Dabo Swinney Scrimmage Interview: What We Learned
Saturday marked the first scrimmage for the Tigers. It is the first chance to see the team in live action and gain valuable information about the direction they are headed in.
The first thing to note is that the offensive line won the day. After a season of so many injuries and changes to the lineup, it is very encouraging to hear Dabo open with that statement. Reps against the defensive lineman at Clemson are reps against NFL talent daily, so the offensive lineman has undoubtedly stepped up to the challenge.
The next group Dabo shifted to was the quarterbacks. Dabo was “pleased” with DJ.
Like the lineman, it is crucial that DJ started fall camp on the right foot. He and Cade each had “one mistake” but had a good day overall. It is also notable to note that Dabo mentioned that DJ made two big plays with his legs. If he can add that piece to his game this fall, the offense could become dangerous. The 2022 season could rest on the arm of either quarterback, and having both of the talented signal callers playing well in a scrimmage against a talented defense is an excellent sign of things to come.
Dabo mentioned how there were a ton of little mistakes but that it is all a part of the learning process. He said many of those come from situational points within the scrimmage, such as red zone scenes or short yardage downs.
Swinney added how the tight ends group made some big plays, including the three-star Josh Sapp. Swinney said, “we are really glad we got him. He’s a little ball player now.” Getting massive production from the tight ends would be a significant boost to the offense, which hasn’t had substantial production from the group since the days of Jordan Leggett. Davis Allen has the potential to be that guy and the players who sit behind him.
Overall, it was a positive day for the Tigers. If anything, the scrimmage generates even more excitement for the start of the season in Atlanta.
