Clemson may have finally figured out how to use Cade Klubnik

Originally posted on FanNation All Clemson
By Christian Goeckel | Last updated 10/1/23

Football has always been a game of innovation; no two teams play the game exactly the same. It has, however, always been a sport of trends. Flexbone, Power I, Veer Option, I-Formation, Read Option, Air Raid, and the Spread, all had times when they pushed their way to the top of college football's hierarchy.

There have also been trends in how teams evaluate and utilize players. For a long time, 6-foot-3 220-pound quarterbacks were the standard. Now, teams want the size, but they're more willing to work with a quarterback's strengths and will design a system to work around them. One just needs to look to the NFL to see the two paths most elite quarterbacks are taking.

On one hand, you have the teams that want to get the ball out of the quarterback's hand in a hurry, distributing to playmakers. Think Tom Brady. There were multiple games where Brady's TT (Time To Throw) was nearly 2 seconds. On the other hand, you have players like Patrick Mahomes, who improvise more, extending plays with their legs and allowing their teammates to buy time. In 2023, Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, and Deshaun Watson, three of the NFL's best, are all right around 3 seconds for their TT.

That brings us to Clemson's Cade Klubnik. The performances thus far have been clunky and inconsistent. Yes, he's put up some yards in games, but it wasn't until Saturday's game at Syracuse that we saw him be consistently explosive. Klubnik had two throws that went for 40+ yards in the game, he had just one through four games.

The opening touchdown to Troy Stellato was made by Klubnik extending the play, flipping his hips, and delivering a strike to the endzone. In weeks past, it's felt like Klubnik was trying to get the ball out as soon as he could. On Saturday, it looked like he was letting the game come to him and making plays. Hopefully, Garrett Riley and the offensive staff can work with that and allow him to be the five-star everyone thought he could.

This article first appeared on FanNation All Clemson and was syndicated with permission.

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