Penn State ‘Gunslinger’ Sean Clifford eyes increased accuracy
The coronavirus robbed him of appropriate use of his “gun” and left him without much to sling to over the past 12 weeks. But Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford still proudly plays the part.
Clifford on Wednesday was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the word “GUNSLINGER” at the top, followed by a dictionary-like pronunciation and definition.
“I saw it on an Instagram ad or something, and I said, ‘That’s me! I’ve gotta have that!’ ” Clifford said during a video conference call with media.
While the redshirt junior initially seemed embarrassed at his unintentional choice of apparel for his first public comments in months, Clifford ultimately acknowledged, “I think it’s a cool little sweatshirt.”
That he threw just seven interceptions among his 326 attempts in 12 games last season while considering himself “a gunslinger” is in part a testament to the vast potential Clifford has for his final two years of college eligibility. A darkhorse Heisman candidate, Clifford is coming off a season in which he took over for three-year starter Trace McSorley and had 2,849 passing yards, 23 touchdown passes and a 59.2% completion percentage.
It is that latter category where Clifford has the most room to grow. It’s an area Clifford said new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca has identified for improvement.
“With footwork and a good solid platform will come better accuracy, which (Ciarrocca) thinks that I have a very good capability of having — and I am very confident in that, too,” the 6-foot-2, 219-pound Clifford said. “And with better footwork, better platform, being able to drive the ball better off my last step, off the hitch step, I think that’s going to pay dividends throughout the year.”
Ciarrocca was hired in December to replace Ricky Rahne, who’d been the Nittany Lions’ offensive coordinator the past two seasons before accepting the head coach job at Old Dominion. Ciarrocca ran the offense at Minnesota the past two seasons, helping guide 6-2, 215-pound redshirt sophomore quarterback Tanner Morgan to a 11-2 record, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The similarities between Morgan and Clifford end at completion percentage, where Morgan’s 66% rate was 7 points higher than Clifford’s.
Clifford said the offense is adding more variety in the dropbacks out of the shotgun.
All of the interactions between the coordinator and his quarterback over the past 2½ months, of course, have been over the phone because of coronavirus pandemic protocols.
“I’m just excited to really get to work on (accuracy) with coach Ciarrocca in person instead of just sending videos or talking it over on a film session,” Clifford said. “(Aaccuracy) is kind of where I am trying to take the next step.”
The only time Kirk Ciarrocca had an opportunity to watch #PennState quarterback Sean Clifford throw a football, he didn’t pay close attention. https://t.co/Ee3F7TrsqB
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) April 8, 2020
The only target for gunslinging Clifford has had over the past 12 weeks has been his brother, Liam. A rising senior at Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School, Liam Clifford last fall made a verbal commitment to join his older brother at Penn State in 2021.
With Sean home during the pandemic, at least he had a willing partner for catch-and-throw in the backyard — a future college teammate projected as a wide receiver, at that.
“He’s been working his butt off, too, to get ready for his season,” Sean said of Liam. “I think it has benefited us tremendously just to have each other. If he doesn’t want to run routes one day, he’ll catch me.”
Added Sean Clifford: “There were a lot of times where my brother and I were just doing pushups in our basement.
“We’ve made the most of (stay-at-home orders) together.”
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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