Dabo Swinney calls it Clemson’s ‘worst practice’ of camp: Three Takeaways

CLEMSON — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney didn't try to dress up what he saw from the Tigers during their latest practice.

With Clemson nearing the end of preseason camp and beginning the transition toward preparation for its Sept. 5 opener at LSU, Swinney intentionally limited a number of players he already believes are ready for the season.

That created opportunities for others.

Not everyone took advantage.

“I thought it was probably our worst practice of camp,” Swinney said. “Not even really close.”

That assessment, the approaching transition into LSU preparation and an encouraging development at linebacker highlighted Swinney's latest update from preseason camp.

Here are three takeaways:

Clemson's worst practice came at an important time for players fighting for roles

Swinney compared the practice to an NFL team's final preseason game.

Many of Clemson's established players were limited, giving players further down the depth chart an opportunity to prove they were ready for larger roles. Swinney's assessment was that some instead demonstrated why they haven't earned them yet.

“We limited some guys that we know are game ready,” Swinney said. “Really tried to challenge some guys that think they're game ready. And some of them got a baptism today, got exposed a little bit.”

The problems weren't confined to one side of the ball.

Swinney pointed to penalties, formation issues on offense, offsides penalties on defense and poor situational awareness. One particularly frustrating example came when Clemson intercepted a pass in a two-minute situation that should have ended the competition, only for the defender to continue running instead of immediately getting down.

There were also mistakes in critical situations — a defensive hold on fourth down, lining up offside on a field goal and jumping offside on fourth-and-6 late in a two-minute period.

Those are precisely the kinds of errors that can turn a close game.

“We did some dumb stuff today,” Swinney said.

The timing makes the practice noteworthy. Clemson isn't installing something entirely new that could explain the errors. Swinney said the Tigers were working on material they have practiced throughout camp.

“I just think it was a lack of focus,” Swinney said. “And some of the guys just kind of lost their focus. It's been a long, it's a long camp. It's a lot of stuff, dog days.”

There is another side to it.

Swinney has repeatedly used camp to evaluate not simply who Clemson's starters will be, but which players can be trusted when the Tigers inevitably need depth during the season. Thursday's work provided another piece of evidence in making those decisions.

“And kind of like a last preseason game, you're getting some guys that are getting kind of a chance to be the guy,” Swinney said. “And they showed why they're not the guy.”

For a team less than three weeks from opening the season at LSU, the lesson was delivered at a useful time.

Camp is ending. LSU preparation is about to become Clemson's priority

The Tigers are approaching a clear dividing line in their preseason.

Until now, Clemson has largely been preparing for the season as a whole — installing its offense and defense, working through situations, evaluating personnel and creating enough competitive work to determine which players are ready.

That changes Monday.

Swinney said Clemson will move into a 20-hour schedule, reduce the number of groups receiving repetitions and begin working with scout teams as the focus increasingly shifts toward LSU.

“Now it starts to be, okay, who's the opponent?” Swinney said. “Let's get ready to take what we've been working on. Now let's, what do we wanna go play this with? And you start paring down and you put your game plan together.”

Swinney's preferred timetable is to have the bulk of the plan completed before Clemson actually reaches game week.

“We've got plenty of time, but you'd like to have everything in really by next weekend,” Swinney said. “And that way, you kinda take game week -- and details and polishing -- just really honing in on the execution of the plan.”

There's a physical component to the transition, too.

After weeks of camp, Swinney wants the players — and coaches — to recover. The Tigers will take Saturday night and Sunday off before returning Monday.

“The next phase for us is getting their bodies back,” Swinney said. “I mean, they're fatigued. If you're not fatigued at this point, you probably ain't been working very hard.”

Clemson will continue competitive good-on-good periods even after the transition. But the balance changes now.

Camp has been about building the team.

The next phase is about getting them ready to beat LSU.

Clemson's linebacker depth has answered one of Swinney's preseason questions

One position group appears to have accomplished exactly what Swinney wanted during camp.

Linebacker.

“That's a group with the arrow up,” Swinney said.

The Tigers entered camp with established options including Sammy Brown, Kobe McCloud and Jeremiah Alexander. Swinney said those players have performed well, but the more important development has occurred behind them.

Clemson needed its next wave to demonstrate it could provide trustworthy depth.

“It was that next group that we needed to see a big jump, and man, they've done a great job,” Swinney said. “I mean, a great job.”

Drew Woodaz is a particularly interesting example. The sophomore is listed at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, and Swinney believes his physical development is beginning to show.

“Drew is a guy that looks like a linebacker now,” Swinney said. “He's got three years left. He's just kind of been in the crock pot.”

Freshman Brayden Reilly has also caught Swinney's attention despite still having significant development ahead of him as he transitions from more of a safety background.

“He don't know what he's doing, but you just notice it,” Swinney said. “I mean, he really doesn't. I mean, he's got a lot to learn.”

The praise matters because Clemson isn't simply looking for three linebackers capable of playing winning football. The Tigers need a group that can survive injuries, contribute on special teams and provide options over a long season.

Through camp, Swinney believes that group has done its part.

“I think the group has done what we need them to do,” Swinney said. “That group has been right on point for all camp.”

That was one of the more encouraging evaluations on a day when Swinney didn't hand out many compliments.