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Clemson Football

For two-thirds of Clemson's team, the mid-week scrimmage went well

March 30, 2018
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Clemson's situational scrimmage seemed to go well for two-thirds of the program. If you saw our premium feature on Brent Venables, you know what we mean.

Swinney, however, has to look at the program as a whole and his comments seemed to indicate that things had gone pretty well. After all, it's still just spring practice. There is a lot of time and room to grow.

"A lot of big plays today. It was kind of feast or famine that way. Did find the end zone a lot more today than we probably have had in a while with the scrimmage so there were some good plays today but just the consistency," Swinney stated.

The defense lined up offsides right out of the gate and then allowed a free play touchdown which is probably a big reason that Venables was disappointed following the events of the day. But days like that aren't unusual and coaches have to keep things in perspective.

"As coaches we have a tendency to focus on the bad but my big thing is to coaches, 'Let's don't worry about winning the scrimmage as much as we are about exposing guys and evaluating them,' because that's kind of where we are right now and who can't do it and who's not there and why and what can we do to get them better," Swinney continued. "Mix and match with the personnel, good on good with the ones on twos and got into some two-minute and got into some goal line, a lot of red zone and got a lot of situational work done throughout the scrimmage."

The Tigers' kicking game continues to be an exciting topic for Swinney as the spring rolls along. Alex Spence was the player who stuck out to Swinney most after the day was done.

"I think he was three-for-three on his field goals," Swinney said of Spence. Punters had a little punt-off there at the end. Man, I'm really pleased with Will (Spiers) and Carson King. Those two are kind of neck and neck and competing well. Carson's improved a ton and Will's become more consistent this spring. I thought Amari showed up in the return game, made two really nice plays. One on kick return and one on punt return."

In terms of the punt return team, Swinney was asked about who was getting the most work. Amari Rodgers is No. 1 guy right now at that spot.

"Hunter and Amari. Right now he'll be our first guy (Rodgers) and he's done a good job and he had a nice day. Had a nice play today and nice return, about 20 yards," Swinney noted.

Outside of Nolan Turner and Derion Kendrick tweaking his hamstring, everyone is pretty healthy according to Swinney.

"I think so. DK did not go today, he just strained his ham a little bit and he should be good to go next week, held him out. That's it, Braden Galloway is kind of working his way back, I think they're going to cut him loose next Wednesday when we get back so it'll be good to get him going and to get a little bit of work for him before spring's over."

Unfortunately, Swinney wasn't able to tell if the team "got better" since the first scrimmage of the spring, but he did note that spring break may have had something to do with that.

"Not really. I need to watch the tape before I put a stamp on it. I think the intensity wasn't what it needed to be today. I didn't think the body language was what it needed to be," Swinney stated. "I think some of that is a product of them being off for nine days and kind of getting back in and that's probably the biggest thing. It is what it is and you've got to be ready to go. Okay, just okay, not terrible."

For two-thirds of Clemson's team, the mid-week scrimmage went well

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