Spring provides a small sample size, positive results
It’s been one week since we walked out of the press box in Death Valley after the Orange and White Spring Game where team Orange walked away with a 28-17 win.
The contest seemed to bring three significant storylines to the forefront, the quarterback battle, Tee Higgins' emergence, and the return of a defense that is sure to be one of the top groups in America when it's not split between two teams.
It’s no secret what everyone was talking about as they left Death Valley last Saturday, the quarterback situation.
Let’s get to the elephant in the room first.
The Quarterbacks
The coaches split the two teams as evenly as possible and from the outside looking in, the quarterbacks were essentially seeded. No. 1 Kelly Bryant and No. 4 Chase Brice were on one side, facing off against the No. 2 and No. 3 (in whatever order you choose) Trevor Lawrence and Hunter Johnson.
Each quarterback had a chance to compete and show the coaches, the 55,000 fans in attendance, the media and the national television audience why they should be the front-runner heading into the summer.
Bryant, who led Clemson to a 12-2 record and the #1 seed in the College Football Playoff last season went 8 of 15 for 35 yards, but his demeanor on the sidelines after missing on two simple passes seemed to show that he is feeling more pressure than the Alabama defense put on him back in January. That moment, combined with his play left some wondering if he should remain the starter moving forward, but Dabo Swinney felt differently.
While it wasn’t his best day, Swinney told us that “if we (the team) played today, Kelly would run out there, but we don't play today, we play in September."
It didn't help Bryant that true freshman Trevor Lawrence put on a show for the fans, going 11 of 16 for 122 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown to Tee Higgins on just his second throw of the day.
Lawrence has been the most hyped player to arrive at Clemson in decades, surpassing both Deshaun Watson and Willy Korn regarding fan expectations, and he didn't disappoint. If anything, he added to the hype, so much so that Pete Fiutak from CollegeFootballNews.com called him the second most likely player to win this season's Heisman.
Chase Brice and Hunter Johnson have been discussed sparingly since last weekend, but both performed well for their squads, throwing for a combined 316 yards and two touchdowns.
Coach Swinney has repeatedly said he feels like he could win with any of his quarterbacks and having Brice and Johnson in contention only makes the competition stronger.
The bottom line with the quarterbacks is this. It’s far from settled, but until one of the other three quarterbacks are able to overtake Kelly Bryant in the summer and fall camp, he should be the starter on September 1, but right now it is also hard to imagine Bryant surviving the heat.
WRU
Based on what we saw, “Wide Receiver U” is going to be in good hands following the departures of Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud to the NFL Draft which begins on Thursday night.
Tee Higgins is going to be a severe problem for opposing defenses in 2018. You don't find many players with the size and speed Higgins possesses at wideout. The Tennessee native had four receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns and appeared to be ready for a breakout season.
Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott told us after the game that he has been working hard this season on his releases, and it was noticeable as he ran his routes smoothly.
As far as everyone else is concerned, Trevion Thompson, Diondre Overton and Hunter Renfrow each had a reception over 20 yards. Freshman Derion Kendrick had a catch for 21 yards and looked like he will potentially be a significant contributor as a return man in 2018.
Finally, was it just me or does Amari Rodgers already look better than Artavis Scott did when he left? Last season, there were moments that I thought Scott was still wearing #3 for Clemson, not anymore. This year Rodgers looks bigger and more physical than Scott ever did at Clemson.
Replacing Jordan Leggett...Again
It's hard to believe that a kid once labeled "Lazy Leggett" wasn't instantly replaced, but Jordan Leggett's final two seasons at Clemson were outstanding and his play in big games during the Tigers back-to-back 14-1 seasons was a large part of Clemson's success.
Two years later, Clemson's most significant room for improvement on offense is at tight end. The Tigers return Milan Richard, who was a vital part of Clemson’s running game and was a safety net for Kelly Bryant in the short-passing game.
Last season, Richard failed to match the productivity of Jordan Leggett before him, and in the spring game, he only had one reception for 8 yards. Not a great sign for the tight ends.
The good news is that Garrett Williams and true freshman Braden Galloway will get opportunities in 2018. Both returning from injuries, but should help provide more options at tight end.
Galloway's frame reminds us of Leggett, leaving us smiling at the thought of what could be for the former Seneca standout.
Williams didn’t have a reception last week but, Jeff Scott told us that he has “been pleased with his (Williams) ability to catch the ball and his route running.” If Williams continues to improve, Clemson fans could definitely see him push for a good amount of playing time.
Offensive Line
Perhaps the biggest takeaway was the fact that even split; the offensive line held up against Clemson's defensive front. Clemson fans have to be pleased with where this offensive line is heading into the summer.
In previous spring games, Clemson's offensive line couldn't stand up to the split unit format. There simply wasn't enough depth, but that's changed over the past three seasons. The Tigers have stockpiled talented and versatile players on the front. That versatility adds to the overall depth, and it's a huge benefit that they face Clemson's defensive line daily.
Going toe-to-toe with Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Austin Bryant and Dexter Lawrence is the best thing that could happen to prepare for Saturdays. They will not see a better defensive line this season.
Thanks to defensive coordinator Brent Venables' style of coaching, the offensive line has seen every possible front this spring, making them better for the fall. Venables hasn't held anything back, and that's a tremendous benefit for the Tigers.
Secondary Concerns
Speaking of Venables and the defense, the secondary struggled early on but stepped up as the game progressed. You can expect some help arriving on campus this summer as Mario Goodrich and Kyler McMichael will add much-needed depth.
The Tiger defenses accounted for twelve "virtual" sacks as the quarterbacks were not live and forced four interceptions, including a pick-six from Trayvon Mullen. His counterpart A.J. Terrell also snagged an interception, meaning that both expected starting corners had an interception.
Terrell still wants to work on improving his strength over the summer, but his recognition and coverage skills are tremendous.
Venables agreed with Terrell’s statement in saying, “When you’re in a competitive position, strength is what allows you to learn the rep. If all things are equal, skill, good technique and the guy you’re going against, you’re in a competitive position, you’ve got to finish and make those plays and not allow guys to create separation and get the ball from you.”
Clemson players and coaches will now prepare to go their separate ways for the summer as the spring semester wraps up in two weeks with finals and then summer workouts will commence.
Dabo Swinney said, “This (the summer) is when your team takes the biggest step forward when nobody’s watching, the stands are empty. It’s hard. That’s where I think that chemistry and leadership is truly developed.”
Swinney's statements are further proof as to why the spring game is simply a small sample size, and you can't put too much stock into what we saw.
Take it for what it was, the highs and the lows are only an indicator of where this team is in April. The players have a lot left to prove before September 1st rolls around.