Highlights from Dabo's Sunday teleconference

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sun Sep 29 18:18:45 GMT-04:00 2013

Highlights from Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile 's weekly Sunday afternoon teleconference with the media.

*Dabo says it was Clemson's most complete win of the season, and they improved tremendously even without a lot of starters and contributors.

*Dabo it was the best game from an offensive standpoint, and defense continues to improve. Says depth has helped on special teams, a lot of younger players have big roles on special teams.

*Injuries - Dabo says most everybody will be back. RB Roderick McDowell is still sore, and coaches will have to see how he handles practice. Giff Timothy, B.J. Goodson and David Beasley should be back.

*DT Carlos Watkins showed back up at the WestZone Sunday, and Swinney says Watkins still has some pretty good scrapes and bruises. The coaches will get him in therapy and rehab and give him treatment, and he doesn't know if Watkins will be available this week.

*Dabo: "We have improved since the first game as a team, and we hope we can look back and say we have improved after the next month. The most important thing is to just win."

*On playing in Carrier Dome - Dabo says the background and roof make for an adjustment, as opposed to playing outside. He says the Indoor Practice Facility will get a lot of use this week. He also says that the Carrier Dome doesn't have A/C and he is sure it will "get stuffy in there." He says the Dome's FieldTurf won't be a big adjustment.

*Dabo says he thinks the players will be excited about playing in a new place. He has never been there and wants to see the Dome. He says the Tigers need to be a good road team. Says the team has one road win under their belt. "We played ok, but we need to go up there and do what we do and play at a high level. We know we will get their best effort. We expect that. But it's more about how we prepare this week. We usually don't go to the opponent's stadium, but we may take them and let them eyeball it before we play."

*If McDowell can't go - he rolled his ankle - Dabo says they have confidence in all three guys (Zac Brooks, D.J. Howard, C.J. Davidson). Dabo says Howard gained confidence at NC State at the end of the game and had a big game yesterday and gained even more confidence. "We will see how Hot Rod responds to the treatment and my guess is he will be ready to go, but we will go into the week focused on the other three. We will see how it goes."

*Offensive line - "I thought Kalon (Davis) played well. We have a solid group inside that will give us good rotation." Dabo says Shaq Anthony had a few mistakes but help up and competed well. Dabo says there is good competition along the line. Dabo says Isaiah Battle will be in the mix. Says that Eric Mac Lain played well. He says Tigers not as good at center, because both Ryan Norton and Jay Guillermo had to go in and get IV's because they had the flu.

*Dabo says he did not give Clemson the first place vote in the Coaches Poll. "No, I didn't give us that first place vote. I don't think we've earned it. Alabama is number one."