Dabo Swinney Press Conference Recap
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney held his weekly Tuesday morning press conference and C-S-N was there as always to capture the latest coming out of Clemson as the Tigers prepare for Wake Forest on Saturday at 3:30 pm on ESPN.
Swinney opened up with his prepared statement and then took on questions from the gathered press inside the Allen Reeve’s football facility. In his opening statement Swinney mentioned about Saturdays game with Syracuse and how his team showed its “Will to win……was awesome to be a part of it” comparing the experience to a child’s growth chart and being able to see growth in front of him as the game played on with all the distractions and adversity that faced the team all week leading into and during the game “almost like kids on the growth chart ya know? Sometimes you don’t see the growth.. it was one of those moments seeing the growth”.
Swinney then turned to this week’s ACC contest with Wake Forest . . . “Third road game of the first half of the season “… “This week is really critical in a lot of ways” … on Wakes season and how his team has to approach this game “they are 3-2, with two tough losses”…”Second in the conference in total offense” . Dabo then expanded on what he expects to see from The Deacons… “We get every bodies best effort “…”They run the ball.” On Sam Hartman the Wake quarterback . . . “He is tough competitor.. really good feel for what they’re asking him to do” on the Wake offense… “Very unique in how they run the action game “…”Very Slow developing” . . . “Stresses you defensively……It’s a big challenge…… #3 (Greg Dortch) is a really good football player “
All of a sudden Swinney noticed that Ex Sports Information director Tim Bourret was in attendance and exclaimed: “it’s Tim Bourret Holy Cow !”
Back to Wake Forest Swinney mentioned Greg Dortch the preseason All-ACC wide receiver who has given the ACC fits the past two years…”This is a really good player.. they have found some ways to score with him” on their Defense Swinney talked about Rodney on the defensive line ….”Zeke Rodney is not very tall but he plays very big”.. on the new Wake Defensive Coordinator Jay Swavel “Some unknowns”.
Wake’s Dortch and Hartman both won ACC weekly honors. As Dortch was “receiver of the week” and Hartman was named “rookie of the week”. This week, Dortch ranks third in the nation in all-purpose yards with 196.2 yards per game. He ranks fifth in the nation in combined kick return yards, first nationally in punt return touchdowns, eighth in punt return average, 14th in receiving touchdowns, second in receptions per game, sixth in receiving yards and fifth in receiving yards per game.
Swinney then was asked about Trevor Lawrence and an update on his injury …”Trevor, more of a neck issue. Got the crap knocked out of him “…”He was really good Sunday and looked good last night” and mentioned that Lawrence indeed did practice last night and is expected to start on Saturday against the Deacons.
Swinney then went on to discuss a few superlatives the offense has managed so far this season in “We have played 5 games. We are averaging over 7 yards a play .. if the season ended today would be an all-time high… “ When asked about his offensive line play on Saturday “ Eight played six of the eight graded out winners…John Simpson has really taken off”
Swinney was then questioned on the “balance” of the Clemson offense and what it means…”When you have the ability to win either way you got pretty good balance” … “
You cannot have balance if you cannot run the ball”
Then going back to last week the Tigers head coach mentioned that “Chemistry and leadership of your team are the two most underrated” and when it comes to that area..“This team is a special group”
Full Press Conference here :
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