Clemson Insider: As Boyd goes, so goes Clemson

NOTES Clemson was held to just 153 yards of total offense in its 34-13 loss to South Carolina on Saturday. That was a season-low total, as were the Tigers' total first downs (12), completions (11) and passing yards (83). Clemson lost to South Carolina for a third consecutive season. That's the first time that has happened since the Gamecocks won three in a row from 1968-70. Clemson's defeat was its first in a night game in Columbia since 1987. The Tigers had beaten the Gamecocks five straight times in night games in the state capital. Clemson slipped to No. 21 in both major polls, but remained ranked for an 11th consecutive week -- the longest such streak for the program since 2001. KEEP AN EYE ON: QB Tajh Boyd -- As Boyd goes, so goes Clemson. So it's really no surprise that Boyd's recent struggles have resulted in the Tigers losing three of their last four games. Boyd's confidence appears shaken, and he's been playing more like the first-year starter he is, rather than the seasoned veteran he appeared to be in the Tigers' 8-0 start. Boyd was intercepted just three times in Clemson's first eight games; in the last four he's been picked off seven times. "I'm not naive enough to think you're going to have a first-year quarterback and it's all going to go perfect for him," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "We've got to get him refocused on the things he can do well and the things he's done well and just let him go play. He's obviously very capable." LOOKING GOOD: After enduring a flurry of turnovers in recent games -- the Tigers committed 11 turnovers in three games prior to their game at South Carolina on Saturday -- Clemson appeared to have resolved its ball-control issues against the Gamecocks. Clemson didn't fumble, and the lone turnover came late in the game when Tajh Boyd was intercepted. "We did better, but we lost the turnover margin again," coach Dabo Swinney said. Still, the one miscue represented a considerable improvement for a team that had lost five fumbles and been picked off six times in the previous three games. STILL NEEDS WORK: Clemson's offensive line is hurting. Starting LT Phillip Price played just one series against South Carolina, and the Tigers were unable to provide adequate protection for QB Tajh Boyd, who was sacked a season-high five times. Two of the sacks were attributable to Boyd, but three were credited to poor blocking and missed assignments, coach Dabo Swinney said. "It's a combination of technique, fundamentals and injuries and also the quarterback doing what he's supposed to do," Swinney said. "It's hard to win a ballgame when you don't protect the quarterback." PLAYER NOTES QB Tajh Boyd broke Clemson's single-season records for touchdown passes and touchdowns passing and rushing combined when he threw a nine-yard scoring pass to Dwayne Allen against South Carolina. Boyd's 28th touchdown toss of the season broke the record of 27 set by Cullen Harper in 2007 and his 32nd touchdown overall broke that record of 31 set by Woody Dantzler in 2001. TE Dwayne Allen's touchdown reception was his sixth of the season -- the second-most by a tight end in school history. He's just one shy of the record set by Bennie Cunningham in 1974. Senior DE Andre Branch had two sacks against South Carolina, giving him 10.5 for the season. That's tied for the fourth-best single-season total in school history. Reserve TE Drew Traylor blocked a punt in the first half -- the first blocked kick of any kind this year for the Tigers and the first of Traylor's career. ROSTER REPORT OT Phillip Price, who strained his MCL on Nov. 12 and missed the N.C. State game and played just one series against South Carolina, is probable for the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 3. LB Tony Steward, who tore his ACL in practice on Oct. 18, is out for the season. QUOTE TO NOTE "You've got to take the good with the bad, and we have had a lot of bad these last couple of weeks." -- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney on the Tigers' recent woes.