Dabo Swinney and a few players met with the media after today's practice. A few of the important developments:
-- Kendall Joseph's scope surgery is a further setback to the inside linebacker position. When you lose Stephone Anthony and Tony Steward, then Korie Rogers leaves the team, then Joseph misses much of camp with a shoulder injury, it becomes quite a pressing situation. Losing Korrin Wiggins to a season-ending injury at Nickel/SAM is no small deal, but the staff is much more concerned about the two inside linebacker positions right now. The hopes have been high for Joseph since last fall, when the staff came really close to playing him. They really need to get him back as soon as possible.
-- Taylor Hearn has been one of the major camp storylines. The staff really had no idea he could play tackle, but he's made a very strong case that he can be a viable backup on the left side. That means Eric Mac Lain could conceivably remain inside instead of having to worry about spelling Mitch Hyatt. Jake Fruhmorgen has also made some impressive strides recently.
I asked Swinney who their third-best offensive tackle is. Here was his response:
"I would probably roll with (Fruhmorgen). Mac would probably be the first guy, because we feel really good about the guys inside. But Fruhmorgen is a player, and he is going to be a great player.
"But we have been impressed with Taylor Hearn. And you would not look at him and think he could play left tackle. But he has done a great job for us and has taken great pride in it. I would have no problem playing him at left tackle right now. And that's taken some pressure off of Mac. ... Hearn has shown he can know what to do at guard and tackle. But physically, he gets his hands on people and it's over. I was really skeptical of it at first, but he's taken to it like a fish to water."
Best-case scenario, then, is Hearn and Fruhmorgen establishing themselves as solid backups to Hyatt and Joe Gore, and Mac Lain playing full-time at left guard.
-- A few days ago, in the wake of the news on Wiggins' injury, we suggested that it might not be a huge hit if T.J. Green and Jadar Johnson can solidify themselves as consistent, starter-worthy safeties. Green has put together a really good offseason, but we haven't heard much about Johnson. Swinney told me Johnson has been "solid" thus far.
"Jadar is a very talented player. He can be a little inconsistent with his focus from time to time. But there's no question he can play at a high level, and that's what we need from him."
When the defense goes to a dime package, Kearse becomes the WILL linebacker and it opens up a lot of possibilities with that kind of talent so close to the line.
"It creates a nightmare when you've got that No. 1 up there coming off the edge and doing some different things in the box," Swinney said. "He's a dynamic guy, very smart player. So yeah, we've got a luxury right there with those three guys. It's like having three starters at safety."
-- You've read the rave reviews about Christian Wilkins during camp, and he's definitely carving out a role as a situational player at the very least when the season begins.
"I think he's a guy that can help us from a pass-rush standpoint right out of the gate," Swinney said. "And hopefully eventually he can be an every-down player for us. But he's certainly going to make a difference."
-- Ben Boulware was available for interviews today but didn't seem interested in re-hashing the fight that got him suspended from Saturday's scrimmage. Swinney was asked about Boulware and said: "He's fine. Same old Ben. Hopefully he learned a lesson. If you want to play you've got to stay within the rules."
-- Mackensie Alexander is the best cornerback by far, obviously, and Cordrea Tankersley is the leader to start opposite him. Swinney, though, said there are several reserves who are earning playing time including Adrian Baker and Marcus Edmond. He said Mark Fields is getting better every day. Swinney said Jefferie Gibson has come on at safety.
-- Kendall Joseph's scope surgery is a further setback to the inside linebacker position. When you lose Stephone Anthony and Tony Steward, then Korie Rogers leaves the team, then Joseph misses much of camp with a shoulder injury, it becomes quite a pressing situation. Losing Korrin Wiggins to a season-ending injury at Nickel/SAM is no small deal, but the staff is much more concerned about the two inside linebacker positions right now. The hopes have been high for Joseph since last fall, when the staff came really close to playing him. They really need to get him back as soon as possible.
-- Taylor Hearn has been one of the major camp storylines. The staff really had no idea he could play tackle, but he's made a very strong case that he can be a viable backup on the left side. That means Eric Mac Lain could conceivably remain inside instead of having to worry about spelling Mitch Hyatt. Jake Fruhmorgen has also made some impressive strides recently.
I asked Swinney who their third-best offensive tackle is. Here was his response:
"I would probably roll with (Fruhmorgen). Mac would probably be the first guy, because we feel really good about the guys inside. But Fruhmorgen is a player, and he is going to be a great player.
"But we have been impressed with Taylor Hearn. And you would not look at him and think he could play left tackle. But he has done a great job for us and has taken great pride in it. I would have no problem playing him at left tackle right now. And that's taken some pressure off of Mac. ... Hearn has shown he can know what to do at guard and tackle. But physically, he gets his hands on people and it's over. I was really skeptical of it at first, but he's taken to it like a fish to water."
Best-case scenario, then, is Hearn and Fruhmorgen establishing themselves as solid backups to Hyatt and Joe Gore, and Mac Lain playing full-time at left guard.
-- A few days ago, in the wake of the news on Wiggins' injury, we suggested that it might not be a huge hit if T.J. Green and Jadar Johnson can solidify themselves as consistent, starter-worthy safeties. Green has put together a really good offseason, but we haven't heard much about Johnson. Swinney told me Johnson has been "solid" thus far.
"Jadar is a very talented player. He can be a little inconsistent with his focus from time to time. But there's no question he can play at a high level, and that's what we need from him."
When the defense goes to a dime package, Kearse becomes the WILL linebacker and it opens up a lot of possibilities with that kind of talent so close to the line.
"It creates a nightmare when you've got that No. 1 up there coming off the edge and doing some different things in the box," Swinney said. "He's a dynamic guy, very smart player. So yeah, we've got a luxury right there with those three guys. It's like having three starters at safety."
-- You've read the rave reviews about Christian Wilkins during camp, and he's definitely carving out a role as a situational player at the very least when the season begins.
"I think he's a guy that can help us from a pass-rush standpoint right out of the gate," Swinney said. "And hopefully eventually he can be an every-down player for us. But he's certainly going to make a difference."
-- Ben Boulware was available for interviews today but didn't seem interested in re-hashing the fight that got him suspended from Saturday's scrimmage. Swinney was asked about Boulware and said: "He's fine. Same old Ben. Hopefully he learned a lesson. If you want to play you've got to stay within the rules."
-- Mackensie Alexander is the best cornerback by far, obviously, and Cordrea Tankersley is the leader to start opposite him. Swinney, though, said there are several reserves who are earning playing time including Adrian Baker and Marcus Edmond. He said Mark Fields is getting better every day. Swinney said Jefferie Gibson has come on at safety.
