No. 3 Tigers look for more consistency on offense, defense

CLEMSON - Clemson's fourth consecutive 3-0 start is no surprise. What has caught some off guard is how they have played.

The third-ranked Tigers inconsistency and lack of crispness at times has been somewhat surprising for a team widely expected to earn a fourth straight Atlantic Coast Conference title and College Football Playoff berth.

Whether it's a secondary giving up too many big plays at Texas A&M or a slow-starting offense against Georgia Southern , Clemson has not looked like an unstoppable runaway train.

"We hoped to be 3-0 and we are," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "We have a lot of improving to do."

A year ago, Clemson had a 5-0 September that included decisive, signature wins at top-15 opponents in Louisville and Virginia Tech.

Heading into this season, Clemson appeared loaded at many positions, particularly on the defensive line with four potential high-round NFL draft picks in ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant, and tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence.

The secondary is led by NFL prospect cornerback Trayvon Mullen while the offensive line is anchored by another highly regarded player with pro potential in left tackle Mitch Hyatt.

Both the Tigers leading rusher Travis Etienne and starting quarterback Kelly Bryant are back this year.

Still, there have been many uncomfortable moments in the first three games.

The Aggies rallied from 28-13 down in the final quarter and had a chance to tie at the end of a 28-26 loss.

Clemson had three turnovers and were tied 0-0 after 15 minutes in its 38-7 win over Georgia Southern this past Saturday. It took the Tigers four tries inside the 2 yard line to gain its first TD of the game, something that angered coaches.

"We were disappointed in the turnovers and the slow start," co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said Monday. "We preach all the time, if we protect the ball, we're hard to stop."

Clemson, which totaled 595 yards against the Eagles, figures to get a sterner test when it opens ACC play at Georgia Tech (1-2) on Saturday.

Running back Adam Choice, who had a first-quarter fumble last game, said the offense was moving the ball, but committed crucial mistakes that killed off potential scoring drives.

"That's something we're going to work on this week," he said.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said his starting defensive line has worked hard and played at high level already in the face of enormous expectations.

"They have a lot of pride in what they do," Venables said. "Always have."

The group should help slow down the Yellow Jackets' option offense, which leads the country at 392 yards rushing per game.

Georgia Tech has lost two straight at South Florida and Pitt coming in against the Top-3 Tigers.

Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson said his team is out of synch in key times. "Right now for us, it has to be almost perfect" to advance the ball down the field, he said.

One thing Clemson is certain is not a problem with the offense is its two-quarterback shuffle between Bryant and skilled freshman Trevor Lawrence.

The two have shared time - Bryant's thrown 44 passes while Lawrence has thrown 42 - in the Tigers first three games and Scott, the co-offensive coordinator, said coaches and players understand the QB rotation could continue for a while.

"We're very comfortable with that," he said.

Lawrence played more against Georgia Southern after Bryant suffered a chest bruise in the second quarter. Bryant, a senior, did not play the second half, although Swinney said he's OK and good to go against Georgia Tech.

Swinney was bothered by his team's so-so execution on offense and pledged that it will get better as the season continues.

"We want that hunger to finish these drives, to get all that's there," he said.

By The Associated Press

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sept. 15, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

Record Pts Pv

1. Alabama (58) 3-0 1521 1

2. Georgia 3-0 1416 3

3. Clemson (3) 3-0 1405 2

4. Ohio St. 3-0 1357 4

5. Oklahoma 3-0 1283 5

6. LSU 3-0 1241 12

7. Stanford 3-0 1055 9

8. Notre Dame 3-0 1034 8

9. Auburn 2-1 958 7

10. Washington 2-1 947 10

10. Penn St. 3-0 947 11

12. West Virginia 2-0 841 14

13. Virginia Tech 2-0 816 13

14. Mississippi St. 3-0 790 16

15. Oklahoma St. 3-0 587 24

16. UCF 2-0 556 18

17. TCU 2-1 502 15

18. Wisconsin 2-1 486 6

19. Michigan 2-1 448 19

20. Oregon 3-0 399 20

21. Miami 2-1 362 21

22. Texas A&M 2-1 193 NR

23. Boston College 3-0 130 NR

24. Michigan St. 1-1 86 25

25. BYU 2-1 75 NR

Others receiving votes: Iowa 64, Boise St. 62, Duke 61, Colorado 49, California 40, Kentucky 38, South Florida 14, Texas 12, NC State 10, Arizona St. 9, Missouri 8, Utah 6, San Diego St. 5, North Texas 4, South Carolina 4, Washington St. 2, Syracuse 2.

Amway Coaches Top 25 Poll

The Amway Top 25 football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sept. 15, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and previous ranking:

Record Pts Pvs

1. Alabama (60) 3-0 1572 1

2. Clemson (2) 3-0 1477 2

3. Georgia 3-0 1436 3

4. Ohio State (1) 3-0 1405 4

5. Oklahoma 3-0 1339 5

6. LSU 3-0 1171 13

7. Stanford 3-0 1116 9

8. Notre Dame 3-0 1083 8

9. Penn State 3-0 1070 10

10. Virginia Tech 2-0 927 11

11. Auburn 2-1 921 7

12. Washington 2-1 909 12

13. West Virginia 2-0 824 15

14. Mississippi State 3-0 780 16

15. Oklahoma State 3-0 672 19

16. Wisconsin 2-1 626 6

17. TCU 2-1 508 14

18. UCF 2-0 500 18

19. Oregon 3-0 384 23

20. Miami 2-1 373 20

21. Michigan 2-1 354 22

22. Texas A&M 2-1 150 NR

23. Michigan State 1-1 141 24

24. Boise State 2-1 114 17

25. Boston College 3-0 109 NR

Others receiving votes: Kentucky 98, Duke 55, South Florida 45, Colorado 41, South Carolina 40, Iowa 36, Washington State 35, BYU 30, Missouri 21, N.C. State 19, Appalachian State 13, California 11, Syracuse 11, Cincinnati 10, Utah 10, Texas 9, North Texas 5, Troy 4, Arizona State 3, Florida 3, Minnesota 3, San Diego State 3, Arkansas State 2, Houston 2, Tennessee 2, Vanderbilt 2, Fresno State 1.