Jeff Scott, Brent Venables discuss Clemson's win in College Station

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables

Overall thoughts:

“So proud of our guys. We played so hard. We didn’t coach great at times, didn’t play great at times but you get better from this and we will. Played with bad eyes at times, lost leverage and that’s what a good athletic quarterback (will do) that can extend plays. Receivers did a good job of staying alive and fighting for the ball.”

The 2-point conversion:

“We anticipated the sprint out, did a good job in the red zone getting behind the routes to the sideline and the end zone and the defender. K’Von did a nice job of sliding underneath the route and Austin made a great job of anticipating the ball movement and got pressure when we needed it.”

K’Von Wallace:

“Those are two incredible plays. What a gutsy play. The guy is getting ready to go score and he pops the ball out, never gives up on the play. What a great example that is.”

How much of a factor was the unknown?

“A little bit. I thought we had a pretty good rhythm, trying to figure things out in the 1sthalf, played really pretty well. They made some really good plays. We lost some momentum and couldn’t get into rhythm and didn’t play great on 3rddown. I thought his (Kellen Mond) ability to extend some plays and we lost some leverage in some routes, played with bad eyes, gave up a 70-yard touchdown just with bad eyes, gotta help when we put in the middle position a time or two. They got into a really good rhythm and just made some unbelievable plays. I’m anxious to look at it. You’ve got to give them credit. I’m just so proud of our guys for playing so hard for so long and made some critical plays that gave us a chance to win.”

How encouraged are you by the defensive line’s ability to shut down Trayevon Williams and the run game?

“That’s the game of itself. That was part of it. We’ve got to do a much better job obviously of discipline in coverage. We had a couple busts and then we just had some plays where we didn’t make some plays. Those guys did a good job against that offense.”

Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott:

Overall thoughts:

“Proud in these conditions to have no turnovers. That was a big part of the game, two weeks in a row with no turnovers. One thing that we preached to our guys, we protect the ball, we win. Bottom line. We knew it was going to be wet. That was a big emphasis. I was proud of the guys doing that and then we made some big plays. That was a big emphasis from last year, the big plays, getting those back in the offense. It was great to see those guys. We needed those big plays. The frustrating part is we had chances to put it away. Right there at the second quarter, had a chance to make it a 3 score game and it just comes down to the little things, the basic things, taking a snap. Those are things that we can clean up. There will be a lot to learn from you, there always is early in the year. It’s great to be able to learn from a victory in this type of atmosphere. Give Texas A&M credit. I thought they did a great job and made us earn it. I think one of the positives of our team and of our offense is the experience and I think that showed as things were going there in the 2ndhalf. Felt like our guys never panicked and did what it took to win the game. We’re going to celebrate this, enjoy this tonight and then, there will be a lot to coach on and a lot of improvement to be made here in the next week.”

Quarterbacks:

“I felt like Kelly settled down a bit there in the second half. I think his experience is really why we went with him in that situation in the second half. I mean, Trevor what more can you ask for? First play, come in, big touchdown. I thought he was ready when his number was called. It’s just something about Kelly. His experience, his moxie, those are the situations right there where one mistake could cost you a ball game in this type of environment, felt like he handled things well in the 2ndhalf. We’ll go back, he missed a few things as well. I think the explosive plays is really what I take away from this. Kelly made some nice throws, Trevor made some nice throws whenever we had to have it. Kelly helped us with his feet which was important and obviously a part of our offense.”

Handling the QB situation in the 2ndhalf, is Kelly asking to go in?

“No. That’s the great thing about both those guys. There’s not any of those attitudes or anything like that. I think we’re going to go back out and give both those guys another opportunity and kind of see how the game goes. Part of it is offensively is how we’re doing, how those guys are playing and also, what type of game are we in? We kind of got in the game in the 4thquarter where we needed to protect the football, and we needed to go with our experience and Kelly was kind of that experience. It was nothing against Trevor at all. He’s going to get plenty of opportunities. As coaches, in those situations, you’ve got to go with guys that have been there and Kelly is that guy for us right now.”

Was the game plan to go with Trevor to open the 2nd half?

“No. We kind of let those guys go back and forth and it was just kind of Trevor’s time, looking at the snaps at halftime, wanted to give him another opportunity to get back out there. It was really just Coach (Brandon) Streeter and Coach Swinney looking at the snaps and how we wanted to start off.

Is the goal to get Trevor and Kelly an even amount of snaps?

“No. Right now, both of them deserve an opportunity to play. If they’re both playing well, continue to let them play but also, like I said a minute ago, what kind of game is it? I had a lot of other wide receivers that were ready to go play that were prepared but, it was one of those one-score games and you have to go with your veteran guys at every position and quarterback was really no different.”

Is it a dangerous slope to keep switching quarterbacks in a tight game like this?

“I don’t think so. As long as we have trust in both of those guys, right now through 2 games, both those guys have done a good job but again, situations can override just even reps. We just kind of have to go with the way the situation (and) the games going.”

Does the road environment play into those situations?

“On the road, Kelly is that road warrior. He was at Louisville last year, he was at Virginia Tech in those situations and also, what are we going to do later in the game? We’re going to run the ball. We’re going to protect the ball. We’re going to run it and those situations, we just decided to go with Kelly. It’s going to be a long year. We’re going to need Trevor as it goes. He knows that. He had a touchdown and we won by 2 points. It was great to see those guys do well.”