitive, it will have to make some sort of change. Either Swinney needs adapt to the new ways of college football, or the program will have to step in for the better.

Swinney still has a chance to have a quality season. Clemson would need to win out against Georgia Tech, Duke, and South Carolina.

The Blue Devils and Gamecocks will be tough outs for the Tigers. A nine-win season with a win over the Gamecocks wouldn't be the same as the CFP, but it would show some progress for a young team.