Clemson vs. NC State Quotes & Notes

by CU Athletic Communications - Sat Oct 04 20:22:41 GMT-04:00 2014

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney
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Overall thoughts:

“This was just a dominate performance. We talked about this being a momentum Saturday for us and I’m just so proud of them. They put all three phases together - offense, defense and special teams. Just really proud of our guys. Really proud of our defensive performance. Those three turnovers were huge.”

On the shutout:

“This was an extra-special win for me because this is my first shutout as a coach.

On the offense:

“Offensively, we just put it all together. Deshaun Watson was awesome again. Just amazing to see where he is right now after only five games into the season. Wayne Gallman played really well also. I’m proud of our offensive line. Our guys came out and really performed well. Just couldn’t be more proud of them. It was a complete game offensively, defensively and on special teams.”

On areas of improvement:

“There are still some things we can work on for next week, like penalties. This was the most penalties we’ve had all year. There are a lot of things we can learn from this game, but I’m proud of this team and the way they played today. I loved their spirit and competitive drive.”

NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren

Overall thoughts:

“Well, we played a really good team and they came out ready to play and we didn’t. We just didn’t execute. They ran a lot of the same plays we thought they were going to run, threw the ball over our head. We couldn’t protect our quarterback today. There were times where guys were open and he couldn’t see them. They did a really nice job with their pass rush. They played tight man-to-man coverage. Our players didn’t play as well as they needed to and obviously it’s my responsibility, it’s on me to prepare them better. We had the crowd noise every day in practice and I thought we had them prepared, but we didn’t.”

On Clemson’s defensive line:

“It’s impressive. No. 3 (Vic Beasley) is a quick twitch and long and plays hard. They’ve got really good DBs, so they can give them time to get there, too. They press you up with long safeties. They’ve got a good defense.”

On not being able to get a drive going:

“Third downs just in the first half were killer on both sides of the ball. We could never get any momentum. I think all offenses are the same. If you get a first down, then you can get some rhythm and we just could never get a first down. Clemson did a nice job today…my hat’s off to them. So we get ready for Boston College and move on.”

Clemson vs. NC State

Oct. 4, 2014 * Memorial Stadium

Postgame Player Quotes

Vic Beasley, DE

On the shutout:

“It means a lot to our team. Coach (Swinney) wanted us to really come out and play a complete game offensively, defensively and special teams and that’s what we did.”

On his touchdown and tying the sack record:

“It’s just a blessing to be here at Clemson University and just to be able to play with these guys. I can’t really explain it in words. I really cherish the moment of tying the record and I couldn’t do it a better way by scoring a touchdown.”

Deshaun Watson, QB

On his start as starting quarterback:

“It’s just great. All the guys are giving me all the trust and they believe in me and I’m just going out there as a QB.”

On transition of becoming a college quarterback:

“It’s a lot of work in the background. During the weeks, there is a lot of grinding and a lot of sweating.”

On expecting to have early success:

“My goals are to come out there and execute, put up numbers, put up points and put up wins. We’re fast-paced, so we’re putting up a lot of points. I’m just out there having fun.

Mike Williams, WR

On his connection with Deshaun Watson:

“Our connection is great. We are just trying to improve every week and come out here and give the team my best effort and play my best ball.”

On deep opportunities:

“Watching film, I saw a lot of opportunities for the deep ball because their cornerbacks don’t play physical. I just put it in my head that we are going to have a great game.”

On scoring on his birthday:

“I told Deshaun my present from him should just be throwing me two touchdowns and we did that.”

Clemson vs. NC State Notes

Memorial Stadium – Clemson, S.C.

Oct. 4, 2014

Clemson Team Notes

* Clemson shut out its opponent for the first time since 2008, when the Tigers defeated SC State 54-0. It was Clemson’s first shutout over an FBS opponent since 2006, when it held Louisiana Tech scoreless. It was also the Tigers’ first shutout over an ACC opponent since 1998, when they defeated Maryland 23-0.

* The Tigers’ 41-point margin of victory was the largest in the history of the Clemson-NC State series (by either team).

* Clemson improved to 54-28-1 all-time against NC State, including a 24-11 mark at Clemson. The Tigers have now won three straight against the Wolfpack and 10 of the last 11.

* Clemson has now won seven straight games against teams from the state of North Carolina and 11 of its last 12.

* Clemson’s defense surrendered just 156 yards of total offense. That is the fewest yards of total offense against the Tigers by an ACC opponent since 2009, when Clemson held Boston College to 52 total yards. NC State entered the game averaging 505.6 yards of total offense and 40.4 points per game. NC State’s longest play of the game was an 18-yard pass play.

* The Tigers also held the Wolfpack to just 35 passing yards. That is the fewest passing yards Clemson has allowed against an ACC opponent since 2009, when Clemson held Boston College to just 25 passing yards. NC State entered the game averaging 274.4 passing yards per game.

* Clemson held NC State to just four yards of total offense in the first quarter. That is the fewest total yards allowed by Clemson in a quarter since the second quarter against Florida State in 2014, when the Tigers held the Seminoles to -6 yards of total offense.

* Clemson has scored a touchdown on its opening drive in four of its five games this season. Conversely, Clemson’s defense has held its opponent to zero or negative yards of offense on the opening drive of each game this season.

* Clemson improved to 65-0-1 all-time when recording at least 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards.

Clemson Individual Notes

* Vic Beasley tied the Clemson career sack record in the third quarter when he recorded his seventh sack of the season and the 28th of his career. Beasley joins Michael Dean Perry and Gaines Adams as the only players in Clemson history to record at least 28 sacks.

* On the same play, Beasley hit the quarterback on the play to force a fumble and then returned it 16 yards for the touchdown. It was Clemson’s first fumble return for a touchdown since last season, when Quandon Christian returned one 22 yards for a score against The Citadel.

* Deshaun Watson compiled 329 yards of total offense was responsible for four touchdowns in the game, two passing and two rushing. He has totaled 792 yards of total offense, including 702 passing, in his two starts this season.

* Watson is just the second Clemson first-year freshman quarterback to win at least two games as a starter. Nealon Greene won two of the five games that he started as a first-year freshman in 1994.

* Deshaun Watson is the first Tiger to rush for two touchdowns in a game since Roderick McDowell scored two against Maryland last season. He is also the first quarterback to rush for two touchdowns since Tajh Boyd had two against Georgia last season.

* On his 20th birthday, Mike Williams hauled in the longest reception of his career, a 56-yard touchdown from Deshaun Watson in the first quarter. He then scored on a 31-yard touchdown reception on the following drive. He now has back-to-back games with multiple touchdown receptions for the first time in his career. Williams had three touchdowns all of last season and now has four over his last two games. He finished the game with six catches for a career-high 155 yards.

* Ammon Lakip made two field goals from distances of 31 yards and 43 yards. The first-year starter is now 7-8 on field goals at home this season.

* Wayne Gallman had 13 carries for 58 yards, while Adam Choice carried the ball nine times for 56 yards. Three freshmen, Gallman, Choice and Deshaun Watson, combined for 37 rushes for 176 yards.