CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Stoudt says offense will be better than ever
Demarre Kitt and the young receivers are beginning to hit their stride

Stoudt says offense will be better than ever


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Clemson’s offense started out slow during Saturday morning’s scrimmage inside of Death Valley, but quarterback Cole Stoudt Cole Stoudt
Sr. Quarterback
#18 6-4, 231
Dublin, OH

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says there isn’t a cause for concern. In fact, he thinks the offense has the potential to be even better this season because of the number of playmakers that surround him.

A couple of turnovers and a lack of energy highlighted the first portion of the scrimmage – including a pick-six by safety Jadar JohnsonJadar Johnson
So. Defensive Back
#18 6-1, 207
Orangeburg, SC

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on the second play – but Stoudt said the offense found its footing and knows what they need to correct.

“We started out slow but we picked it up and the offense made some good plays out there,” Stoudt said after the scrimmage. “We have some things we have to correct but all in all a pretty good day. We’ve been doing a good job of fixing the things we’ve been doing wrong, and today we got a little bit better. It was just one of those days where it started off slow, but we know what we did wrong and we know how to get that energy back. We picked it up right after those first two bad series, and we picked it up from there and made a few plays.”

Most of the preseason talk surrounding the offense centers on the loss of playmakers in Tajh Boyd, Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
Wide Receiver (2011 - 2013)
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL

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and Martavis BryantMartavis Bryant
Wide Receiver (2011 - 2013)
#1 6-5, 200
Calhoun Falls, SC

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but Stoudt said that there are more playmakers than ever for offensive coordinator Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
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to use.

“It’s the same thing every single year. People have to realize that we lost some good guys heading into last year, and it’s the same thing this year,” Stoudt said. “We have more guys this year, and that is something that is going to be a shocker for a lot of people. They are all looking at the negative side of our offense, but we have a lot more positives. Yeah, we lost Sammy and Tay and Tajh and some guys on the offensive line, but we have more depth than we’ve ever had. We are using more and more guys. We are still going to be an explosive offense and we are still going to be one of the best. We are going to go out there and do what we do, and that is get in the endzone. We are going to be fast. “

Facing Clemson’s defense every day in practice also helps.

“We are going up against one of the top defenses in the country every day in practice,” Stoudt said. “That is something that we have to prepare for every day. We are going up against one of the top defensive lines in the country, so we have one of the best coming at us every day in practice.”

Adam Humphries

On the slow start

“Honestly, it’s just our mentality going into the day. The long week, I feel like some of the guys were lackadaisical going onto the field today. We came out and bounced back and made some plays. We’re not going to hang our heads on that. We definitely have to bring the focus this next week and start scheming on Georgia.”

On the quarterbacks

“Both of those guys are working really hard and it’s great to see that competition. They are both making some great throws and it will be fun to see what becomes of having both of those guys in the backfield.

We have improved our consistency on deep balls. Earlier in the summer that was one of our main points was to go out there and work on our fade balls. We have continued to work on that and I think it has improved throughout fall camp.“

On the freshmen receivers

“I thought the freshmen receivers looked really good. They made a few plays downfield and it was good to see those guys do that. That is one of the big question marks for this year is replacing those guys we had last year, and making plays down the field and on the deep ball. Today Kyrin (Priester) and Demarre (Kitt)and Artavis (Scott) made some plays down the field.”

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

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back

“It will be great to have him back and have another playmaker out there on the field. I’ve known Charone since kindergarten, and we talk every day. I think he is just ready to get back out on the field. He should be ready to go pretty soon.”

Stephone AnthonyStephone Anthony
Sr. Linebacker
#42 6-2, 244
Polkton, NC

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On the success of the defense Saturday

“We just had some fun out there today. We fooled around and made some plays and did some good things today. We took a step forward, but we have a ways to go. We still have some time. We have had a good camp, but we are just trying to compete and get better every day. The key is us working together and playing together. We have to correct us and then we can concentrate on Georgia.”

On preseason accolades for the defense

“That’s the reason its preseason. Nothing is said and done until December. If we are there in December then we definitely earned it and that is where we want to be.”

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