CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Hunter Johnson was impressive versus Wake Forest, but Swinney says the game didn't dictate playing time Friday.
Hunter Johnson was impressive versus Wake Forest, but Swinney says the game didn't dictate playing time Friday.

Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB


by - Staff Writer -

Redshirt freshman quarterback Zerrick Cooper had quarterback coach Brandon Streeter’s trust on the road at Syracuse – and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney trusted Streeter’s assessment.

That’s what Swinney said Monday when asked about the pecking order behind Kelly Bryant in the wake of Bryant’s game-ending injuries in back-to-back contests.

Bryant was knocked out of Friday’s game and put in concussion protocol late in the first half, where Cooper took over and played every offensive snap in Clemson’s final five possessions.

“First of all, I trust my coaches. Brandon Streeter has done a great job,” Swinney said. “He’s got a great track record with these guys. He has great feel. He’s not that far ahead, but Street just felt like in the other night in that situation with a lot of the pressure that Zerrick gave us the best chance to win the game.

“He did some really good things. He took us down and three out of the first four drives, we scored two and missed a field goal.”

Swinney added that he wanted to get “an opportunity” for third-string true freshman Hunter Johnson, but limited chances prevented that.

“It’s not that much separation (between Cooper and Johnson),” Swinney said. “We didn’t have a lot of plays. We only had 57 snaps. I wish we would’ve had an opportunity to get Hunter in there. If we get another opportunity down the road, hopefully, we will.”

Cooper connected on 10-of-14 throws for 88 yards, protecting the ball with no turnovers but going 0-for-4 on conversions with third-down passes.

Clemson did have a chance at three scores in his possessions, also benefiting from an average field position of the Tigers’ 40.

In the Wake Forest game, Johnson completed all five of his throws with a 13-yard touchdown pass in spot duty after Bryant’s ankle injury. Cooper hit 2-of-6 passes for 16 yards as the first off the bench with Bryant out in the 28-14 win.

Swinney said after the Wake Forest game that "both did fine with the opportunities they had."

Johnson's longest action before that game was in the opener versus Kent State, where the former five-star prospect connected on 5-of-6 passes for 39 yards. Cooper threw his first career touchdown pass in the same game, completing 4-of-6 throws for 37 yards.

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Subject (Replies: 50) Author
spacer FB Update: Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
TigerNet News®
spacer thanks tnet...
franc1968®
spacer Either Dabo is lying, or Streeter isn't Allin, because...
Carlsbad
spacer KOOT ALERT!!!!***
TigerFaction
spacer Re: KOOT ALERT!!!!***
mikebmike
spacer Sarcasm obviously*****
Carlsbad
spacer GT can really put some pressure on your offense when the
Chuckston T-Man®
spacer Re: GT can really put some pressure on your offense when the
Tim317
spacer "on whoever is...." NOT "on whomever is...."
vlastimil_hort
spacer Re: "on whoever is...." NOT "on whomever is...."
erm1981
spacer Re:Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
74TIGER
spacer Re:meant couldn't
74TIGER
spacer You can't just cycle through the roster willy-nilly***
TigerCook®
spacer "willy-nilly"? Cooper has a strong arm, but not the touch of
tigeron®
spacer I think he covered that. The snaps were limited.*****
Carlsbad
spacer limited because cooper couldnt
tgrfan42069
spacer 10 of 14 is like what, 15%?***
ClemsonTiger1988®
spacer Re: 10 of 14 is like what, 15%?***
CUAtTheFinishLine®
spacer wow, you got a TD for that?***
CM Shack®
spacer R10of 14 is like what, 15%? Short safe passes, no touch
tigeron®
spacer Re:Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
agtiger69
spacer Re: FB Update: Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
CUAtTheFinishLine®
spacer I don't question the QB order
TigerCook®
spacer Re: I don't question the QB order
CUAtTheFinishLine®
spacer Re: I don't question the QB order
jessje
spacer Re: I don't question the QB order
CUAtTheFinishLine®
spacer And before the injury Ettiene got limited playing time in order to play Choice and Fuller***
tigerking79
spacer Re: I don't question the QB order
jsebe10®
spacer Re: I don't question the QB order
sloansttavfan
spacer Re: FB Update: Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
crawdad64
spacer Re: FB Update: Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
Purple Gunstock 15®
spacer Re: FB Update: Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
Eagle03®
spacer And here we go again...
Prime T. Tiger
spacer then why didnt johnson get a shot to spark
tgrfan42069
spacer Maybe Dabo needed to see Cooper overthrow one more
CM Shack®
spacer LMAO! So true!***
Judge Keller®
spacer Re: FB Update: Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
HTS1
spacer Then why didn't Johnson get a series in vs Syracuse, if it's that close***
tigerking79
spacer Re: Then why didn't Johnson get a series in vs Syracuse, if it's that close***
Tigerdug23®
spacer Re: FB Update: Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
Tiger Michael
spacer There is plenty of separation
Tigerdrafted
spacer Man at qb the saga continues
bleedsorange81®
spacer 6 needs to be #3***
jba6ch®
spacer Sorry.... Did I miss something?
NorthTexasTiger
spacer Re: FB Update: Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
Tiger Michael
spacer I saw 30 minutes of separation on Friday night
coachmac
spacer This is my problem with the situation
tigertown0626
spacer Elite 11 Recap
PAWsitively AllIn
spacer "It's been obvious to see watching this year that HJ is ...
tigeron®
spacer Re: FB Update: Swinney: 'Not much separation' between Cooper, Johnson at backup QB
G986
spacer "It's now Hunter's turn to be the 2nd guy."***
tigeron®