Tag: Dabo Swnney

Tigers have hands full with Georgia’s defensive front

When Clemson and Georgia kick off the season a week from Saturday, it is a game that will be won in the trenches. Yes, that sounds cliché, but in this top 5 matchup, it has never been truer. The fifth-ranked Bulldogs have what is arguably one of the …

When Clemson and Georgia kick off the season a week from Saturday, it is a game that will be won in the trenches.

Yes, that sounds cliché, but in this top 5 matchup, it has never been truer. The fifth-ranked Bulldogs have what is arguably one of the best offensive and defensive line combos in the SEC.

Though the offensive line is a question mark for No. 3 Clemson, the defensive line is considered to be the best in all of college football. So, it is safe to say this will be one of the more physical games this season.

Heading into the Duke’s Mayo Kickoff Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, most wonder if the Tigers can handle Georgia’s defensive front, especially nose tackle Jordan Davis. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound senior is projected to be an All-American and can really cause havoc up front.

Davis will team up with fellow senior Devonte Wyatt. He is just a small guy at 6-foot-3, 315 pounds.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney says Georgia’s defensive line is the strength of their defense, much like his defense, as he pointed out the Bulldogs have led the nation in rushing defense in each of the last two seasons.

The opposition averaged just 72.3 yards per game in 2020 and 2.39 yards per carry, which also ranked first nationally.

On the other side, Clemson has a new starter at left tackle, right tackle and center. Jordan McFadden, who started all last year at right tackle, will get the start at left, while sophomore Walker Parks is the new guy at right tackle.

Who the starting center will be is still in question?

Though Swinney will not say it, it appears Matt Bockhorst might be the guy after moving over from left guard. If Bockhorst is the new center, then it means the Tigers will have a new left guard, as well. Freshman Marcus Tate appears to be the likely candidate there.

Going up against a Georgia defensive front that has three seniors and a junior, is going to be a tall task for what looks like a patch-work offensive line for Clemson.

The good news for the Tigers’ new line is the fact they have been going against their own defensive front the last three weeks, so they will be ready for the physicality Davis and company are going to bring.

“Going against the defense we have, we get to go against really good players,” Bockhorst said. “So, it is really nice to be challenged in that fashion early on, so we are not rolling out there against Georgia and kind of having our hands full because we have never seen someone of that caliber.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Clemson no closer to naming a starter at center

Following last Saturday’s scrimmage, Dabo Swinney was not pleased with his offense’s performance when it came to the procedural items, such as false starts, offside and bad snaps. But the report was much better on Thursday, as third-ranked Clemson …

Following last Saturday’s scrimmage, Dabo Swinney was not pleased with his offense’s performance when it came to the procedural items, such as false starts, offside and bad snaps.

But the report was much better on Thursday, as third-ranked Clemson wrapped up its second and final scrimmage of the preseason at Death Valley.

“I think we went from ten penalties to two,” Swinney said afterwards. “We had no bad snaps (with the first or second team). We had a couple with our third group, our Pride Group. But the guys that we know that we have to count on to go play in a couple of weeks, they were excellent today.

“They were right on point and where they needed to be. It was good to see.”

Swinney says that is what he was looking for from his offense, especially on the offensive line. He wanted to see them improve.

“You get two scrimmages. I thought the guys that needed to improve, they did just that. The guys that we wanted to see some consistency from, I think we saw that as well,” the Tigers’ head coach said. “So, it was a good day. It was a much better day procedurally.

“The first scrimmage, we had ten penalties, a bunch of bad snaps. We had a couple of drops, and that was disappointing, but all-in-all, procedurally, it was very solid. It was much better.”

As for who might be the starter at center when the Tigers take on No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 4, it appears Swinney nor offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell are any closer to naming someone.

Swinney alluded to the fact they might not be able to name a starter until way into Georgia week.

“We will watch this tape tonight and then we will start honing into the personnel and how we want to rep,” he said. “Anything can happen. I mean it is two weeks from now. You still have to go practice. Nobody at this point is entitled to be the starter, you still have to go earn it every day.”

Swinney said Matt Bockhorst, who is expected to start at left guard, worked some at center in Thursday’s scrimmage, as did Hunter Rayburn and Mason Trotter. Earlier this week, Swinney said all three players are receiving first-team reps, but they are not ready to name a starter at this point.

“I think they have all done well,” he said. “Again, it is not something we are ready to roll out there. We will put a depth chart out here soon enough, but I have seen good things from all of them. I really have. Bockhorst has got a lot of work, the same thing with Trotter and the same thing with Rayburn, and Trent Howard, he has gotten some good work at center. He is a young freshman that we are excited about.

“So, all of those guys have gotten work and have done well in spots and not so well in spots, so we are still kind of working in that area.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!