Swinney on Clemson's scrimmage: 'I thought the offense just dominated the day.'
Clemson wrapped up their first scrimmage of the fall and it was the Clemson offense that dictated the pace of play. There are more notes in The Roar for our PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS.
Dabo Swinney:
"Coaching a position a long time, I used to walk out the scrimmage, and my guys had a great day, I'm like 'yeah man.' You feel good about what you're trying to prepare them for the season not really worried about the rest of it. I ain't worried about if the DBs had a bad day, I'm worried about if my guys had a great day. I hate those days as a head coach. I like it when it's a bunch of good over here and a bunch of good over here. Some really competitive misses here and some really competitive misses here. I like it when it is a little more balanced. That's kind of what I prefer. I don't really like it when the defense dominates, when the offense dominates, I really don't. That's really kind of what it was today. I thought the offense just dominated the day. Just call it like it is from the opening drive. Good on good, 70-yard opening touchdown drive right out of the gate."
"The offense had a great day. Really had some big runs. It's really good to see us throw and catch like we did today. Kelly really set the tempo. What a great opening drive for him- big plays. Trevor came in and took it and went with it. Big plays, great drive, just a lot of positives."
"Talking about catches, Tee Higgins had a great day. TJ Chase had a good day- Amari. Diondre Overton had two big catches. Trevon got off to a good start, got banged up, couldn't finish."
"Justyn Ross? Whew. His first catch, was a one-handed, go up and just pluck it out of the air. Then he came right back and one-upped himself with another. He was spectacular today finishing plays. It's one thing to be in position, but the finish it- he really had a great day finishing plays."
Brent Venables:
Linebackers being day-by-day to see who’s going start:
“Right now if we started today, the starters would be #11 (Isaiah Simmons), #34 (Kendall Joseph), #57 (Tre Lamar), with co-starter as #43 (Chad Smith). 43 has earned the right to be right there. James Skalski has still not practiced and Shaq Smith has only come up, had a really good camp so far. J.D. (Davis) had a really good camp so far. Jalen (Williams) was good until today.
Difference with Shaq Smith:
“Confidence, matureness, body position, physicality, playing fast, play diagnosis.”
Play of cornerbacks:
“(Mario) Goodrich didn’t play, had a groin. Kyler (McMichael) did some good stuff, got a lot to learn but did some really good stuff.”
How Kyler McMichael as he came aboard in the summer as opposed to in January:
“He’s in great shape. A workout warrior for a long time. He’s not frail, he’s not tentative. He’s come from a very good program. He’s a tough kid, very competitive. Guy never left the field in high school. If he lined up, I’d bet you he’d break into that 2-deep. He’d be a 2-deep guy.
Feeling more comfortable about the depth at corner?
Mario’s been hurt and Trayvon wasn’t here today so, not so good today.”
Options at defensive end behind Austin and Clelin:
“K.J. and Xavier came back and they were noticeably better than what they were in the spring. We took a swipe at somebody, 54 (Logan Rudolph) did, but he’s been really playing well, kicked him out today, but he’s had a really good camp. Justin Foster’s had a really good camp. Richard Yeargin (has) been banged so he’s been out today. Xavier has had a good camp. He’s done well.”