CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Green means go for Watson?
Deshaun Watson will don a green jersey for Monday's practice

Green means go for Watson?


by - Staff Writer -

With the most important game of the season looming, Clemson will be getting several critical pieces of its offense and defense back at practice Monday.

The Tigers were without starting quarterback Deshaun WatsonDeshaun Watson
Fr. Quarterback
#4 6-3, 204
Gainesville, GA

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after he sprained his LCL against Georgia Tech, defensive end Corey CrawfordCorey Crawford
Sr. Defensive End
#93 6-5, 276
Columbus, GA

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who suffered an ankle injury in practice this week, and linebacker B.J. GoodsonB.J. Goodson
RS Jr. Linebacker
#44 6-1, 240
Lamar, SC

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who was dealing with a sore hip flexor.

Head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
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said that all three will return to practice Monday afternoon in green jerseys.

"Injury-wise we came out of the game well. T.J. GreenT.J. Green
So. Safety
#15 6-3, 205
Sylacauga, AL

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we held. His hamstring was sore,” Swinney said during his Sunday teleconference. “Corey Crawford could have played, he and B.J Goodson. We just held them and they will be back in practice tomorrow. Deshaun Watson will be in green tomorrow and we'll see where he goes from there.”

The green jersey means that Watson will participate in all drills but won’t be full go when the team goes good on good.

“Yes. He'll be limited. We won't let guys (in green jerseys) do live work,” Swinney said. “For him it's not much different. We don't hit quarterbacks in practice anyway. Corey will be in a green jersey too. He won't be live when we go good on good. We'll just have to see where Deshaun is during and after practice tomorrow."

However, just because Watson is practicing doesn’t necessarily mean he will play Saturday. Swinney said that the freshman quarterback will need to show him that he isn’t limited in his mobility.

"He's got to be able to do what we need him to do. He can't be a sitting duck back there,” Swinney said. “He needs to be able to scramble and run. We have to evaluate that and see where he is. I'm anxious to see him tomorrow just like everyone else is. We have to have Cole [Stoudt] ready to go and prepare him to be the starter and just see where Deshaun is through the week. We really don't know. I know he's got to be able to perform."

Swinney knows what this game means to the Clemson players and the fans and said that he realizes what a special opportunity his team will have on Saturday.

"This game is always a special one and it comes once a year,” he said. “We know what we have to do in order to give ourselves a chance to win. We look forward to getting back with the guys tomorrow."

Clemson has been looking forward to the game against South Carolina since the conclusion nearly one year ago – even going as far as installing countdown clocks in all of the meeting rooms.

Clemson's countdown to USC

"It's something the coaches wanted to do,” Swinney said. “We don't really talk about it but we have it there every day. This is something we all live with every day. I didn't have a problem with it. We didn't make a big deal out of it. We haven't said much about it. We just wanted to make sure we kept it in front of us. It's been a thorn in our side. We've done some great, great things. You're never perfect and there's always room for improvement. This is something we need to improve on."

Other notes

The players of the game from Georgia State

Robert SmithRobert Smith
Sr. Safety
#27 5-11, 211
St. George, SC

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was the player of the game on defense. Tyshon DyeTyshon Dye
RS Fr. Running Back
#23 5-11, 214
Elberton, GA

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was our offensive player of the game and Daniel RodriguezDaniel Rodriguez
RS Jr. Wide Receiver
#83 5-8, 175
Stafford, VA

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on special teams.”

On Charone PeakeCharone Peake
RS Jr. Wide Receiver
#19 6-3, 204
Moore, SC

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’s health

"He's getting there. He's still a little rusty in terms of route-running. He was a little off on a couple of balls. He just hasn't played a lot. He's been inconsistent in terms of just being able to practice. If you're not practicing on this level each week, it's hard to just jump back out there and be as efficient as you need to be. He'll get better in a hurry. The positive is, he feels good."

On Tyshon Dye’s emergence

"We expect him to be a great player. You don't want to throw a guy out there before he's ready. That can really do some damage. We wanted to be careful and cautious with him. He's still getting the system down. We just weren't comfortable with him in certain situations the last few weeks. He's gotten better and better, though. It's been about practice. We felt like we needed to challenge him. And he's still getting into football shape. He hasn't played a lot and he hasn't been in a lot of situations.

“We just kind of cut him loose, though. He got in a nice rhythm and did a great job. He had two or three big plays. Just very workmanlike. He's going to be a hard guy to tackle especially as he gets more and more comfortable. He needs an off-season to get himself back to where he needs to be. He has certainly earned more opportunity this week and in the bowl game. He's getting ready at the right time. I am proud of him. He has persevered. He's focusing on what he came here to focus on."

On Dylan Thompson’s performance this season

"He's a good player. He really is. He's got a great grasp of what they do offensively. He's very smart, good instincts and understands where to go with the ball. They do a good job of getting your structure defensively and putting themselves in the right call. He executes. He runs pretty good. He's very timely as far as how they involve him in the run game. He's got an outstanding offensive line, a bunch of veterans. They're pretty much the same as last year. They've been very good, very balanced. He has thrown a bunch of touchdowns and has a good run game. He's definitely a leader, a high character guy I really have a lot of respect for. I've gotten to meet him a few times. He's a good guy."

On South Carolina’s offense and use of trick plays

"You have to do your job. You have to be very disciplined. They do a good job of game-planning on their end and attacking you with double moves. They threw a touchdown pass out of the wildcat. They do a nice job of setting some things up off of their tendencies. The biggest thing is you have to win your matchups and be disciplined on the back end. When you over-play things, that's when the trick plays will get you."

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Subject (Replies: 38) Author
spacer New Story: Green means go for Watson?
TigerNet News®
spacer dont have a good feeling about saturday..
tgrfan42069
spacer Re: dont have a good feeling about saturday..
CuTigers835
spacer You have fun with that.***
tigerdrummer®
spacer Re: dont have a good feeling about saturday..
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Which Juan is Noon?****
ReallyJoelShaw
spacer Re: dont have a good feeling about saturday..
Cdixon11
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
FEEL
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
tlever
spacer Chicken. It's whats for dinner.
OneJedi®
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
ColaTownTiger
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
tlever
spacer After watching Dye yesterday
ahay®
spacer Yes he has been practicing. He even practiced last week.
The hillbilly beater
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
41rcook
spacer Assuming they stay healthy, and that is a big assumption.******
hawkins
spacer I would load the backfield with
paws77
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
1988NC
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
1988NC
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
Tigerdrafted
spacer Watch your language Coot! Morris is in charge of offense
tigeron®
spacer Re: Watch your language Coot! Morris is in charge of offense
clemson7024
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
Darkstartiger
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
RayHartFordTiger
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
paws77
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
Tailboard73
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
baldfan4life
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
harmonr
spacer Um no
TX Tiger®
spacer but Cole is limited in his mobility
Ctigermae
spacer Re: but Cole is limited in his mobility
Tailboard73
spacer i guess what Swinney meant was
clemson7024
spacer Cullen Harper?
Bleedorange09
spacer Re: Cullen Harper?
CLEMPZENtygurs
spacer Re: i guess what Swinney meant was
Tailboard73
spacer Re: New Story: Then don't run him in the game
clemvol
spacer Re: New Story: Then don't run him in the game
Tailboard73
spacer Re: New Story: Green means go for Watson?
ptctiger93
spacer If Watson can't go....
Prime T. Tiger