Dabo Swinney: ‘We’ve Got to Play to the Standard’ Ahead of Syracuse Showdown

Editor’s note: Rough highlights from Dabo Swinney’s Post-Practice Press Conference, Wednesday evening. 

Q: You said earlier this week you wanted Clemson to be a desperate team on Saturday, play desperate. Has that shown up in practice this week, and how do you get that to translate into game day?

Dabo Swinney: “They've practiced well, they've responded well, and they've practiced well last week. We've got to get it to translate to game day. I think it's just everybody, you know, making up their mind that, you know, they're going to go do it, and, you know, we'll find out on Saturday.”

Q: With the corner position and TIGER position specifically, those are two that you've been pushing this week, publicly challenging. How have those guys responded, and is that a spot where we might see lineup changes on Saturday?

Dabo Swinney: “We'll see. I mean, again, it's been a good week of practice. Just finished up a really good Wednesday. Good meetings. They understand what they’ve got to go do, just got to go do it. Everybody's got to do their part, do their job.”

Q: Adam Randall’s been dominating the lion’s share of the running backs, and I was just curious, is there, I guess, any concern about maybe his workload as the season prolongs and maybe trying to get those other guys involved as the season continues?

Dabo Swinney: “We ain't had much of a workload. Are you kidding me? I hope that becomes a problem where we get the snap count that we need to get. We didn't have much of a workload from a play count standpoint. So, everybody's pretty fresh.”

Q: Tom Allen said yesterday that Shelton Lewis and Kylon Griffin came into camp maybe still a little rusty from their surgeries they had back in the spring. Just curious for your evaluation of where they are now and whether they're poised to maybe, you know, elevate moving forward?

Dabo Swinney: “They both played, and we need them to just keep getting better. They're practicing well. Shelton’s played a good bit to this point and KG, I don't think, played much last week, but he's played a good bit in the other game or two. So, both have good experience. We just need that depth to really, not just be good depth, but go compete and push everybody. Compete to win a job. So, it makes everybody better.”

Q: Do you remember what play Chase Byrd was in and what has he done to get into the mix where he's able to get on the field?

Dabo Swinney: “Yeah, I mean he's just in the slot rotation and we had Tyler Brown went out and Antonio [Williams] was obviously out. So, he was just, you know, a guy that had gotten the third reps there and was ready to go in when we needed him for a rep or two. Chase does a good job for us. He and Clark Sanderson, two really good young little slot guys that I think are going to be good little players.”

Q: When you watch Syracuse, just the way they carry themselves, the way they tackle, things like that, does it impress you that Fran Brown has been able to sort of impose his identity on that program, I guess, in that form in that short of time?

Dabo Swinney: “No, it doesn't surprise me at all. I mean, he's a good coach. That's why they hired him to be the head coach. He's a defensive guy and they've had a great year last year. They play tough. They play physical. They chase to the ball. I think he's done an amazing job. Doesn't surprise me at all.”

Q: Some of your comments on Tuesday went nationally viral, drew a lot of attention. Have you had a chance to catch up with Graham Neff since that presser and how have those conversations gone, if so?

Dabo Swinney: “I didn't talk to nobody. I just work in football, man. I don't have no idea if anything's viral. I don't—I don't—I don't pay attention to any of that stuff. I don't have a clue. I just come in here and do what I'm supposed to do, and y'all create whatever headlines you want from there. I'm just focused on trying to get ready to play Syracuse. Not worried about anything else.”

Q: Fran Brown’s Syracuse team brings just a great physical and relentless style. How do you plan to counter that intensity? 

Dabo Swinney: “We’ve just got to play to the standard that we have around here, period. The end. It doesn't matter who we play or where we play or when we play. Just play to the standard. We’ve got to play physical with great effort and tough and great discipline, great belief. Apply all those things to your fundamentals and your techniques and the scheme. That's how you win. We're a talented team. We’ve got to execute at a high level, and we've got to play and compete to the standard.”

Q: Steve Angeli’s not really known as a dual threat. Do you think that makes things maybe more conducive to a pass rush, a natural pass rush?

Dabo Swinney: “I think he runs better than people want to give him credit for. I mean, they'll run some zone read with him. He'll pull it. I mean, he's a good scrambler. He may not be Haynes King, but he's very aware in the pocket, and I think he has good instincts and he's savvy. They're not afraid to run him. That's for sure.”

Q: Bryant Wesco had a big game last week, but he had the third quarter, the fourth quarter drop. How does he just respond to those routine plays, those minute details this week?

Dabo Swinney: “Yeah, it just goes back to the little things. Finishing, like I said, after the game, you’ve just got to finish with your eyes. He's had back-to-back great games for us. He's been a real bright spot, you know, and really proud of Wesco, really proud of him. He's off to a good start for us, and we’ve just got to keep that continuing.”

Q: Speaking of workload, 71 snaps for Ricardo Jones, is that about right, or is that—

Dabo Swinney: “Yeah, probably too many. I think Kylon’s a guy that I don't think we’ve got in the game much at all. I think the coaches have to do a better job of that. I mean, if you ask me, I think he plays as many plays as it takes. I mean, that's kind of how I look at it. I think we’ve got other good players that could take a little bit off of him, but if it takes 100 snaps, you’ve got to be ready to go.”