Swinney Makes Changes on the Offensive Line |
The Clemson Tigers began preparation for the Boston College Eagles on Sunday afternoon, and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney spoke with the media to talk about the Georgia Tech game and this week’s contest against the Eagles. The game is Saturday at 12 noon, and will be broadcast by Raycom Sports. The Tigers defeated Boston College 27-21 last season for Swinney’s first win. “We are just getting back in here today and meeting with the team to put the Georgia Tech game to bed, so we can come in here tomorrow and have our sights focused on Boston College and our preparation for that,” Swinney said. “I am really proud of the effort of our team, I thought they played hard Thursday night walking off the field, but after watching the film on Friday I thought they played with a great will to win, and effort, and toughness. I really believe that we are a better team today than we were last week.” Swinney said he was also excited about the potential explosiveness of the offense, which overcame a 24-point deficit against Tech with 27 unanswered points, and also mentioned that the defense held Tech to just one offensive touchdown and also forced the Tech offense into seven three-and-outs. Clemson started Cory Lambert at right tackle against the Jackets, but Lambert had trouble with Tech defensive lineman Derrick Morgan, who tallied three sacks against the Tigers in the first half. As a result, the Clemson coaching staff moved Chris Hairston from left tackle to right tackle, and Hairston was able to minimize Morgan’s effect after the move. As a result, Landon Walker, who only played 10 or so snaps against Georgia Tech and had been relegated to backup status due to poor performance in practice, will get the starting nod this week at right tackle over Lambert, while Hairston will move back to his left tackle spot. "First of all, four of our five offensive linemen just played outstanding,” Swinney said. “Chris Hairston had an excellent game, and Mason Cloy had his best game since he’s been here. Thomas Austin and Antoine McClain had good games, so those four guys were just tremendous. This week we will play Landon Walker and see how he responds, and give him an opportunity to reaffirm himself.” Current Clemson Offensive Line Depth Chart
Pos. # Player Hgt Wgt CL.
Swinney also said that after looking at the game film, he was extremely proud of the way that redshirt freshman Kyle Parker handled himself in his first road start.
“He is unbelievably mature,” Swinney said of Parker. “He is like a junior running around out there. He is the son of a coach and has been around ball his whole life. Carl Smith, who coached Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer at Southern Cal was his coach, so he has been well-schooled and understands football, defensive coverages, front and alignments and can recognize blitzes. He is way ahead of any freshman quarterback I have ever been around.”
Swinney said before the season started that he intended to play backup quarterback Willy Korn in every game, but said on Sunday that circumstances dictated on Thursday that Korn not play.
“My intention is to play Willy, but we did not intend to be down 24 points early in the second quarter,” Swinney said. “That made the decision for us right there, that we had to leave the best we have got in there and see if we can get back in this thing, and were able to do that.”
Swinney also said that kicker Richard Jackson impressed him with his 53-yard field goal against the Jackets, and would have no problem letting Jackson kick one from even further out.
“At 65 yards, I would not be afraid if I had to,” Swinney said. “That 53-yarder, that ball was way up in the air when it went through the uprights. I am really proud of him. Here is a guy that didn’t have his priorities in order, and I had already bought a ticket for the first bus out of here for him. But I drew a line in the sand and told him what he needed to do, and he has worked his tail off, and gone out and gotten it done. He has matured and gotten tougher.”
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