Saturday scrimmage release with stats

by CU Athletic Communications - Sat Aug 09 15:42:51 GMT-04:00 2014

CLEMSON, S.C. - The Tigers held their first stadium scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday morning and Head Coach Dabo Swinney was pleased by what he saw overall.

“It was just the first scrimmage, but I was encouraged,” said Swinney, who is in the process of getting his team ready to face No. 12 Georgia in the season-opener in Athens on August 30. “We have had a tough last four days of practice and the team has worked hard. We have made it hard for them during this period. This is a veteran team who has demonstrated they can meet a challenge.

“I liked the tempo that was set by the offense at the outset. The first-team offense went right down the field (against the first-team defense) and scored a touchdown on the first drive. Then the defense came back strong and at the end of practice won the short-yardage situations we scripted. The defense dominated the goal-line situations. We will have another situational scrimmage Wednesday and we will see how the offense comes back.”

Swinney pointed out some areas that impressed him.

“The tight ends showed up today. Jordan LeggettJordan Leggett
So. Tight End
#16 6-5, 251
Navarre, FL
View Full Profile had a good touchdown reception. The running backs did a good job. Right now it is too tough to say who will get the most carries. We will have a lot of players involved. C.J. DavidsonC.J. Davidson
RS Jr. Running Back
#32 5-10, 203
Clemson, SC
View Full Profile did a good job today, and so did Zac BrooksZac Brooks
Jr. Running Back
#24 6-1, 199
Jonesboro, AR
View Full Profile . D.J. HowardD.J. Howard
RS Sr. Running Back
#22 6-0, 205
Lincoln, AL
View Full Profile had one of his best practices as well. If we had to play today, we would probably be 'running back by committee.'

“ Cole StoudtCole Stoudt
Sr. Quarterback
#18 6-4, 231
Dublin, OH
View Full Profile was outstanding today. He was awesome in his reads. He has had a very good week of practice. So has Deshaun WatsonDeshaun Watson
Fr. Quarterback
#4 6-3, 204
Gainesville, GA
View Full Profile . He had a very good day also.”

As was the case the previous two practices, starting offensive tackle Isaiah BattleIsaiah Battle
Jr. Offensive Tackle
#79 6-7, 285
Brooklyn, NY
View Full Profile missed the scrimmage with an ankle injury that is not serious. It gave Swinney an opportunity to see his offensive linemen in more than one position.

Defensively, the front seven was very impressive. Grady JarrettGrady Jarrett
Sr. Defensive Tackle
#50 6-1, 290
Conyers, GA
View Full Profile had two sacks and red-shirt freshman defensive tackle Scott PaganoScott Pagano
RS Fr. Defensive Tackle
#56 6-4, 292
Honolulu, HI
View Full Profile had a team-high three tackles for loss.

“The defense dominated the short-yardage situations toward the end of practice," reiterated Swinney. "That is where our depth shows. I don’t see much difference between our first-team and second-team defense. There is more of a separation on the offensive side of the ball."

As Swinney stated, the offense got off to a good start, driving 13 plays for 70 yards and a score. The drive ended with a five-yard scoring pass from Stoudt to Leggett. For the day, Stoudt and Watson had two passing touchdowns apiece. The four touchdown receptions were scored by Brooks, Germone HopperGermone Hopper
RS So. Wide Receiver
#5 6-0, 175
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile , Leggett and Kyrin PriesterKyrin Priester
Fr. Wide Receiver
#17 6-1, 186
Lilburn, GA
View Full Profile .

Wayne GallmanWayne Gallman
RS Fr. Running Back
#9 6-1, 209
Loganville, GA
View Full Profile had the only rushing touchdown on a one-yard run. C.J. Davidson was the leading rusher with 25 yards, while Howard added 21 yards. Nine different receivers caught passes, led by three for Hopper and three for tight end Jay Jay McCulloughJay Jay McCullough
RS So. Tight End
#89 6-3, 248
Fort Mill, SC
View Full Profile .

“The most impressive stat of the day might have been that we did not have a turnover in the first scrimmage,” said Swinney. “That was good to see from an offensive standpoint.

"The biggest disappointment was that we had too many penalties. Demarre KittDemarre Kitt
Fr. Wide Receiver
#8 6-1, 183
Tyrone, GA
View Full Profile made perhaps the best play of the day on one catch, but it was wiped out by a penalty.”

Battle, Travis BlanksTravis Blanks
Jr. Safety
#11 6-0, 210
Tallahassee, FL
View Full Profile , Sam CooperSam Cooper
RS Sr. Tight End
#86 6-6, 250
Brentwood, TN
View Full Profile , Tyshon DyeTyshon Dye
RS Fr. Running Back
#23 5-11, 214
Elberton, GA
View Full Profile , Kellen JonesKellen Jones
RS Jr. Linebacker
#52 6-1, 233
Houston, TX
View Full Profile , Shaq LawsonShaq Lawson
So. Defensive End
#90 6-3, 269
Central, SC
View Full Profile and Charone PeakeCharone Peake
RS Jr. Wide Receiver
#19 6-3, 204
Moore, SC
View Full Profile were all held out of the scrimmage due to injury.