Marcus Tate – Page 4 – Syndication Server

Swinney ‘very encouraged’ by offensive line play in win over BC

Clemson’s offensive line has been a work in progress, to say the least. The unit had largely struggled coming into Saturday’s game against Boston College and turned in their best performance of the season during Clemson’s 19-13 victory. “We really …

Clemson’s offensive line has been a work in progress, to say the least.

The unit had largely struggled coming into Saturday’s game against Boston College and turned in their best performance of the season during Clemson’s 19-13 victory.

“We really played well up front,” Dabo Swinney told reporters Monday. “I can’t tell you how proud I was of those guys.”

Leading into this past Saturday’s game, Swinney indicated that Clemson was considering everything in terms of reshuffling things upfront. Instead of pulling a starter from the lineup due to poor play, Will Putnam did not suit up due to a toe injury.

With Putnam sidelined, Clemson reinserted Marcus Tate back into the starting lineup, shifted Matt Bockhorst to right guard and placed Hunter Rayburn at center.

While everyone graded out quite well, Clemson will likely have another different starting combination upfront against Syracuse. Swinney described Putnam as “a little better” and that he’s hopeful that by Sunday, he’ll be able to start practicing again.

While it came at the expense of an unfortunate injury, Clemson’s decision to make a change at center and move Bockhorst back to his natural position of guard, paid off immensely.

“Rayburn man, I was super proud of him,” Swinney said. “He did have that one little series down in the red zone, critical. We had the pick play, that was just a bad play by E.J. (Williams) and then we jumped offsides, and then we had the bad snap. It was like bam, bam, bam, right there in a row. But man, Rayburn played really well. I was super, super proud of him. He had a couple of plays where he got on the edge a little bit, but he was physical. The first time for him to go in there and play that amount of snaps and manage it.”

“Rayburn really did a nice job, really pleased with him,” he added. “I think that’ll be huge for his confidence to have that amount of experience.”

Bockhorst came into the season as Clemson’s most experienced offensive lineman, but the team’s vocal leader’s move to the center position has been inconsistent at best. He turned in his best performance of the season against Boston College.

“Bockhorst was our player of the game,” Swinney said. ‘He was just outstanding. He and Kobe (Pace). Bock was tremendous, by far his best game. (He was) physical, and did a great job of helping Rayburn.”

Overall, Swinney was impressed with what the entire unit was able to do up front all game. Clemson was finally able to run the ball efficiently and effectively. The Tigers gained 231 rushing yards on 40 carries, while D.J. Uiagalelei had ample time in the pocket.

“The whole group really played well. There was a lot of things on tape that was really good to see, that I’m very encouraged by,” Swinney added. “Marcus Tate looked like he took a step forward as well. The game slowed down just a little bit for him. (Jordan) McFadden has been solid as they come all year. The same thing with Walker (Parks), I thought he did a heck of a job for us too.”

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On Putnam’s injury and the offensive line situation going forward

Dabo Swinney remained tightlipped about the injury to one of Clemson’s starting offensive lineman throughout the week. The Tigers’ coach never mentioned Will Putnam’s toe injury leading up to Clemson’s game against Boston College. And Swinney wasn’t …

Dabo Swinney remained tightlipped about the injury to one of Clemson’s starting offensive lineman throughout the week.

The Tigers’ coach never mentioned Will Putnam’s toe injury leading up to Clemson’s game against Boston College. And Swinney wasn’t asked about it given the fact Putnam started and played the whole game last week against North Carolina State just like he usually does at right guard.

But following Clemson’s 19-13 win over the Eagles late Saturday night at Memorial Stadium — a game the Tigers had to play without Putnam — Swinney revealed Putnam sustained the injury on the first series of Clemson’s loss to N.C. State. Yet Putnam never said a word about it despite his foot being “as black and blue as it could be” after that game, Swinney said.

“He couldn’t even walk hardly on Sunday,” Swinney said. “The whole bottom of his foot was black and blue, so he paid the price for it this week.”

Clemson had already made one change on the offensive line against N.C. State, inserting Paul Tchio at left guard in place of freshman Marcus Tate against. Leading up to the Boston College game, Swinney said he was “considering everything” when asked if he was contemplating any other changes to one of the more maligned position groups amid the Tigers’ sluggish start to the season offensively, but Putnam’s injury forced his hand.

With Putnam unavailable, Clemson slid center Matt Bockhorst over to fill in at right guard and plugged Hunter Rayburn in at center. Rayburn competed with Bockhorst throughout fall camp for the starting center job, but his only game reps before Saturday had come at guard. The Tigers also reinserted Tate into the starting lineup at left guard.

The shakeup helped Clemson turn in its best rushing performance of the season against an FBS opponent. The Tigers, which came in ranked 99th nationally in rushing, racked up 231 of their 438 yards on the ground, finishing just 11 yards shy of their top rushing performance through five games (242 against FCS member South Carolina State).

Aided by a 59-yard touchdown run from Kobe Pace — Clemson’s longest play from scrimmage this season, the Tigers averaged 5.8 yards per carry, getting as much push up front as they have all season.

“I thought (Rayburn) did a nice job, and I thought Bock did a great job, moving him over there to right guard with Putnam out,” Swinney said. “On the field, it looked like him and (right tackle) Walker (Parks) did a nice job on some double teams.

“Proud of Rayburn. He’s a young player, and that’s a big moment for him. So hopefully that’s something he can grow from with some confidence. And same thing with Tate.”

The question is, what does the offensive line look like once Putnam returns, particularly on the interior?

Swinney said he expects Putnam to be available again at some point this season, and it could be in time for Clemson’s next game at Syracuse on Oct. 15. An open date before then will give the 6-foot-4, 305-pound junior an extra week to rest, but whenever Putnam returns, he’ll slide back in as the starting right guard.

“Putnam has actually been very consistent for us,” Swinney said. “He’s played well.”

As for which direction the Tigers go at center and left guard, that’s less unclear. Bockhorst started the first four games at center but started every game last season at left guard. The fifth-year senior is also a far more experienced player than Tate and Tchio, who’ve combined for five career starts.

Might Clemson move Bockhorst back to his his more familiar left guard spot once Putnam returns and keep Rayburn at center? Swinney said the Tigers have some time to evaluate all of that.

“It’s nice that we’ll have more experience and a little bit more experienced options as we figure out how we’re going to go, so we’ll look at everything,” he said. “We’ve got an open date to figure out several things that we’re going to have to do from a personnel standpoint to give ourselves a good chance moving forward.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Wholesale changes coming up front for Clemson this week?

A day after saying he is “considering everything” when it comes to potential changes along Clemson’s offensive line, Dabo Swinney on Wednesday doubled down on the possibility of more alterations coming. “I’m not sure yet,” Clemson’s coach said when …

“I’m not sure yet,” Clemson’s coach said when asked if he’ll run the same starting five out against Boston College on Saturday. “We’ll see what (offensive coordinator) Tony (Elliott) and (offensive line coach) Robbie (Caldwell) come up with between now and then. We might run the same guys out there, and we might run out a whole new five. I don’t know. We’ll see.”

No. 19 Clemson (2-2, 1-1 ACC) made one tweak there last week against North Carolina State, inserting sophomore Paul Tchio at left guard in place of true freshman Marcus Tate, who started the first three games. Swinney said Tchio did “some good things” in his first extended playing time of the season, but, like much of the group, is still working on consistency.

“Got to get better and will get better. He’s a tough, physical kid that just needs to grow and get some experience,” Swinney said. “Glad he had that opportunity, and he’ll learn from it.”

Hunter Rayburn also got some reps with Tchio and Tate at that left guard spot, but there weren’t rotations at any other spot along the line in the Tigers’ double-overtime loss to N.C. State. There once again wasn’t much room for quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei or the running backs to operate on the ground with Clemson finishing with just 103 rushing yards on 23 carries. A bulk of those yards came on Uiagelelei’s 37-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter, easily the Tigers’ longest run of the season.

Clemson enters Saturday’s game ranked 99th out of 130 FBS teams in rushing (126.2 yards per game) and will be without its leading rusher, Will Shipley (leg injury), for at least the next three or four weeks. But if more personnel changes are made up front, they’ll likely be contained to the interior with Jordan McFadden and Walker Parks performing to Swinney’s liking at tackle.

“I’m pleased with both of those guys,” Swinney said. “Jordan, he’s about as solid as it comes. He’s a really good player. And Walker has done a nice job, too. He gets himself in a little bit of trouble every now and then. He’s very aggressive, but I’m pleased with Parks as a first-year starter. He’s just going to get better, better and better.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Clemson ‘considering everything’ to improve its offensive line

It took just four games for Clemson to make a change on its retooled offensive line, and Dabo Swinney isn’t shutting the door on the possibility of more coming. “We’re considering everything,” Clemson’s coach said. “There ain’t nothing we ain’t …

It took just four games for Clemson to make a change on its retooled offensive line, and Dabo Swinney isn’t shutting the door on the possibility of more coming.

“We’re considering everything,” Clemson’s coach said. “There ain’t nothing we ain’t considering because we’re just not very good right now.”

It’s been a rough start for a unit that began the season with two new starters and a pair of returning starters that are playing different positions than they did a season ago (former guard Matt Bockhorst at center and left tackle Jordan McFadden flipping over from the right side). One of the newbies, true freshman left guard Marcus Tate, was replaced by third-year sophomore Paul Tchio in the starting lineup against North Carolina State.

Fellow sophomore Hunter Rayburn also rotated in at that spot, but Swinney said the coaching staff is continuing to search for the right combination up front after the group again had issues with communication and blocking assignments in the Tigers’ 27-21 double-overtime loss.

The unit was physically overwhelmed by Georgia in the season opener with the Bulldogs holding Clemson to 2 net rushing yards while racking up seven sacks. But while the pass protection has gradually improved (just two sacks allowed since), a consistent lack of push up front still hasn’t given much room for the Tigers’ running backs to operate between the tackles.

No. 19 Clemson (2-2, 1-1 ACC) rushed for just 103 yards against N.C. State and was averaging less than 2 yards per carry before quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei broke free for a 37-yard run late in the fourth quarter. It dropped the Tigers to 98th out of 130 FBS teams in rushing yards (126.2 per game), which is actually one of their better statistical national rankings through four games. Clemson, which has yet to eclipse 14 points in regulation against an FBS foe this season, is 105th in scoring (21.5 points per game), 115th in passing and 121st in total offense.

Tchio is still listed as the starter at left guard heading into Saturday’s game at Boston College (4-0, 0-0), though that’s the only change on the depth chart for now. Offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said Monday another move the Tigers are contemplating up front is whether or not to move backup tackle Mitchell Mayes inside, a strong indication of how the coaching staff feels about the production — or lack thereof — it’s getting from its interior linemen.

“Tchio did OK. Rayburn got a few plays here and there,” Swinney said. “It’s something we’re constantly evaluating, working on and trying to find the right combination. Just looking for consistency.”

The Tigers are also dealing with attrition in the backfield with Lyn-J Dixon (transfer) and freshman running back Will Shipley (leg injury) both out of the equation for now. Swinney said it will likely be at least a few weeks before Shipley returns, which will force fellow true freshman Phil Mafah into action. Swinney had hoped to be able to redshirt the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder, but the attrition has likely taken that option off the table. Mafah is listed as the No. 2 back on this week’s depth chart behind Kobe Pace.

Regardless of who’s getting handoffs, though, they’ll need more help from a line that’s clearly working through some growing pains. But just because Swinney has decided to go with a more experienced player at Tate’s position for the time being doesn’t mean he’s necessarily down on the newcomer.

Swinney compared Tate’s situation to that of one of his former kickers, Chandler Catanzaro, who made just 63% of his field goals as a freshman before leaving Clemson as the program’s all-time leading scorer and kicking five seasons in the NFL.

“We’ve got some kids that are kind of in that situation right now, that when it’s all said and done, the story is done and written, the date is on the other end of the dash and they’re out of here, they’re going to leave their mark,” Swinney said. “A kid like Marcus Tate, he’ll be as good as we’ve had roll through here. He’s going to be a great one.

“Same thing with Tchio and all these guys, these young bucks that are trying and getting their nose bloodied a little bit in the meeting room, on the practice field and in the game.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Little things adding up to major breakdowns for Clemson’s offense

Tony Elliott is done with social media for the time being. Clemson’s offensive coordinator is off Twitter and Instagram even if he is technically on both applications. He has accounts that he usually checks from time to time, but Elliott knows …

Tony Elliott is done with social media for the time being.

Clemson’s offensive coordinator is off Twitter and Instagram even if he is technically on both applications. He has accounts that he usually checks from time to time, but Elliott knows there’s plenty of criticism being pointed in his direction given the way the Tigers have performed on that of the ball so far. So he’s chosen to limit his exposure to all of the negativity on the outside.

“That’s kind of their space,” Elliott said of fans’ criticism, “and I’m going to let them have their space.”

One of the perceived knocks on his offense — one that’s averaging just 12.6 points against FBS competition and ranked no better than 99th nationally in rushing, passing, total yards and first downs — is a lack of creativity. Elliott said he knows that because it’s typically the default complaint when any offense isn’t performing up to expectations.

“Well you’ve got to be able to execute the fundamentals first and foremost,” Elliott said.

That’s where the Tigers are having too many breakdowns, Elliott said, which also makes improvement in those areas the top priority as the Tigers try to get things turned around starting Saturday when Boston College visits Memorial Stadium.

“The biggest thing is we’re just out of sync right now,” Elliott said. “It’s 10 guys and then one guy not doing the right thing. Or it’s nine and we’ve got two guys not doing the right thing. Some of that can be attributed to youth. Game speed is a little bit different even though the practice speed is still pretty fast here for us on our practice field, it still happens fast in the game and it takes time to be able to work through those things to be able to anticipate.”

Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei spent part of his meeting with reporters Monday again shouldering the bulk of the blame for the offensive ineptitude after going 12 of 26 for 111 yards and two touchdowns in Clemson’s 27-21 double-overtime loss to North Carolina State over the weekend, but Elliott was quick to point out it’s also on Uiagalelei’s supporting cast, particularly the offensive line, to help make the young quarterback more comfortable. Uiagalelei added 63 yards with his legs against the Wolfpack and was easily the leading rusher for an offense that continues to struggle mightily getting anything on the ground (126.2 rushing yards per game).

The offensive line is still trying to find the right combination. Sophomore Paul Tchio got the start at left guard Saturday in place of true freshman Marcus Tate. Hunter Rayburn also rotated in there, and Elliott said the Tigers are looking at the possibility of moving backup tackle Mitchell Mayes inside to help on the interior.

Whether it be miscommunication along the line, missed blocking assignments or misreads by the backs, the Tigers continue to make fundamental mistakes in games that aren’t necessarily showing up in practice. Elliott said he’s seen improvement in some of those miscues while more have popped up based on the different alignments of each defense the Tigers have seen to this point.

Even receivers’ blocking has been spotty at times when Clemson tries to get the perimeter runs and screen game going, something Elliott said has to be a collective effort when it comes to emphasizing its importance.

“I think where we’ve got to get better is just finishing off blocks,” Elliott said. “I think we initially get things started, but we’ve got to play all the way through the whistle and finish those blocks because that’s what results in those explosive plays. I think of one in particular (against N.C. State) on a screen to (Justyn) Ross. We just threw a bubble out there to Ross, and he makes a jump cut. And if we hold that block a little bit longer, then he’s going to take off and he’s going to run But we don’t, and we get tackled by the ankle.

“We’ve just all got to do a better job of the details, the footwork, the hand placement, the understanding and then just that relentless finish all the way through the whistle. And then just understanding that we have to do a good job as coaches, too, of pointing out to those guys how that extra effort can turn into big plays in the run game.”

For a relatively young offense, it starts with mastering the basics.

“That’s where we’ve got to get better,” Elliott said.

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Clemson needs improvement from offensive line to start in this area

Clemson’s offensive struggles have been well-documented through three games. Part of the issue has been inconsistency in a running game that ranks 93rd out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams (134 yards per game). Fixing that, Clemson coach Dabo …

Fixing that, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said, starts with the offensive line giving itself and the Tigers’ backs a chance with better communication up front.

“We’ve got too many guys that should be blocked unblocked,” Swinney said. “It’s one thing to get beat on a block. It’s another thing when we’re not targeted properly because we didn’t communicate, somebody didn’t get the point and we’re working to the wrong (line)backer or whatever. Just cleaning up our communication is the main thing.”

Chemistry and cohesion among the retooled unit has been a work in progress since fall camp. Clemson has two first-year starters on the line, including true freshman Marcus Tate at left guard. And of the three starting linemen back from last season, two of them — center Matt Bockhorst and left tackle Jordan McFadden — are playing new positions.

Swinney has never questioned the line’s effort, but breakdowns in fundamentals and technique up front have been too frequent. Against a Georgia Tech defense that routinely devoted more defenders to coverage than run support, Clemson ran the ball a season-high 41 times. It was effective in spurts (Will Shipley and quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei averaged better than 4 yards per carry), but the Tigers only averaged 3.9 yards per attempt.

Clemson has netted just 160 rushing yards against its first two FBS opponents, which includes Georgia, the nation’s stiffest run defense the last two seasons.

Swinney said it was “just not fair” to Tate at times given the freshman’s lack of experience against a Tech that showed a completely different look than Clemson was expecting. Swinney didn’t allude to any changes among the starting five for Clemson’s game at North Carolina State on Saturday but reiterated he wants to get more linemen in the game after the starters logged all 66 snaps against Tech.

“We think we have eight guys that really deserve to play,” Swinney said. “That was a disappointment from the other night.”

As for the communication, Clemson has almost gone overboard in trying to get the team adequately prepared for its first true road game of the season. The Tigers amped up the volume and piped in artificial crowd noise during Wednesday’s indoor practice to mimic the environment that will accompany their trip to Carter Finley Stadium.

“My ears are still ringing,” Swinney said after the practice. “We try to make it unrealistic because if you can function in practice with the type of noise that we pipe in here for practice and being inside, if we can function that way, then we’ll be fine on game day.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Tigers come to defense of true freshman OL

It’s been said over and over again, but Georgia Tech showed Clemson a bunch of looks that the Tigers weren’t expecting. Clemson had to adjust. But, it’s easier said than done for veteran offensive linemen, who’ve been there, done that. Not so much …

It’s been said over and over again, but Georgia Tech showed Clemson a bunch of looks that the Tigers weren’t expecting.

Clemson had to adjust.

But, it’s easier said than done for veteran offensive linemen, who’ve been there, done that. Not so much for a true freshman experiencing the first conference matchup of his collegiate career.

That was apparent last Saturday for Marcus Tate, who struggled to deal with Georgia Tech’s interior front during Clemson’s 14-8 win over the Yellow Jackets.

On Monday, Tate’s teammates and coaches came to his defense. The Tigers touted their offensive line depth coming out of fall camp, but they haven’t exactly had the opportunities to utilize it, which left Tate in a sink or swim situation Saturday.

“In fairness to Marcus, that’s tough on a freshman,” Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “You go in, you prepare all week and then you get into the game and you’re looking at something that you hadn’t seen. We’re on the sideline, we’re able to make adjustments with some of the older guys, so it was a little bit tough on him. We got to help him with trying to find some more depth at that left guard position to help him in some situations.”

Matt Bockhorst, who was fiery as can be on Saturday and then peeled back the curtain a bit further Monday, echoed Eliott’s sentiment.

“Obviously, Marcus Tate is in there as a true freshman,” Bockhorst said. “He’s a young guy, he’s got a lot to learn. He’s gonna be a very good player and you know what? I’m not sure many other true freshmen could do what he’s doing, regardless of the mistakes he’s making.”

Jordan McFadden was asked about how hard it is for a true freshman like Tate to be thrust into the fire in a big conference matchup like that.

“It’s absolutely tough for him,” McFadden said. “Being a freshman, being in that position in a big game. It’s definitely gotta be stressful, it’s gotta be hard. I’m super confident in him. He puts in the work. He’s out here asking questions, he’s watching film on his own, watching film with me, different things like that. As challenging as it is for him, I know that he cares so much, that’s he trying to learn, grow and get better.”

Bockhorst was asked about his view of the collective offensive line coming into the season and why things may not be going the way they want. The effort is there, but there are minute details, like communication that just haven’t been there, when the Tigers need it to be.

It’s worth mentioning that both Bockhorst and McFadden have changed positions since last season, going from left guard to center and right tackle to left tackle, respectively. Tate is obviously in there as a true freshman, while Will Putnam and Walker Parks have experience, but not as vast as the other veterans on the line.

“First off, you have a lot of guys at different positions, myself included,” Bockhorst said. “You got a true freshman there at left guard, who is gonna be a great player like I said. Marcus is gonna be a very, very good player. There’s just a lot of things to learn as a true freshman. To go and play offensive line as a true freshman is really, really hard.”

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Clemson still working on its depth at this position

As Clemson’s first game against Georgia grew closer in late August, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney expressed optimism about the depth being built along the Tigers’ offensive line. There were nine – and as many as 10 – linemen Swinney said he’d be …

As Clemson’s first game against Georgia grew closer in late August, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney expressed optimism about the depth being built along the Tigers’ offensive line. There were nine — and as many as 10 — linemen Swinney said he’d be comfortable playing if Clemson had to play a game then.

Fast forward three games into Clemson’s season, and those words haven’t exactly translated onto the field.

The Tigers have played more than 10 offensive linemen in a game, but the only time the count has been that high was their 49-3 rout of FCS member South Carolina State when the lopsided score allowed Clemson to empty its bench. Clemson played just six linemen in that opener against Georgia. And in the Tigers’ great escape against Georgia Tech over the weekend, the starting five logged all 66 offensive snaps.

“Yeah, we’ve got to play more guys,” Swinney said this week.

Some of the depth up front has taken a hit with three backup linemen already done for the season. Tayquon Johnson, John Williams and freshman Dietrick Pennington have all sustained season-ending injuries, but the bulk of Clemson’s top nine up front remains intact.

Hunter Rayburn and Mason Trotter competed throughout camp for the starting center job along with Matt Bockhorst, who slid over from left guard after winning out. Swinney said Rayburn and Trotter were capable of playing guard if that competition didn’t go their way.

But Trotter is dealing with an injury of his own. A broken hand means the sophomore is limited to repping at guard for the time being, but Rayburn is the only one of the two that’s gotten game reps to this point. Paul Tchio, the only lineman outside of the starting five that got in against Georgia, has seen the most playing time of any backup as freshman Marcus Tate’s backup at left guard, though that’s not saying much.

The same could be said for the tackle spots, where Mitchell Mayes and freshman Tristan Leigh have only spared Jordan McFadden and Walker Parks during the S.C. State game. Swinney said he planned on playing more linemen against Tech, but the competitiveness of the game didn’t provide many opportunities to do so.

Still, Swinney said it’s on the coaching staff to find spots to rotate more linemen.

“Being able to get (Trotter) in there some,” Swinney said. “We need to get Rayburn going. Give them some more opportunity and let them see what they can do in some game situations.”

McFadden shared his coach’s sentiment. While Clemson’s senior left tackle said he likes the challenge of playing every snap, he added he has confidence in the depth behind the starting five to perform well. He also acknowledged there’s no better way for some of the younger linemen to develop while simultaneously giving the starters a breather than to get in-game experience.

“The only way to grow is you make mistakes. You have to learn from them,” McFadden said. “So I think once they get in, they’ll see the film and see areas they need to improve. And I think they’ll get better.”

While right guard Will Putnam is the only starter back up front playing the same position he did last season, offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said the group’s collective performance during camp gave the coaching staff hope that it would be further along in its development than it is through three games. But it’s clear there’s plenty of work still to do.

While the group hasn’t allowed a sack since Georgia racked up seven in Week 1, technical breakdowns and missed assignments are still issues at times, particularly in the running game. With their backs not having much room to operate, the Tigers’ 4.02 yards per rush are the fourth-fewest in the ACC.

The bond up front is a work in progress regardless of who’s doing the blocking.

“It’s just taking a little bit of time for the cohesion and chemistry of those guys to come together,” Elliott said. “In the past, we’ve had it happen quickly, but this is a situation where it’s taking a little bit of time. And, as coaches, we’ve got to do a good job of just trying to help them week in and week out as they kind of find their rhythm and cohesion together as a unit of five.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Clemson eagerly awaits a game day nearly two years in the making

It can be difficult to generate excitement within a team and its fan base when an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision level is up next on the schedule. For Clemson, that won’t be the case Saturday. The enthusiasm won’t be geared …

It can be difficult to generate excitement within a team and its fan base when an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision level is up next on the schedule.

For Clemson, that won’t be the case Saturday.

The enthusiasm won’t be geared toward the Tigers’ game against South Carolina State as much as it will be the environment surrounding it inside Memorial Stadium. Because, for the first time in a long time, things will be much closer to normal.

“This is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

There will still be reminders of the coronavirus pandemic that’s still prevalent across the country. Clemson, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, will be offering free vaccinations at facilities near the stadium on game days. Fans are also encouraged to wear masks inside the stadium when not eating and drinking as part of the school’s gameday operations (though they’re not required), and the fans’ traditional Gathering at the Paw following home wins still isn’t being permitted just yet.

But, unlike last season, there won’t be any restrictions on attendance. Capacity at Memorial Stadium was limited to 19,000 fans at each home game a season ago, or roughly 23% of the stadium’s 81,500 seats. Saturday will mark the Tigers’ first time playing in front of a home crowd at full capacity since a 52-3 win over Wake Forest game on Nov. 16, 2019.

Tailgating will return to a more traditional experience for fans with parking lots set to open at 8 a.m. for Saturday’s game, which starts at 5 p.m. Should any future home games kick off prior to 3:30 p.m., the lots will open at 6 a.m.

And the team will continue its entrance onto the field by running down the hill like always. Freshman offensive lineman Marcus Tate said that’s something he’s been looking forward to ever since he watched the pregame tradition in person when he visited as a recruit for the Tigers’ game against Texas A&M in 2019, even if he’s still debating how much flare he wants to add to his jog.

“My adrenaline was through the roof then, so I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like this Saturday,” Tate said. “I don’t know. I might make a little jump. I’m not really fearful of anything, so I’ll jump if it seems right.”

For all of Clemson’s first- and second-year players, it will be their first time taking part in it in front of a packed house.

“I think that’s one of the huge reasons why I’m so excited for this game,” freshman running back Will Shipley said. “Just running down that hill with all those fans, it’s going to be crazy. I get chills just talking about it.

“I really don’t have too many words other than I know that feeling is going to be something I can tell my kids about. It’s going to be awesome.”

Clemson’s coaches and players got a taste of normalcy last week when 74,187 fans packed into Bank of America Stadium to watch Clemson play Georgia to a 10-3 loss in Charlotte. Swinney said that environment was one of the best aspects about the Tigers’ season opener.

“It was awesome. It really was awesome,” Swinney said. “The roar of the crowd, the pageantry and the ebbs and flows that came with it were really just great to have back in the game,” Swinney said. “I’m excited for our guys to be able to experience Death Valley these next couple of weeks that we’re going to be here. It’s going to be a great experience and great opportunity for everyone.”

Once the game starts, Clemson will take a break in action to honor assistant coach and former running back C.J. Spiller for his pending induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Saturday will also be First Responders Day on the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

It will all be part of a game day at Clemson that many inside and outside of the program have been eagerly anticipating for a while.

“I know it’s going to be a great day here. Our young men are super excited about going out, playing and hopefully playing our best game and building upon that.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Tate aims to benefit from baptism by fire

It didn’t take long for Marcus Tate to show his age. On Clemson’s first offensive snap of the season, the Tigers’ freshman left guard drove off the ball and helped anchor a double team on Georgia nose tackle Jordan Davis with running back Kobe Pace …

It didn’t take long for Marcus Tate to show his age.

On Clemson’s first offensive snap of the season, the Tigers’ freshman left guard drove off the ball and helped anchor a double team on Georgia nose tackle Jordan Davis with running back Kobe Pace following behind him. Problem was, Tate was supposed to scrape off and pick up inside linebacker Nakobe Dean, who was coming through the middle of Clemson’ offensive line on a run blitz.

The mental error played a part in turning what could’ve been an explosive play on the ground into just a 2-yard run for Pace. With Georgia’s 6-foot-6, 340-pound defensive lineman lined up just inches away from him, Tate understandably got sidetracked.

“I was pretty locked in on blocking (Davis), and I think, from a mental standpoint, that’s where I need to get better,” Tate said.

All things considered, though, Tate said he largely felt comfortable in his first start just nine months after arriving on Clemson’s campus as one of the top recruits in the Tigers’ 2021 signing class. A tackle during his prep days at University School in Sunrise, Florida, Tate went through spring practice at guard as an early enrollee and stayed there throughout fall camp.

Tate said he largely feels comfortable on the interior with as many reps as he’s gotten there over the last nine months. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Tate had earned the right to start once Clemson decided to go with Matt Bockhorst at center given the way Tate has routinely performed against one of the country’s top defensive lines in practice.

“It’s not like he hasn’t seen good people,” Swinney said. “He’s been going against (Bryan) Bresee and those guys all spring and all camp.”

Tate is still working to get comfortable mentally in the Tigers’ offense, and Swinney said there are fundamental improvements that need to be made, including footwork and hand placement. Tate said he’s made strides with his footwork thanks in part to some offseason work both inside and outside of the sport. Tate, who played basketball for four years in high school, went back to the hardwood to help with that.

“I did a lot of post moves and stuff like that to help with my feet and just leverage and stuff,” Tate said.

Getting his introduction against another formidable defensive line in front of a national television audience, though, was baptism by fire for the youngster. Yet Tate said he couldn’t have asked for a better experience in terms of assisting with his long-term development.

“(Davis) gave me a lot of stuff I know that I need to work on from now on,” Tate said. “It was a blessing to go against him and that defense because now I know where I’m at. It also gave me a sense of where I think I belong on the field, and I was blessed to have the opportunity to play against a defense like that.”

Seeing a defensive front like Georgia’s early also opened Tate’s eyes to a different level of physicality that’s required when squaring off against elite teams on the interior, something he said he’s also emphasized since he moved to guard.

“I’ve just been trying to adapt to being more aggressive at that position and just having faster feet there,” Tate said.

Swinney said he has few doubts about the 6-foot-4, 325-pounder’s potential at the position.

“He played tough. He played physically,” Swinney said. “Not very good fundamentally. Again, this is the first time this kid has played, but he’s the best guy.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!