TUESDAY UPDATE III
By: Larry Williams & Grayson Mann
(From today's media outing in Clemson. Some initial notes/quotes from Clemson's offensive coaches. Dabo Swinney to come later today).
GARRETT RILEY (Grayson)
-- Said Beaux Collins will hit the ground running. Physically he looks great and has really stood out during throwing sessions this summer.
-- Said Cade Klubnik is a competitor. The moment isn't too big for him. He said there will be some growing pains that come from his lack of starting experience.
-- He wants this offense to have a more physical approach with everything.
-- Said Jake Briningstool will have a lot on his plate with the new offense. He wants him to make an impact in the passing game, but he also has to be dependable run-blocking.
THOMAS AUSTIN (Larry)
-- Austin told me Tristan Leigh exited the spring with a slight lead over Collin Sadler at left tackle. And he said it won't necessarily be just those two vying for the starting spot.
Blake Miller will also factor into that competition, though right tackle better suits his athleticism. And of course Marcus Tate can play left tackle.
Austin said he'd like to settle on a starting five about a week into camp, after the first major scrimmage.
-- Austin said one of his main objectives is to get the backup linemen in early in the season. Of course they went into the past two seasons with the same idea but it didn't really happen, particularly last year.
He said he has to "force that issue" early this season by throwing the backups in.
-- Will Putnam recently ran a 5K with strength staffer Paul Hogan and ran a 10-minute-mile pace. Not bad for a 315-pounder.
-- Austin related an observation recently made by Joey Batson: This offensive line has layers of leadership, and that's what you need to win a championship.
-- Austin said Marcus Tate is as lean as ever. Moves really well.
-- If Miller did emerge as the best option at left tackle, Austin said he'd have no problem kicking Walker Parks back out to right tackle.
-- As we mentioned on the message board, Dietrick Pennington is down to 336 pounds. Also: He had a 3.63 GPA in the spring, which Austin said is the biggest jump he's ever seen in anyone.
TYLER GRISHAM (Larry)
-- Grisham had an eyebrow-raising statement when he was talking about all the possible personnel groupings this offense will run.
"You're going to see 10 personnel this year," he said. "You'll see it for the first time in a long time."
Ten personnel is four receivers and no tight ends. The last time they used it with regularity was the 2018 playoff against Alabama and Notre Dame.
"We've got the dudes who can do it," he said. "We've got the guys who can go out there and make plays."
-- Grisham said the nature of Garrett Riley's offense brings opportunities to roll in a bunch of receivers. He said this is probably the most depth they've had at receiver.
-- Said Beaux Collins has to have a huge year, and he believes he's headed for one. Said he's shown plenty of flashes but has been derailed by injuries, including some nasty shoulder injuries last year that hobbled him for almost the entire season.
-- Some uplifting signs on Troy Stellato.
"He's angry," Grisham said. "He's hungry. He's tired of what has taken place. He looks different. He's ready to go."
He said just a few days ago Stellato sent him a message that said: "I want to show you and everyone else why you brought me here."
Said Stellato, who suffered a torn ACL last August, is in tip-top shape.
"I'm pumped to see what he's capable of."
-- Grisham is positively fired up about Adam Randall. Said he's been working non-stop on the JUGS machine and catching passes from Cade Klubnik, in addition to the normal team stuff they've been doing.
"He can be one of the best to come through here. I know he wants to be."
Randall was making some eye-opening plays his first spring here, and showing speed on the GPS that just didn't seem possible for a 227-pounder.
Grisham said Randall looks better right now than he did that first spring.
-- He said Cole Turner has taken the next step physically. He's in the high 180s, and close to 190. Grisham likes him at 190 and doesn't want him to get to 200.
"I just need him to run fast and make a play down the field."
**** 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 & Grayson Mann
(From today's media outing in Clemson. Some initial notes/quotes from Clemson's offensive coaches. Dabo Swinney to come later today).
GARRETT RILEY (Grayson)
-- Said Beaux Collins will hit the ground running. Physically he looks great and has really stood out during throwing sessions this summer.
-- Said Cade Klubnik is a competitor. The moment isn't too big for him. He said there will be some growing pains that come from his lack of starting experience.
-- He wants this offense to have a more physical approach with everything.
-- Said Jake Briningstool will have a lot on his plate with the new offense. He wants him to make an impact in the passing game, but he also has to be dependable run-blocking.
THOMAS AUSTIN (Larry)
-- Austin told me Tristan Leigh exited the spring with a slight lead over Collin Sadler at left tackle. And he said it won't necessarily be just those two vying for the starting spot.
Blake Miller will also factor into that competition, though right tackle better suits his athleticism. And of course Marcus Tate can play left tackle.
Austin said he'd like to settle on a starting five about a week into camp, after the first major scrimmage.
-- Austin said one of his main objectives is to get the backup linemen in early in the season. Of course they went into the past two seasons with the same idea but it didn't really happen, particularly last year.
He said he has to "force that issue" early this season by throwing the backups in.
-- Will Putnam recently ran a 5K with strength staffer Paul Hogan and ran a 10-minute-mile pace. Not bad for a 315-pounder.
-- Austin related an observation recently made by Joey Batson: This offensive line has layers of leadership, and that's what you need to win a championship.
-- Austin said Marcus Tate is as lean as ever. Moves really well.
-- If Miller did emerge as the best option at left tackle, Austin said he'd have no problem kicking Walker Parks back out to right tackle.
-- As we mentioned on the message board, Dietrick Pennington is down to 336 pounds. Also: He had a 3.63 GPA in the spring, which Austin said is the biggest jump he's ever seen in anyone.
TYLER GRISHAM (Larry)
-- Grisham had an eyebrow-raising statement when he was talking about all the possible personnel groupings this offense will run.
"You're going to see 10 personnel this year," he said. "You'll see it for the first time in a long time."
Ten personnel is four receivers and no tight ends. The last time they used it with regularity was the 2018 playoff against Alabama and Notre Dame.
"We've got the dudes who can do it," he said. "We've got the guys who can go out there and make plays."
-- Grisham said the nature of Garrett Riley's offense brings opportunities to roll in a bunch of receivers. He said this is probably the most depth they've had at receiver.
-- Said Beaux Collins has to have a huge year, and he believes he's headed for one. Said he's shown plenty of flashes but has been derailed by injuries, including some nasty shoulder injuries last year that hobbled him for almost the entire season.
-- Some uplifting signs on Troy Stellato.
"He's angry," Grisham said. "He's hungry. He's tired of what has taken place. He looks different. He's ready to go."
He said just a few days ago Stellato sent him a message that said: "I want to show you and everyone else why you brought me here."
Said Stellato, who suffered a torn ACL last August, is in tip-top shape.
"I'm pumped to see what he's capable of."
-- Grisham is positively fired up about Adam Randall. Said he's been working non-stop on the JUGS machine and catching passes from Cade Klubnik, in addition to the normal team stuff they've been doing.
"He can be one of the best to come through here. I know he wants to be."
Randall was making some eye-opening plays his first spring here, and showing speed on the GPS that just didn't seem possible for a 227-pounder.
Grisham said Randall looks better right now than he did that first spring.
-- He said Cole Turner has taken the next step physically. He's in the high 180s, and close to 190. Grisham likes him at 190 and doesn't want him to get to 200.
"I just need him to run fast and make a play down the field."
**** 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!
