CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson

Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson


by - Senior Writer -

SUNSET – Brandon Streeter sat in a chair in front of the assembled media at head coach Dabo Swinney’s media golf outing Tuesday, looked up at the gathered throng and smiled the smile of a man who knew what questions were coming.

The talk of camp – and Tuesday’s outing - centers on Clemson’s open quarterback competition, and as Clemson’s quarterback coach Streeter knows he is front and center and he didn’t hesitate to say that Kelly Bryant is the starter.

For now.

“The quarterback battle is the same as it was right after spring ball. If we played today it would be Kelly Bryant,” Streeter said. “He’s done a great job of having a good summer. He’s done a great job of gaining his confidence. He had a really good spring and we’ve got a lot of confidence in him and he continues to get better, and that’s obviously what we’re looking for.

“It’s not all said and done though yet because we still have 30 or so practices left—which is plenty of practice for some younger guys to catch up and we’ll see how it goes. Right now, it’s Kelly Bryant going into preseason, and he’ll take the first snap out there, but we’ve got some young ones that are doing really well. They’re still getting acclimated to the system, still learning.”

Redshirt sophomore Tucker Israel had a solid spring, and redshirt freshman Zerrick Cooper was expected to battle Bryant for supremacy. However, Israel has battled a stomach ailment and Cooper is trying to hold off freshman Hunter Johnson. Johnson had a great spring and has drawn rave reviews for his summer work.

“He’s doing a really good job. At that age, when you come in and you’re still supposed to be in high school — you’re asking a lot of someone to try to learn the playbook and absorb it in a couple of weeks of spring practice,” Streeter said of Johnson. “So, with all of those young guys, it’s just a matter of experience and getting thrown in there and getting reps. And he was able to do that in the spring, and kind of like what I was saying earlier—I think the thing for him will be absorbing what he learned in the spring and kind of regurgitating everything throughout the whole summer, and that’s what he’s been doing.

“I talked to him yesterday (Monday) and he said that he feels 100 percent better than he did during spring break. You know, during spring break we were halfway through our spring practice and, I mean, he was spinning like crazy just trying to figure everything out. And now, because he’s been able to go through it a million times in his mind, in the playbook, and on video—watching himself in practice from the spring and learning, learning and learning. That’s the next step, and that’s what hopefully he’s been able to do and we’ll see here in preseason and we’ll see how he’s improved.”

Many people tend to think that Johnson is a pro-style quarterback who won’t be able to run Clemson’s zone-read, but Streeter says that isn’t the case at that Johnson is as athletic as a certain player that just led Clemson to a national title.

“He’s a great athlete. He’s as athletic as Deshaun Watson,” Streeter said. “He’s a track guy in high school, and that was a big reason why we recruited him. Because he has mobility, and he can escape the pocket. He can throw on the run. Is just a really, really good athlete that we’re excited about to see how he blossoms and how he fits into this system.”

No matter who takes the first snap in the opener against Kent St., Streeter has the confidence they will be able to get the job done.

“There’s no doubt that there’s a lot of confidence with the talent that we have in the room. It’s just, how are they going to be with the with the lack of experience and how are they going to be at the beginning of the season going into a real game situation,” he said. “You can protect him by a lot of different things—easier passes, run the ball more and do whatever he does best. Whoever that guy is.

“Whatever they do best, just really, really hone in on that. And the good thing about our playbook, we have a big playbook, but we can put them in a great situation based on what their talents are. So, whoever that quarterback is, we’re able to take out of that playbook what they thrive in and really just gain that confidence and try to help that kid have confidence with a surrounding cast that we already have.”

Hunter Johnson has shown progress since the spring

As for Bryant, Streeter said the Wren graduate will be a big part of the offense, whether he’s starting or not.

“He’s going to be a big part of this thing no matter what happens. He’s going to be a huge part of our success,” Streeter said. “No matter what happens at the quarterback spot, but by him having that natural leadership ability that people are attracted to definitely helps—whether he’s the guy or not.

“He can influence people whether he’s the starting quarterback or he’s the backup quarterback—he’s going to be a guy that is going to influence this football team, whether offensively or defensively just because of his personality.”

With Bryant’s leadership qualities and ability to run the football, Streeter didn’t rule out a two-quarterback system.

“That’s very much a possibility, that very well could happen. I think there’s good things about that and there’s not so good things about that,” Streeter said. “I think, sometimes when you have that one quarterback and everybody knows who that quarterback is—everyone can rally around that guy.

“When you have two, it’s a little bit harder to do that, but I do think with our culture and our coaching staff and our team that we have—I don’t think it’s a big issue with two guys playing. We haven’t even gotten that far, because we still have so much practice to get in this preseason camp. But it’s not out of the realm. And if these guys earn it, and deserve to play, then we’ll find a way to get them on the field.”

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Subject (Replies: 19) Author
spacer New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
TigerNet News®
spacer Translation: HJ will get PT.***
ATL PAW MAN®
spacer Re: Translation: HJ will get PT.***
Felix2
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
BKendall36
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
ColumbiaTiger66
spacer Re: I want to see Kelly and Feaster in the backfield
lhaselden
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
Tigerdug23®
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
ColumbiaTiger66
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
ddclemson
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
lhaselden
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
ddclemson
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
BKendall36
spacer Well if anybodywould know about the two QB system, it would
Tigersense®
spacer I'm really beginning to like our offensive situation.
CootSmackdown16®
spacer Re: I'm really beginning to like our offensive situation.
kerigantoo
spacer I wasn't talking about concerned Clemson fans.
CootSmackdown16®
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
jarheadtiger®
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
8992Tiger
spacer I'm going to say it's HJ's job to loose by game #2 . . .
PetesPonies
spacer Re: New Story: Streeter breaks down QB battle, says Johnson is as athletic as Watson
Orangapril2