The Clemson Tigers held their first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday inside Memorial Stadium, and head coach Dabo Swinney came out of the practice liking the competitiveness that he saw from his team.
“There were some big plays on both sides,” Swinney said. “Kind of a carryover from what I’ve seen in practice each day from a competition standpoint.”
Here’s what else Swinney had to say after the scrimmage:
- No. 2 quarterback Hunter Helms is going to miss some time with a foot sprain he suffered during fall camp, but Swinney wouldn’t put a timetable on how long Helms will be out.
- Paul Tyson, who transferred in from Arizona State in the offseason, will back up Cade Klubnik. Freshman Chris Vizzina is still on scheduled to redshirt. “I hate Hunter isn’t healthy. I wanted to see him and Paul really compete.”
- Clemson ran about 120 total plays and got in a lot of special teams work. “Got a lot of good-on-good, really mixed it up. Did everything except two-minute (drills).”
- Usually one side dominates an entire scrimmage but that wasn’t the case.
- Swinney said two or three players went down during the scrimmage, and there was one player he needs to check on from an injury standpoint.
- Swinney said the defense started well as the offense turned the ball over on a fumble and an interception and didn’t finish a couple of drives, but the offense finished the scrimmage well.
- Swinney was disappointed in a couple of penalties, including one from not being lined up correctly on a field goal situation.
- Klubnik was “good,” Swinney said. The starting QB had one pass picked off when DE Cade Denhoff dropped into coverage. “He certainly had a couple he’d like to have back, but overall, a good first day.”
- Swinney said Thomas was a “problem” on Saturday for the offense.
- Freshman defensive end T.J. Parker is “right there” with starters Thomas and Justin Mascoll.
- Some veterans Swinney knows can “go play” are being limited or not participating in scrimmages to keep them healthy and get looks at younger players.
- Kicker Robert Gunn II hit a 60-yard field goal on Saturday.
- Swinney thought Cole Turner and Jake Briningstool were the leading pass-catchers in the scrimmage.
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