CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Notre Dame senior CB KeiVarae Russel <br>(Kirby Lee / USAT)
Notre Dame senior CB KeiVarae Russel
(Kirby Lee / USAT)

Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"


by - Assoc. Editor -

Notre Dame senior cornerback KeiVarae Russell talked to the media following Notre Dame's 62-27 smackdown of UMass on Saturday and had some honest comments about sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson, Clemson's overall team speed on offense and the injury to Mike Williams.

"I watched the Louisville game," Russell said. "I saw some weaknesses in that game for sure. I seen some strengths as well. They are a good team. I think Deshaun WatsonDeshaun Watson
So. Quarterback
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manages the game well. I’ve played against quarterbacks better than him, I’ve played against quarterbacks that weren’t as good as him…He’s not overly superior, I don’t think he’s like a top five quarterback in the country, I think he manages the game extremely well, and does what the offense asks of him. He doesn’t do too much, but he does enough for him."

“I don’t think he’s a top-five quarterback, but he’s a good quarterback, though.”

Russell thinks that facing the Clemson offense will be similar to the talent level or worse that he faces daily at practice.

"For me personally, I'm not speaking for the entire defense - I've played against players as good as their players or even better," Russell said. "So there is no worry for me at all. I've seen what our defense can do when we put our mind to it. I think we just got to do it for four quarters instead of 3 or a half or 2 quarters. We just got to come out and be fast from the get go because they are going to be the best team we have played up till this point and vice versa we are going to be the best team they have played up till this point. It's going to be a fun one."

Russell was saddened to hear about Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams' neck injury, but he is not worried about the speed of the other Clemson skill players.

"Great group of guys," Russell said. "I'm sorry to hear Mike Williams is out for the year because with him in there they had like a top 5 group in the country I'd argue. Artavis Scott is still one of the top guys in the country. He is a great, great player. With Germone Hopper and the other guys they have, they have a lot of talent and skill guys. Like I said, I play against that every day. I play against Will Fuller, Chris Brown, Torii Hunter, Corey Robinson. I play against an offense that is similar if not better. For me, they have a great group but it doesn't worry me. Like I said, I am well prepared playing against guys like Will Fuller every day. So when I see an Artavis Scott, the speed is not going to be different. Will Fuller is one of the fastest guys in the country.

Russell was on the Bednarik and Nagurski Award Watch list for 2014 but missed the entire 2014 football season due to a school academic investigation.

Notre Dame star wide receiver Will Fuller tweeted the following message about the Clemson matchup on Saturday.

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Subject (Replies: 115) Author
spacer FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
TigerNet News®
spacer Psychological Warfare
AThomas®
spacer Psychological Warfare for Tigers - awesome bulletin board
tigeron®
spacer Re: Psychological Warfare
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Well, these turds have not changed
fuzzyduck
spacer Re: Well, these turds have not changed
ShamrockWarrior
spacer Re: Well, these turds have not changed
4BigPaws
spacer Deer Mr Russell; it's not very bright to
davis4heisman
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
BSTiger13
spacer Yikes...***
TigerGrad11
spacer Ohhhh sh*t..he just called out our entire offense...He has no respect for u guys!!!
orangeman
spacer *Grabs Popcorn***
SageMoody
spacer +1 for efficiency. Some ##### .gifs for same effect***
Tickled Orange
spacer Did he actually watch the tape
mentalnick
spacer Re: Did he actually watch the tape
IBSWAMPFOX®
spacer As a Tiger fan, I see nothing wrong with his comments. Seem.
kbtiger®
spacer Re: As a Tiger fan, I see nothing wrong with his comments. Seem.
orangeman
spacer Well, you didn't find me in Facebook or any other social med***
kbtiger®
spacer Re: As a Tiger fan, I see nothing wrong with his comments. Seem.
tmac9wr
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
1portroyalty®
spacer Yea, "I seen" it, too.....***
SOLOS®
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
tigerlil®
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
WRU
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
Dugatiger®
spacer One guy you don't want to #### off...
jbrock11
spacer Re: One guy you don't want to #### off...
23bobbyg
spacer Tay be like..."I dare you to knock it off"
tiger5by5®
spacer Another guy you don't want to #### off...
RDWebb
spacer He will roll off a new LBs for 3, 4 extra yards
NortherTiger
spacer Re: Another guy you don't want to #### off...
RevDodd
spacer Hopefully DW responds like Tom Brady
78Clemson00
spacer Good analogy - wouldn't that be great, however I think DW
tigeron®
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
dwayne29710
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
dwayne29710
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
tmac9wr
spacer football players that is***
T_I_P
spacer Re: football players that is***
tmac9wr
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
CU13®
spacer Yo Keeveray
Tharealdonjuan
spacer Oh this is going to be fun***
Tiger4Life1995
spacer go ahead......poke the bear***
scooter
spacer Only one thing. His 50% effort is good enuff to be beat ND***
ColaTownTiger
spacer Yea and Clemson has played better Defense dude.***
ColaTownTiger
spacer Now I'm glad we didn't play that well at Louisville***
ObiWan
spacer Ahhh! You perceive!***
RevDodd
spacer Re: Now I'm glad we didn't play that well at Louisville***
catfan
spacer Re: Now I'm glad we didn't play that well at Louisville***
catfan
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
OwRhAiNtGeE
spacer LMAO!! I see it now...
RDWebb
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
jsebe10®
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
insanetigerfan08
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
tmac9wr
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
NorCATiger®
spacer Easy to see why he missed last year with academic problems,
lfatboy
spacer Watson "manages" the game because no D has the balls to play us in man press coverage.
onederkid
spacer Re: Watson "manages" the game because no D has the balls to play us in man press coverage.
tiger4life78
spacer Re: Watson "manages" the game because no D has the balls to play us in man press coverage.
tiger4life78
spacer Some Tiger fans agree
NortherTiger
spacer Re: Some Tiger fans agree
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
stumc
spacer Beat down coming soon
Kise887
spacer Alex, I'll take a punctuation mark for $200.
cutgrfan®
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
badb
spacer I guess this means Matt Johns (UVA QB) is a top 5 QB?
MAC31
spacer Re: I guess this means Matt Johns (UVA QB) is a top 5 QB?
Kise887
spacer So far, he surely hasnt played like it. Kevin Carter on the
AllTimeClemson
spacer Depends: Are we still playing on the moon?***
RevDodd
spacer It's Sermon Time Rev.
footballmanager
spacer I don't think it's DW that should take offense at this...it's or receivers!!
dyeguy13
spacer I know.....I left the "u" out of our***
dyeguy13
spacer Uh Oh! Somebody be....
insanetigerfan08
spacer Only gays and girls use emojis***
Caddie
spacer A QB who "manages the game" is code for
Tim317
spacer Missed 2014 due to an academic investigation
theo042296
spacer You See....This Is Why We Need To Play Well ----
Xander5000
spacer He looks like a solid gold dancer in that picture***
blackrivertiger
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
Tigershaq
spacer Hard to imagine that...
dattiger05
spacer Re: Hard to imagine that...
Corderiette®
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
seanmcmillan0
spacer Did your parents draw letters out of the alphabet soup?!?
coachmac
spacer Re: Did your parents draw letters out of the alphabet soup?!?
seanmcmillan0
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
tmac9wr
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
seanmcmillan0
spacer Re: FB Update: Notre Dame CB on Watson: “I don’t think he’s a top five quarterback"
tmac9wr
spacer Have you just ignored his stats?
The hillbilly beater
spacer Re: Have you just ignored his stats?
tmac9wr
spacer Tmac... you're not too familiar with football, are you?
onederkid
spacer So far I've gotten this from the Fighing Irish:
Tickled Orange
spacer Re: So far I've gotten this from the Fighing Irish:
seanmcmillan0
spacer Your body of work doesn't support your words, Big Boy
TigerHawk76®
spacer Re: Your body of work doesn't support your words, Big Boy
seanmcmillan0
spacer Re: Your body of work doesn't support your words, Big Boy
Tigershaq
spacer Because FGF isn't a fun place right now.***
TigerHawk76®
spacer Re: Your body of work doesn't support your words, Big Boy
tmac9wr
spacer Re: Your body of work doesn't support your words, Big Boy
Tigershaq
spacer Wofford = UMASS
TigerHawk76®
spacer Re: Wofford = UMASS
ShamrockWarrior
spacer Re: Wofford = UMASS
RebelthePitBull
spacer Re: Wofford = UMASS
clemson15
spacer What's that about one's mouth, check and insufficient funds?
ClemsonTiger1988®
spacer Tough words coming from a " spaghetti sauce stain"
benc843
spacer Isn't this the same guy who was suspended a year for academic issues?
GSCtiger®
spacer You Clemson fans sure are overconfident
ShamrockWarrior
spacer Re: You Clemson fans sure are overconfident
Cletiger10
spacer Another dumber Domer spouting off
TigerHawk76®
spacer Re: Another dumber Domer spouting off
ShamrockWarrior
spacer You may be right.
Country Gentleman
spacer Re: You Clemson fans sure are overconfident
Tigerman1978
spacer Using the transitive property in football is stupid
SquishyWaffle
spacer Stopping a running game is THE one thing I'm sure of....***
SOLOS®
spacer ND's CB Has a Big Mouth
Noonan®
spacer I mean ###
clemson15
spacer Lowly UMass WRs got open all day for 302 yds & 1 TD.
Razzmatazz
spacer Re: Lowly UMass WRs got open all day for 302 yds & 1 TD.
Dugatiger®
spacer Well this is awkward...***
Tiger4Life1995