Morris turns up the heat

Chad Morris said there is a heated battle going on between Roderick McDowell and Zac Brooks for the starting RB. (TigerNet Staff)

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Tue Aug 13 22:54:12 GMT-04:00 2013

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CLEMSON – Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
View Full Profile said that the Clemson Tigers have reached the point in camp where the players don’t like the coaches and the coaches don’t like some of the play on the field.

Through 12 practices, Morris and the coaching staff have turned the heat up on the players and don’t intend to let up any time soon.

Morris was asked about the competition at the tight end position ,and he said that Jay Jay McCulloughJay Jay McCullough
RS Fr. Tight End
#89 6-3, 230
Fort Mill, SC
View Full Profile and Jordan LeggettJordan Leggett
Fr. Tight End
#16 6-6, 235
Navarre, FL
View Full Profile have hit a wall, as expected.

“They’re both-two young guys that are going to be really good players for us- have hit a wall and they’re trying to work through it,” Morris said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’ll continue to press them and stress them. This ain’t time to work out friendships and all of that stuff. They don’t care for us right now and that’s good. I don’t care some of the times for the way they play. They know that they’ve got to continue to press and that we’ll continue to stress them. They either will or they won’t.”

Morris also said that center is a work in progress as Ryan NortonRyan Norton
RS So. Offensive Line
#58 6-3, 270
Simpsonville, SC
View Full Profile and Jay GuillermoJay Guillermo
RS Fr. Center
#57 6-2, 290
Maryville, TN
View Full Profile try to figure out how to put past plays behind them.

“We still are struggling a little bit with some of our snaps, but they are having a better week this week,” Morris said “We really challenged them late last week in the scrimmage. I would say right now that Ryan Norton is getting most of the reps with the first team. Jay Guillermo is pushing. He’s getting in with the ones at times. It’s still a competition, but Ryan Norton is making a strong push for it right now.

“Snaps are huge. And, the ability to go to the next play when something bad happens that’s the biggest drawback right now with Ryan, and even Jay. They wear their emotions and everything on their shoulders. They can’t take it from one play to the next or they can’t get coached hard, they can’t swell up. You just have to go to the next play. They’re working on that and getting better.”

However, quarterback Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS Sr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile is playing with a lot of confidence, giving Morris the opportunity to prepare his backups.

“From day one of fall camp to right now, there is no comparison,” Morris said. “Tajh is playing with great confidence right now. He really got into a rhythm the other day in the scrimmage. He’s gotten into a rhythm in practices and we’ve scripted to see how he’s going to respond to some adversity. We know what Tajh Boyd can do. I’ve got to make sure that Cole StoudtCole Stoudt
Jr. Quarterback
#18 6-4, 205
Dublin, OH
View Full Profile and Nick SchuesslerNick Schuessler
RS Fr. Quarterback
#3 6-3, 185
Grayson, GA
View Full Profile are ready. That’s my job over the next two scrimmages.”

*The running back competition is probably the most heated battle on the offensive side of the ball with Roderick McDowell trying to claim the starting spot and fend off sophomore Zac BrooksZac Brooks
So. Running Back
#24 6-1, 185
Jonesboro, AR
View Full Profile and freshmen Tyshon DyeTyshon Dye
Fr. Running Back
#23 6-1, 205
Elberton, GA
View Full Profile and Wayne GallmanWayne Gallman
Fr. Running Back
#9 6-1, 195
Loganville, GA
View Full Profile .

Morris said there is no pecking order yet, but that each running back has shown flashes of brilliance.

“No. Not yet. I think you’ve seen some good out of each of them,” Morris said. “Zac Brooks is probably having as good a camp as anybody. Hot Roderick McDowellRoderick McDowell
Gr. Running Back
#25 5-9, 195
Sumter, SC
View Full Profile is doing some good things. D.J. is showing signs. He’s having a good camp, but he hasn’t quite busted out like we would’ve liked to have seen him, but he’s doing some good things. Wayne Gallman continues to come on. With the knowledge that he’s got, in live action he’s making some things happen.

“Brooks is obviously a bigger back. He’s moving the chains and doing some good things in pass protection. He catches the ball really well. D.J. and Hot Rod are doing the same, but he’s got a bigger body. He tends to be more of a punishing style of runner.”

Morris expects to use all of his running backs this season and is preparing them as such.

“There’s a really good competition going right there,” Morris said. “You’re going to have to have all of them this year. You’re not just going to be able to have one or two running backs, so I think there’s a healthy competition in that room.”

*The offensive line is still very much a work in progress and the only position that is locked down is Tyler ShatleyTyler Shatley
Gr. Offensive Guard
#62 6-3, 295
Icard, NC
View Full Profile at right guard.

According to Morris, Kalon DavisKalon Davis
RS Jr. Offensive Guard
#67 6-5, 330
Chester, SC
View Full Profile and David BeasleyDavid Beasley
RS Jr. Offensive Guard
#68 6-4, 315
Columbus, GA
View Full Profile have shown improvement, but the coaches are looking for someone to push Giff Timothy at right tackle.

“David Beasley missed a couple of days, but he’s back and he needs to pick back up,” Morris said “Kalon Davis is doing some good things. Eric Mac LainEric Mac Lain
RS So. Offensive Line
#78 6-3, 260
Hope Mills, NC
View Full Profile has been moving around. There are still a lot of moving parts. We want to by Saturday to kind of have everything starting to settle in with the competition at all positions. We know what Tyler Shatley is capable of doing. We need somebody to come on and challenge Giff Timothy. We thought that was going to be Joe GoreJoe Gore
RS So. Offensive Tackle
#73 6-4, 275
Lake Waccamaw, NC
View Full Profile , but it hasn’t. We have to move someone to make Giff feel some pressure.”

Converted tight end Eric Mac Lain might just be the guy to challenge Timothy and provide depth on the right side of the line.

“Not a whole lot. He’s more so at tackle right now,” Morris said “We worked him some at guard and we’ll continue to. That’s a different animal at that guard position right now and we need him to focus on and stress Giff Timothy a little bit.”