Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney likens his new offensive coordinator's system to returning home after years abroad, hinting at past struggles under his predecessor.
Clemson entered the 2025 campaign believing they could build off the momentum they gained toward the end of 2024, when the team made and won the ACC championship despite having three losses.
The Tigers looked competitive early in the first round of the College Football Playoff against Texas.
With quarterback Cade Klubnik and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley returning, Clemson appeared prime to contend for the ACC championship again and be a better threat in the CFP.
Instead, the Tigers were beaten by LSU in Week 1, and things didn't get much better from there. Clemson finished the season 7-6, and Klubnik's draft stock has plummeted.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made significant changes to the staff, moving on from Riley. Swinney named Chad Morris as the new offensive coordinator amid a serious quarterback battle this spring.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Swinney told reporters that Morris' offense is a breath of fresh air. He compared Riley's offense to "living in Spain."
"It’s not new to me,” Swinney said of the offense, via On3. “It’s like I’m back in America after living in Spain for three years. … It was fun to learn something different and all that. But, yeah, I’m living back in Pelham, Alabama, you know?”
Morris uses offensive terminology that Swinney is more familiar with. Different coaches use different words for routes and concepts.
“What do you call it? In the Air Raid, you call it ’92’— it’s called mesh. It’s called 618, some people call it ‘Stick,’" Swinney said. "What do you call four verts in the Air Raid? It’s ‘Six’. For three years, because I kind of let all that go, but it was fun.”
Morris hasn't been living in America for five years.
Morris was last an offensive coordinator for Auburn during the 2020 season. In 2021, he coached at Allen High School. He served as an offensive analyst for Clemson in 2023.
He worked with Texas State as a wide receivers and passing game coordinator in 2024.
Spring football is the time to iron out those terminology quirks before training camp. Clemson will have 15 spring practices to learn Morris' system.
No doubt, many of Clemson's returning players were familiar with how Riley ran the show. Morris is bringing significant changes.
Changes needed to happen this offseason to put Clemson back on the right track.
It'll be interesting to see if Morris can get the offense to be a threat again.