MONDAY CLEMSON FOOTBALL NUGGETS
By: Larry Williams and Michael Neal
*** A reminder, this is very informal and is merely a collection of quick quotes from today's interviews. Videos will be included in this thread later. ***
(Unedited due to time constraints)
TONY ELLIOTT (Larry)
-- Elliott said it was tough watching the offense struggle after an open date because he genuinely thought the guys were ready to play their best game. Said they handled the noise extremely well in practice leading up to the game.
-- Said the coaches need to do a better job of helping these guys loosen up and play more freely.
"The biggest challenge is pushing the right buttons with players."
Said this offense is different from past groups because there aren't as many vocal leaders.
Said the coaches have to challenge these guys, but also accentuate the positive and their potential while encouraging them not to pay any attention to outside negativity.
Said it's been a different year for everybody in college football, playing in a pandemic with full stadiums again and NIL pressures.
-- He was asked about the tempo and said they can speed things up, but it was hard to do that amid all the noise at the Carrier Dome.
-- Said they went under center in part because they have two bigger, more physical backs who are adept at running downhill. Said that might be a part of the offense moving forward as they try to hone in on an identity.
-- Said Mason Trotter played really well with the exception of the high snap. Said they found out at 10 AM on Friday that Huntery Rayburn was out with COVID.
-- He was asked if he's ever been this deep into a season still trying to figure out his offense's identity. He said no.
"It's challenging, but at the same time exciting because I can't wait until it takes off."
-- He was asked how much the playbook has been scaled down. He said it's largely the same playbook they've always had, but said they "can't throw everything on the table as we try to get these guys comfortable and develop an identity."
"As guys get going and we get our depth back, we can open it up."
-- Said his biggest concern about this offense so far is the lack of explosive plays.
-- They are hoping to get Will Shipley back in practice this week.
-- Said EJ Williams' surgery went well.
-- Said DJ has gotten better each week and is improving. He was asked about putting Taisun Phommachanh in and said they don't want to disrupt the progress they have going with DJ. He did add that Phommachanh's role will expand moving forward.
-- Said Syracuse's sacks came as a result of guys (Marcus Tate and Will Putnam) losing their 1-on-1 matchups.
-- Said he needs to do a better job of finding ways to get the offense in a rhythm when things aren't going well.
-- Said this matchup against Pitt invites big-play opportunities down the field because of the way their defense is structured. Said they leave their defensive backs on islands and Clemson has been able to hit on a lot of big plays downfield in its past meetings against Pitt. Said they have to protect well.
BRENT VENABLES (Michael Neal)
- Was asked what he's seen from Kenny Pickett. Said he had a great year last year. Was impressed with what he's seen this year as well.
- Said Tyler Venables continues to get better and better. Said he's still learning how to play safety, but was very impressed with how he played.
- Said he thought the defense played "solid" as a whole. Was disappointed with early run defense, but was pleased with effort.
- Was asked about the differences he's seen in Pitt's offense over the course of past years. Said their offense is more pass-centered. Said a lot of pre-snap motion Pitt uses is the same.
- Said Pitt's offensive tempo is tremendous, averaging just over 80 plays per game.
- Said game plan against receivers isn't focused on just one guy. Said they have to play well in coverage to limit all of their receivers.
- Said keys to getting Pitt's offense off-schedule are limiting the run game early, making the "layups" hard, execution
- Said Andrew Booth is good to go this week. Said they will monitor how he practices.
- Said he's been very impressed with RJ Mickens. Said he came in with functional strength and a great feel for the game and it shows. Said he plays fast.
- Was asked if the offensive struggles have strained the defense at all. Said they don't look at it that way. Said you have strengths and weaknesses as a team. Said they don't focus on the other side of the ball. Said in the past they've been fortunate to have really good offenses to cover inefficiencies on defense.
"Both sides of the ball will have tough moments."
- Said overall the team is "really close." Said they are one or two plays away from being 5-1 or even 6-0.
- Said despite deficiencies, team is still 4-2 and still has a chance to have a really great year. Said the good teams get better from the beginning of the year to the end.
D.J. UIAGALELEI (Michael Neal)
- Said "slowly but surely" he's starting to feel more comfortable. Said he has been more comfortable in the pocket. Said the longer he plays, the more comfortable he feels.
- Said objective this week is to put up more points. Said a big part of that is turning extended drives into touchdowns.
- Said they all know they can make plays. Said they just have to go out and do it.
- Said being a vocal leader is something he has to be as a QB. Said he's going to focus on using his voice more, and that's something he wants to continue to try to do.
- Said sometimes they might be in their own head. Said they know how good they can be, and sometimes their strive for perfection leads to mistakes.
- Said the past couple weeks he's been trying to think less and tried to trust himself and just play.
- Said he feels like they're "right there." Said they have to limit beating themselves.
- Said he's been impressed with what Phil Mafah brings to the table. Said he appreciates having multiple backs that all bring unique aspects to the running game.
- Said operating under center is something they will continue to utilize.
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By: Larry Williams and Michael Neal
*** A reminder, this is very informal and is merely a collection of quick quotes from today's interviews. Videos will be included in this thread later. ***
(Unedited due to time constraints)
TONY ELLIOTT (Larry)
-- Elliott said it was tough watching the offense struggle after an open date because he genuinely thought the guys were ready to play their best game. Said they handled the noise extremely well in practice leading up to the game.
-- Said the coaches need to do a better job of helping these guys loosen up and play more freely.
"The biggest challenge is pushing the right buttons with players."
Said this offense is different from past groups because there aren't as many vocal leaders.
Said the coaches have to challenge these guys, but also accentuate the positive and their potential while encouraging them not to pay any attention to outside negativity.
Said it's been a different year for everybody in college football, playing in a pandemic with full stadiums again and NIL pressures.
-- He was asked about the tempo and said they can speed things up, but it was hard to do that amid all the noise at the Carrier Dome.
-- Said they went under center in part because they have two bigger, more physical backs who are adept at running downhill. Said that might be a part of the offense moving forward as they try to hone in on an identity.
-- Said Mason Trotter played really well with the exception of the high snap. Said they found out at 10 AM on Friday that Huntery Rayburn was out with COVID.
-- He was asked if he's ever been this deep into a season still trying to figure out his offense's identity. He said no.
"It's challenging, but at the same time exciting because I can't wait until it takes off."
-- He was asked how much the playbook has been scaled down. He said it's largely the same playbook they've always had, but said they "can't throw everything on the table as we try to get these guys comfortable and develop an identity."
"As guys get going and we get our depth back, we can open it up."
-- Said his biggest concern about this offense so far is the lack of explosive plays.
-- They are hoping to get Will Shipley back in practice this week.
-- Said EJ Williams' surgery went well.
-- Said DJ has gotten better each week and is improving. He was asked about putting Taisun Phommachanh in and said they don't want to disrupt the progress they have going with DJ. He did add that Phommachanh's role will expand moving forward.
-- Said Syracuse's sacks came as a result of guys (Marcus Tate and Will Putnam) losing their 1-on-1 matchups.
-- Said he needs to do a better job of finding ways to get the offense in a rhythm when things aren't going well.
-- Said this matchup against Pitt invites big-play opportunities down the field because of the way their defense is structured. Said they leave their defensive backs on islands and Clemson has been able to hit on a lot of big plays downfield in its past meetings against Pitt. Said they have to protect well.
BRENT VENABLES (Michael Neal)
- Was asked what he's seen from Kenny Pickett. Said he had a great year last year. Was impressed with what he's seen this year as well.
- Said Tyler Venables continues to get better and better. Said he's still learning how to play safety, but was very impressed with how he played.
- Said he thought the defense played "solid" as a whole. Was disappointed with early run defense, but was pleased with effort.
- Was asked about the differences he's seen in Pitt's offense over the course of past years. Said their offense is more pass-centered. Said a lot of pre-snap motion Pitt uses is the same.
- Said Pitt's offensive tempo is tremendous, averaging just over 80 plays per game.
- Said game plan against receivers isn't focused on just one guy. Said they have to play well in coverage to limit all of their receivers.
- Said keys to getting Pitt's offense off-schedule are limiting the run game early, making the "layups" hard, execution
- Said Andrew Booth is good to go this week. Said they will monitor how he practices.
- Said he's been very impressed with RJ Mickens. Said he came in with functional strength and a great feel for the game and it shows. Said he plays fast.
- Was asked if the offensive struggles have strained the defense at all. Said they don't look at it that way. Said you have strengths and weaknesses as a team. Said they don't focus on the other side of the ball. Said in the past they've been fortunate to have really good offenses to cover inefficiencies on defense.
"Both sides of the ball will have tough moments."
- Said overall the team is "really close." Said they are one or two plays away from being 5-1 or even 6-0.
- Said despite deficiencies, team is still 4-2 and still has a chance to have a really great year. Said the good teams get better from the beginning of the year to the end.
D.J. UIAGALELEI (Michael Neal)
- Said "slowly but surely" he's starting to feel more comfortable. Said he has been more comfortable in the pocket. Said the longer he plays, the more comfortable he feels.
- Said objective this week is to put up more points. Said a big part of that is turning extended drives into touchdowns.
- Said they all know they can make plays. Said they just have to go out and do it.
- Said being a vocal leader is something he has to be as a QB. Said he's going to focus on using his voice more, and that's something he wants to continue to try to do.
- Said sometimes they might be in their own head. Said they know how good they can be, and sometimes their strive for perfection leads to mistakes.
- Said the past couple weeks he's been trying to think less and tried to trust himself and just play.
- Said he feels like they're "right there." Said they have to limit beating themselves.
- Said he's been impressed with what Phil Mafah brings to the table. Said he appreciates having multiple backs that all bring unique aspects to the running game.
- Said operating under center is something they will continue to utilize.
**** ATTENTION SUBSCRIBERS: You can now read the premium message boards at Gamecockcentral.com, Warchant.com, UGASports.com and other sites in the Rivals.com network. Click HERE to get access to their premium message boards!
