TUESDAY A.M. CLEMSON FOOTBALL NUGGETS
By: Larry Williams and Grayson Mann
(From today's media outing in Clemson. Some initial notes/quotes from Clemson's assistant defensive coaches. Offensive coaches and of course Dabo Swinney to come later today).
NICK EASON (Larry)
-- He's making no effort to slow the Peter Woods hype train. Said he's never seen anyone like Woods at 18 years of age. Said he has the respect of his teammates and everyone. He's a natural-born leader.
Also said he's fully developed physically in a way you don't see often if at all.
-- Asked him how comfortable he is moving Woods around. Said he cross-trains all his players inside and out.
-- Said Tre Williams, Payton Page and DeMonte Capehart have taken huge steps this offseason.
-- Capehart has been taking care of his body and becoming more flexible.
-- Said the defensive line has to generate more pressure with four, and that means winning more 1-on-1 battles.
WES GOODWIN (Larry)
-- Goodwin said Xavier Thomas and Justin Mascoll are in a different spot than they've been in the past. Really proud of them and the offseasons they've put together.
-- Said Andrew Mukuba has had an excellent offseason. Goodwin pointed out that he's gotten healthy, and that's something he wasn't last year. Said he was "really broken down" for much of last season.
He's added weight and mass. "Really excited with where he's at."
I asked Goodwin if Mukuba will continue to move around. He said he'll play either nickel or strong safety.
-- Goodwin said last year hammered home the fact that "this position will grind you up." He said it's one thing for your job to be making suggestions, and totally different when you're the guy calling the plays under the lights and managing players and their personalities. Said this time last year he had no idea how hard it was going to be. Said he's in a much better spot now in so many ways.
-- Goodwin said everyone on defense has a chip on their shoulders after last year, and you've been able to see it every day during the offseason.
-- With so many versatile players at all three levels, I asked him about the challenge of balancing that with being simple enough to allow his guys to play fast and instinctive. He said that's indeed a challenge, because you want to create cohesion and confidence that comes with guys playing side by side. "You don't want to create a lot of variables."
-- They spent the spring focusing hard on creating more turnovers. "You get what you emphasize," he said.
-- Asked him about Khalil Barnes and Shelton Lewis. He said Barnes is talented and wise beyond his years. Said he could be a guy who plays a lot of special teams and then gets in the rotation "at nickel, safety, whatever."
He said Lewis has been all about his business. "We'll see how it all shakes out in August."
-- Goodwin said they definitely want to play their best 11 on defense.
He's confident in what they have at DE, but if they need to go big with three defensive tackles against bigger teams (Notre Dame, Boston College, etc.) they'll do that. But by and large this defense's DNA against 11 personnel offenses is a 4-2-5.
MIKE REED (Grayson)
-- Said this is the most depth they've had since he's been here.
-- Trying to emphasize to everyone that they're one play away from being the starter.
-- Sheridan Jones is "a wise man." His last hurrah. Time to go out and utilize all the skills that he's acquired.
-- Reed's expectation for Wes Goodwin in Year 2: "It's going to be a better product."
-- He said "having that chip on the shoulder, something to prove is what you need in college football."
-- Said Nate Wiggins can improve in every aspect.
MICKEY CONN (Grayson)
-- Khalil Barnes and Sherrod Covil both have a role to play at the safety position and have grown tremendously.
--- R.J. MIckens is a playmaker. When he's in the game, things happen. he will be in that starting rotation.
-- Confidence is the biggest issue for Andrew Mukuba. He's been through the hills and valleys and is ready for the grind.
LEMANSKI HALL (Grayson)
-- Pure excitement when he learned XT and Mascoll were returning.
-- Said he has guys with plenty of experience who can lead the way.
-- For XT it's all about availability and accountability. Said he saw Xavier at the recent Ladies Clinic and he looks great and is in a better state of mind.
**** NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other sites/message boards or social media, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you!
By: Larry Williams and Grayson Mann
(From today's media outing in Clemson. Some initial notes/quotes from Clemson's assistant defensive coaches. Offensive coaches and of course Dabo Swinney to come later today).
NICK EASON (Larry)
-- He's making no effort to slow the Peter Woods hype train. Said he's never seen anyone like Woods at 18 years of age. Said he has the respect of his teammates and everyone. He's a natural-born leader.
Also said he's fully developed physically in a way you don't see often if at all.
-- Asked him how comfortable he is moving Woods around. Said he cross-trains all his players inside and out.
-- Said Tre Williams, Payton Page and DeMonte Capehart have taken huge steps this offseason.
-- Capehart has been taking care of his body and becoming more flexible.
-- Said the defensive line has to generate more pressure with four, and that means winning more 1-on-1 battles.
WES GOODWIN (Larry)
-- Goodwin said Xavier Thomas and Justin Mascoll are in a different spot than they've been in the past. Really proud of them and the offseasons they've put together.
-- Said Andrew Mukuba has had an excellent offseason. Goodwin pointed out that he's gotten healthy, and that's something he wasn't last year. Said he was "really broken down" for much of last season.
He's added weight and mass. "Really excited with where he's at."
I asked Goodwin if Mukuba will continue to move around. He said he'll play either nickel or strong safety.
-- Goodwin said last year hammered home the fact that "this position will grind you up." He said it's one thing for your job to be making suggestions, and totally different when you're the guy calling the plays under the lights and managing players and their personalities. Said this time last year he had no idea how hard it was going to be. Said he's in a much better spot now in so many ways.
-- Goodwin said everyone on defense has a chip on their shoulders after last year, and you've been able to see it every day during the offseason.
-- With so many versatile players at all three levels, I asked him about the challenge of balancing that with being simple enough to allow his guys to play fast and instinctive. He said that's indeed a challenge, because you want to create cohesion and confidence that comes with guys playing side by side. "You don't want to create a lot of variables."
-- They spent the spring focusing hard on creating more turnovers. "You get what you emphasize," he said.
-- Asked him about Khalil Barnes and Shelton Lewis. He said Barnes is talented and wise beyond his years. Said he could be a guy who plays a lot of special teams and then gets in the rotation "at nickel, safety, whatever."
He said Lewis has been all about his business. "We'll see how it all shakes out in August."
-- Goodwin said they definitely want to play their best 11 on defense.
He's confident in what they have at DE, but if they need to go big with three defensive tackles against bigger teams (Notre Dame, Boston College, etc.) they'll do that. But by and large this defense's DNA against 11 personnel offenses is a 4-2-5.
MIKE REED (Grayson)
-- Said this is the most depth they've had since he's been here.
-- Trying to emphasize to everyone that they're one play away from being the starter.
-- Sheridan Jones is "a wise man." His last hurrah. Time to go out and utilize all the skills that he's acquired.
-- Reed's expectation for Wes Goodwin in Year 2: "It's going to be a better product."
-- He said "having that chip on the shoulder, something to prove is what you need in college football."
-- Said Nate Wiggins can improve in every aspect.
MICKEY CONN (Grayson)
-- Khalil Barnes and Sherrod Covil both have a role to play at the safety position and have grown tremendously.
--- R.J. MIckens is a playmaker. When he's in the game, things happen. he will be in that starting rotation.
-- Confidence is the biggest issue for Andrew Mukuba. He's been through the hills and valleys and is ready for the grind.
LEMANSKI HALL (Grayson)
-- Pure excitement when he learned XT and Mascoll were returning.
-- Said he has guys with plenty of experience who can lead the way.
-- For XT it's all about availability and accountability. Said he saw Xavier at the recent Ladies Clinic and he looks great and is in a better state of mind.
**** NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other sites/message boards or social media, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you!
