Morris pleased with second preseason practice

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sat Aug 04 21:27:33 GMT-04:00 2012

CLEMSON – Practice number two of the 2012 season is in the books, a practice that was heavy on installation on both sides of the ball with the players still in helmets and shorts.

Instead of head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile , the media were allowed to talk to both coordinators following Saturday’s humid two-and-a-half hour practice, and it started with offensive coordinator Chad Morris.

Morris said the effort and intensity were good on Saturday, despite not being in pads.

“If they gave out awards for t-shirt and shorts All-Americans, we would have quite a few of them,” Morris said. “We can’t control that until we get the pads on, but we can control effort and intensity.”

*Morris said the offense will continue to prepare like Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
So. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 200
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile will be the starter in the first two games.

“We are going to prepare like we normally prepare,” Morris said. “Sammy is our guy in there, and Adam [Humphries] rolls in, and we are going to have other guys roll in. There will be a plan in place for it. We have to get guys ready to play. This about the long haul. We haven’t gotten into game-preparation mode right now. All we’re making sure of is that we found the practice field and we’re getting hard after it.”

*Morris said he has seen a few surprises on the offensive line.

“There are always a few surprises,” he said. “You just want to make sure they are good surprises. Shaq AnthonyShaq Anthony
RS So. Offensive Line
#76 6-4, 275
Williamston, SC
View Full Profile was different today than what he did in the spring. I have seen it on film. I have challenged him and I hope it transitions over to pads.”

*Morris had a one-word assessment of freshman wide receiver Germone HopperGermone Hopper
Fr. Athlete
# 6-0, 175
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile .

“Fast. Very fast,” Morris said of the North Carolina native. “Extremely quick. Explosive, and definitely can make some plays. He doesn’t know what he is doing or what play to run, but what he does do, he does fast. We are excited about his future. Where will he be at the end of fall camp? We don’t know that.”

*Freshman quarterback Chad Kelly also received good reviews from his coach.

“Chad has all the tools. Extremely athletic and has a live arm,” Morris said. “He is a student of the game, and has a bright future ahead of him. There has been a lot of install, and he has done a good job of it.”

*Quarterback Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS Jr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile has impressed Morris with the way he came out of the summer.

“I was interested to see where Tajh would be starting fall camp, as far as a mental state of mind and his physical state of mind,” Morris said. “What I have seen over the first two days is a huge improvement over what I saw in the spring. He needed to progress at the level we expect him to progress at, to be the quarterback we need him to be. It is a big deal to be the quarterback of the Clemson Tigers, and it’s not written in a contract that it’s his job. He is not entitled to that job – he has to work for that job. He is definitely showing that, and he is showing the leadership this team needs. Not only the offense, but the entire football team. He has a chance to be one of the best in the country without a doubt.”