News and notes from Tuesday's practice

Watkins has spent a good deal of practice working with the first team.

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Tue Aug 09 22:01:08 GMT-04:00 2011

CLEMSON – The Clemson Tigers are a much different looking football this season than they have been in years past.

Whether that translates into wins on the football field – the only thing that really matters – remains to be seen, but the early results are encouraging.

I talked to a long-time college coach – over 30 years in the college ranks – who was at practice Tuesday evening, and he said the Tigers are a much different team this season simply because of the talent upgrade.

The coach said that the freshmen are “electric” and spent a good portion of the practice running deep routes past some of the Clemson corners. And several of the freshmen wide receivers spent time working with the first unit on Tuesday so that they can get used to quarterback Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
Quarterback
#10 6-1, 230
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile ’s cadence and the rhythm of the first team.

“They have playmakers out there now,” he said. “They didn’t have those kinds of playmakers last season. Once those kids learn the system – they are still struggling with some things – they are going to have someone that can take it to the house at every position, including quarterback.”

I thought it was interesting that the coach compared current Clemson running back Andre EllingtonAndre Ellington
Running Back
#23 5-10, 190
Moncks Corner, SC
View Full Profile to former Tiger Terry Allen. He said that Ellington has great balance like Allen, and can cut on a dime. Allen’s best season was in 1988, when he carried the ball 216 times for 1192 yards and ten touchdowns.

*Quarterback Tajh Boyd told me after practice that Clemson fans can’t sleep on tight end Brandon FordBrandon Ford
Tight End
#80 6-4, 220
Wando, SC
View Full Profile . Boyd said that Ford has the best hands on the team.

*It is my understanding that Watkins actually spent a good deal of practice working with the first team.

*Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said following the practice that Boyd gives the Tigers a threat at quarterback that hasn’t been seen at Clemson in years.

“I know what kind of weapon he is as far as running the football,” Swinney said. “People are going to have to defend him. I wanted our quarterback to be a factor. When you have a quarterback that is a weapon, it is like playing with 12 men and we haven’t done a good job of that. It is almost like defending the option when you play defense, because we have Ellington and those guys, plus they have Tajh. He is going to make a lot of plays that aren’t there. He is 222 pounds and can really run. In a game, you have to tackle that big joker and he will be a weapon for us, throwing and running the ball.”

*Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said following the practice that defensive end Malliciah GoodmanMalliciah Goodman
Defensive End
#97 6-4, 265
Florence, SC
View Full Profile has turned into a “dominant” player.

“I am going to tell you what, he has jumped off the film as much as anybody,” Steele said of Goodman. “Just dominating his opponent on film with very good technique. Better than in the spring. Malliciah has taken it to another level. He has always been a technician, but now he is a dominant technician.”

*Steele said that Xavier BrewerXavier Brewer
Defensive Back
#29 5-11, 190
Jacksonville, FL
View Full Profile and Martin JenkinsMartin Jenkins
Defensive Back
#27 5-10, 170
Roswell, GA
View Full Profile are battling for the nickel spot. “We have some competition going on there. That competition picked up today. Execute and you are out there. Don’t execute and the other guy is out there. “

Steele on the freshmen linebackers. “The freshmen are exemplifying the traits and skills we thought they had when we recruited them. “

* One of the highlights of practice on Tuesday was the punting of senior Dawson Zimmerman, a semifinalist for Ray Guy Award last year and a preseason Watch List candidate for the honor in 2011.

“He is a weapon. He has really improved since his freshman year and is a great example of why you don’t give up on someone. I think he can be the best punter in this conference and one of the best in the nation. He was booming it 60 yards just about every punt today. He is a mentally tough punter who has the respect of his teammates.”