TI correspondent Tim Hadsell joined us today for interviews at the West End Zone. Here's some of what he picked up:
Ray-Ray McCloud
Says he feels like he's close to breaking every touch he has in the return game.
"Sometimes you just have to get a feel of the game. I am just used to that stuff coming easy, but I have had to practice hard at it now. It’ll come, though.”
McCloud says he's never been to Sun Life Stadium. Miami recruited him pretty hard his first two years of high school. Said it's a great school and a great place to be but it just wasn't for him. Says his best friend, Tyree St. Louis, plays for the Hurricanes. St. Louis is a backup left tackle.
“It is going to be a fun game playing people from back home," McCloud said.
McCloud said he grew up a Seminoles fan.
"Miami, I have always dreamt of playing against them, and now I’m playing against them in about four or five days so it is going to be fun.”
Travis Blanks
He was asked if this could potentially be an advantage to play in Sun Life Stadium, to kind of get a taste of what the stadium is like if they were to make the College Football Playoff. He was pretty direct in saying it will only be an advantage if they take care of what they need to do each and every week.
Travis also noted that it is going to basically be a family reunion for him in Sun Life Stadium. All of his family is from Fort Meyers and are looking forward to watching him play in their local stadium.
Kevin Dodd
When asked about the pocket passing style of quarterback Brad Kaaya, Dodd stated: “I am pretty excited, just knowing he is a pocket passer and he’ll stand in there to deliver the ball. We’re going to get after him.”
Dodd was asked what stood out to him about the Miami offense. He stated: “They have pretty good size on the offensive line. I feel like their quarterback is really well coached. He is pretty accurate when throwing the ball. So it is a challenge to our back seven and for our defensive line. But I feel like we’ll get the job done.
“The preparation this week is going to be huge because it is an early game. Probably just try to get everything down early in the week. I know I started watching film Sunday. Just getting the game plan down early is going to be important this week.”
Do you look forward to playing more of a passing offense than a running offense?”
"Ohyeah, as a defensive end you want to go against a passing offense. That is your dream. On third down, you want to pass rush. I am very much looking forward to that.”
Mitch Hyatt
On his progress halfway through the season, and whether he feels like a veteran.
“I wouldn’t say veteran, but I have some games under my belt so it definitely helps. I have had some ups and downs so I am definitely not a rookie but I’m also not a veteran just yet.”
This past game against Boston College was the most difficult game for him thus far based on the scheme and personnel. They threw a lot of things at the offensive line. The front seven was well coached, they worked hard every play. Mitch thinks they definitely deserve the ranking as the number one defense in the country.
“I would definitely say it was a good learning experience for me. After watching film I think it is nice to have that game because there probably won’t be anything like that ever again this year. To see all of those different kinds of stunts thrown at me is a really good experience to have.”
Hyatt says his only penalties this season were two false-start infractions. He also thinks that without all the wear and tear on his body compared to the older guys, he feels like he has a little more energy at this point of the season compared to the veterans.
His thoughts on the first half of the season: “I got through it. There are a lot of things I need to work on. This next stretch coming up I need to focus on studying a lot more and being more focused.”
Eric Mac Lain
He was asked about the history of Miami and what are his perceptions on a program with such a rich history.
“Obviously, a storied program extremely excited to play them. I have been here five years and this is the first time we get to play them and go there. Even coach Elliot was talking yesterday about how he is really excited to go against ‘The U’. We are excited to get the opportunity and it is going to be a fun time taking our talents to South Beach.”
He's well aware of the touchdowns Jordan Leggett has scored in four consecutive games. He jokes that it could have been him at this point because he started out as a tight end when he first arrived at Clemson. He says that in good fun; he doesn’t celebrate whenever Leggett scores a touchdown but rather just enviously walk away.
He was asked if it is beneficial to be in a bubble so to speak when it comes to tuning out the outside noise.
“I think so, definitely. With the lack of social media use and controlled environment we have here in Clemson, I just think that not a lot of programs have that opportunity or ability and I think it's something special that we have been able to develop.”
What stands out about Miami’s defense?
“Athletes all over the field; on offense and defense. There is NFL talent everywhere you look. So I think we are going to have to be extremely alert and aware of where their guys are lining up. They are very athletic and do not give away their blitzes because they are fast enough to do so. They can align the same way every time and do something different every time. That is going to be a big challenge for us this week.
He thinks this game is going to be a different level of speed compared to Clemson’s recent games. He believes that this is going to be the "fastest game" Clemson has played when evaluating both teams' personnel.
Ray-Ray McCloud
Says he feels like he's close to breaking every touch he has in the return game.
"Sometimes you just have to get a feel of the game. I am just used to that stuff coming easy, but I have had to practice hard at it now. It’ll come, though.”
McCloud says he's never been to Sun Life Stadium. Miami recruited him pretty hard his first two years of high school. Said it's a great school and a great place to be but it just wasn't for him. Says his best friend, Tyree St. Louis, plays for the Hurricanes. St. Louis is a backup left tackle.
“It is going to be a fun game playing people from back home," McCloud said.
McCloud said he grew up a Seminoles fan.
"Miami, I have always dreamt of playing against them, and now I’m playing against them in about four or five days so it is going to be fun.”
Travis Blanks
He was asked if this could potentially be an advantage to play in Sun Life Stadium, to kind of get a taste of what the stadium is like if they were to make the College Football Playoff. He was pretty direct in saying it will only be an advantage if they take care of what they need to do each and every week.
Travis also noted that it is going to basically be a family reunion for him in Sun Life Stadium. All of his family is from Fort Meyers and are looking forward to watching him play in their local stadium.
Kevin Dodd
When asked about the pocket passing style of quarterback Brad Kaaya, Dodd stated: “I am pretty excited, just knowing he is a pocket passer and he’ll stand in there to deliver the ball. We’re going to get after him.”
Dodd was asked what stood out to him about the Miami offense. He stated: “They have pretty good size on the offensive line. I feel like their quarterback is really well coached. He is pretty accurate when throwing the ball. So it is a challenge to our back seven and for our defensive line. But I feel like we’ll get the job done.
“The preparation this week is going to be huge because it is an early game. Probably just try to get everything down early in the week. I know I started watching film Sunday. Just getting the game plan down early is going to be important this week.”
Do you look forward to playing more of a passing offense than a running offense?”
"Ohyeah, as a defensive end you want to go against a passing offense. That is your dream. On third down, you want to pass rush. I am very much looking forward to that.”
Mitch Hyatt
On his progress halfway through the season, and whether he feels like a veteran.
“I wouldn’t say veteran, but I have some games under my belt so it definitely helps. I have had some ups and downs so I am definitely not a rookie but I’m also not a veteran just yet.”
This past game against Boston College was the most difficult game for him thus far based on the scheme and personnel. They threw a lot of things at the offensive line. The front seven was well coached, they worked hard every play. Mitch thinks they definitely deserve the ranking as the number one defense in the country.
“I would definitely say it was a good learning experience for me. After watching film I think it is nice to have that game because there probably won’t be anything like that ever again this year. To see all of those different kinds of stunts thrown at me is a really good experience to have.”
Hyatt says his only penalties this season were two false-start infractions. He also thinks that without all the wear and tear on his body compared to the older guys, he feels like he has a little more energy at this point of the season compared to the veterans.
His thoughts on the first half of the season: “I got through it. There are a lot of things I need to work on. This next stretch coming up I need to focus on studying a lot more and being more focused.”
Eric Mac Lain
He was asked about the history of Miami and what are his perceptions on a program with such a rich history.
“Obviously, a storied program extremely excited to play them. I have been here five years and this is the first time we get to play them and go there. Even coach Elliot was talking yesterday about how he is really excited to go against ‘The U’. We are excited to get the opportunity and it is going to be a fun time taking our talents to South Beach.”
He's well aware of the touchdowns Jordan Leggett has scored in four consecutive games. He jokes that it could have been him at this point because he started out as a tight end when he first arrived at Clemson. He says that in good fun; he doesn’t celebrate whenever Leggett scores a touchdown but rather just enviously walk away.
He was asked if it is beneficial to be in a bubble so to speak when it comes to tuning out the outside noise.
“I think so, definitely. With the lack of social media use and controlled environment we have here in Clemson, I just think that not a lot of programs have that opportunity or ability and I think it's something special that we have been able to develop.”
What stands out about Miami’s defense?
“Athletes all over the field; on offense and defense. There is NFL talent everywhere you look. So I think we are going to have to be extremely alert and aware of where their guys are lining up. They are very athletic and do not give away their blitzes because they are fast enough to do so. They can align the same way every time and do something different every time. That is going to be a big challenge for us this week.
He thinks this game is going to be a different level of speed compared to Clemson’s recent games. He believes that this is going to be the "fastest game" Clemson has played when evaluating both teams' personnel.
