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TUESDAY CLEMSON FOOTBALL NUGGETS
By: Paul Strelow
Assessing some personnel developments as Clemson moves forward from its opening night victory against Georgia Tech:
**** True freshman receiver Antonio Williams is on the escalator up.
Under Dabo Swinney, it usually takes time for a newcomer to gain a significant role. Part of the plan and culture is that he has to earn it, and to surpass veterans on the depth chart, it has to be a knockout victory with a substantial body of evidence.
Round One scored decidedly for Williams.
Williams interestingly got his first extended time via usage in Clemson's two-minute offense to end the opening half, and it made a difference in pace and speed at which the Tigers functioned.
As has been cited throughout recruiting and preseason, Williams showed that he brings dimensions of quickness and make-you-miss abilities Clemson otherwise appears to lack within the receiver stable.
An important factor in the ascension of a Clemson freshman is that it's plain to see for everyone. There can and should be little dispute for his promotion, although it's not always easy for the older player to take.
We believe Williams checked the next box by proving it under the lights in his first primetime game.
He's coming.
Clemson true freshman wide receiver Antonio Williams will pick up additional responsibility in the coming weeks and months. (AP)
**** In this observer's eye, the offensive line ranks pretty low on the concerns list coming out of the first showing.
Yes, freshman Blake Miller's youth and inexperience got exposed in pass-rush situations as the game went on. That forced the playcalling to adjust and give running back protection help in obvious passing situations, and the pressure negatively impacted the passing game.
For one, that's a standard growing pain. Same thing happened to Rivals100 offensive lineman Walker Howard in his first start at left tackle for LSU on Sunday night.
Doesn't mean they stink and aren't going to be good players. But you're running them through the ringer now to get to their anticipated benefits and ceiling faster. Moreover, you don't play a true freshman offensive lineman if you feel you have a better veteran option, and Clemson has made its statement there.
Miller's development is a process, and here's believing the Tigers wise to stick to it unless confidence becomes too big a factor. Which, frankly, it probably shouldn't over the next two or three games.
The rest of the offensive line wasn't perfect. But overall, we considered it solid.
Absolutely, a missed assignment here and there contributed to diminished run game returns -- especially within the interior linemen. They will need to be better.
Yet our view was that the overall run game challenges had as much to do with Georgia Tech not respecting the passing game or DJ Uiagalelei as a running threat.
To be clear, put us in the camp that Uiagalelei warrants credit or clearance for a lot of improvements demonstrated Monday night. But there are more rushing yards on the table with upgrades in read-option decision-making, getting into gear faster as well as making run situations less predictable.
**** Maybe the real Bryan Bresee is back after all.
We spent much of the preseason tempering expectations for Bresee coming off major knee surgery based on a number of our early camp returns. Moreover, the hype shifted to Ruke Orhorhoro and his presence as perhaps an equivalent No. 3 starter, so to speak.
Well, Bresee showed he is still the alpha in the opening sample size - arguably one of the leading positives for Clemson coming out of the gate.
**** Aidan Swanson, take a bow.
It's a long season and premature to render judgment yet. But five of the six punts were better than we'd imagined him executing a month ago. An encouraging start for the new starting punter.
True freshman linebacker Wade Woodaz put in an impressive off-season and that momentum carried over in Atlanta Labor Day night. (Ken Ruinard - USA Today Sports)
And yes, we're still patting ourselves on the back for identifying freshman linebacker Wade Woodaz as a punt-blocking weapon at the second August practice.
Woodaz was the first freshman to garner a defensive snap in what we'd term competitive game action, getting on the field during the third quarter. Sherrod Covil then got run as a safety midway through the fourth quarter when the Tigers made it a three-score game, and corners Toriano Pride and Jeadyn Lukus got mop-up duty in the final minute.
**** Some of the toughest catches were made by Clemson's tight ends. Again, just saying.
**** A bit of a rough night for the secondary. Neither starting corner -- Sheridan Jones or Fred Davis -- bathed himself in glory, and safety Andrew Mukuba had a tough time after his opening interception. The dropped pick-6 could have been Nate Wiggins' introduction to the larger college football world.
Clemson's coverages were designed to surrender the short stuff, allow eyes up for the running quarterback and prevent the big play. So missions mostly accomplished.
But we would bet the coaches push for a higher standard of performance as the Tigers build up to passing teams in Wake Forest and, maybe more particularly, NC State.
MARKED DOWN officially-licensed CLEMSON gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
TUESDAY CLEMSON FOOTBALL NUGGETS
By: Paul Strelow
Assessing some personnel developments as Clemson moves forward from its opening night victory against Georgia Tech:
**** True freshman receiver Antonio Williams is on the escalator up.
Under Dabo Swinney, it usually takes time for a newcomer to gain a significant role. Part of the plan and culture is that he has to earn it, and to surpass veterans on the depth chart, it has to be a knockout victory with a substantial body of evidence.
Round One scored decidedly for Williams.
Williams interestingly got his first extended time via usage in Clemson's two-minute offense to end the opening half, and it made a difference in pace and speed at which the Tigers functioned.
As has been cited throughout recruiting and preseason, Williams showed that he brings dimensions of quickness and make-you-miss abilities Clemson otherwise appears to lack within the receiver stable.
An important factor in the ascension of a Clemson freshman is that it's plain to see for everyone. There can and should be little dispute for his promotion, although it's not always easy for the older player to take.
We believe Williams checked the next box by proving it under the lights in his first primetime game.
He's coming.
Clemson true freshman wide receiver Antonio Williams will pick up additional responsibility in the coming weeks and months. (AP)
**** In this observer's eye, the offensive line ranks pretty low on the concerns list coming out of the first showing.
Yes, freshman Blake Miller's youth and inexperience got exposed in pass-rush situations as the game went on. That forced the playcalling to adjust and give running back protection help in obvious passing situations, and the pressure negatively impacted the passing game.
For one, that's a standard growing pain. Same thing happened to Rivals100 offensive lineman Walker Howard in his first start at left tackle for LSU on Sunday night.
Doesn't mean they stink and aren't going to be good players. But you're running them through the ringer now to get to their anticipated benefits and ceiling faster. Moreover, you don't play a true freshman offensive lineman if you feel you have a better veteran option, and Clemson has made its statement there.
Miller's development is a process, and here's believing the Tigers wise to stick to it unless confidence becomes too big a factor. Which, frankly, it probably shouldn't over the next two or three games.
The rest of the offensive line wasn't perfect. But overall, we considered it solid.
Absolutely, a missed assignment here and there contributed to diminished run game returns -- especially within the interior linemen. They will need to be better.
Yet our view was that the overall run game challenges had as much to do with Georgia Tech not respecting the passing game or DJ Uiagalelei as a running threat.
To be clear, put us in the camp that Uiagalelei warrants credit or clearance for a lot of improvements demonstrated Monday night. But there are more rushing yards on the table with upgrades in read-option decision-making, getting into gear faster as well as making run situations less predictable.
**** Maybe the real Bryan Bresee is back after all.
We spent much of the preseason tempering expectations for Bresee coming off major knee surgery based on a number of our early camp returns. Moreover, the hype shifted to Ruke Orhorhoro and his presence as perhaps an equivalent No. 3 starter, so to speak.
Well, Bresee showed he is still the alpha in the opening sample size - arguably one of the leading positives for Clemson coming out of the gate.
**** Aidan Swanson, take a bow.
It's a long season and premature to render judgment yet. But five of the six punts were better than we'd imagined him executing a month ago. An encouraging start for the new starting punter.
True freshman linebacker Wade Woodaz put in an impressive off-season and that momentum carried over in Atlanta Labor Day night. (Ken Ruinard - USA Today Sports)
And yes, we're still patting ourselves on the back for identifying freshman linebacker Wade Woodaz as a punt-blocking weapon at the second August practice.
Woodaz was the first freshman to garner a defensive snap in what we'd term competitive game action, getting on the field during the third quarter. Sherrod Covil then got run as a safety midway through the fourth quarter when the Tigers made it a three-score game, and corners Toriano Pride and Jeadyn Lukus got mop-up duty in the final minute.
**** Some of the toughest catches were made by Clemson's tight ends. Again, just saying.
**** A bit of a rough night for the secondary. Neither starting corner -- Sheridan Jones or Fred Davis -- bathed himself in glory, and safety Andrew Mukuba had a tough time after his opening interception. The dropped pick-6 could have been Nate Wiggins' introduction to the larger college football world.
Clemson's coverages were designed to surrender the short stuff, allow eyes up for the running quarterback and prevent the big play. So missions mostly accomplished.
But we would bet the coaches push for a higher standard of performance as the Tigers build up to passing teams in Wake Forest and, maybe more particularly, NC State.
MARKED DOWN officially-licensed CLEMSON gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
