What looked like a disaster late in the spring game suddenly doesn’t look like that now. QB Taisun Phommachanh tore his achilles tendon late in the spring game and was thought to be lost for the season, leaving the backup quarterback job in the hands of two freshmen and a returning sophomore with very little experience.
To the surprise of many, Phommachanh was fully cleared yesterday to resume football and has been practicing for some time now.
“Getting Taisun back is great. He’s practiced really well. A lot of confidence,” Swinney said. “Taisun’s the No.2 guy. He’s practiced all camp. He’s fully done pretty much everything since that first week. They just fully cleared him the other day. I think it was Monday. He’s looked really good. Hunter (Helms) has done a great job, I have a lot of confidence in him. So, we are in a good spot.”
What does this mean with regards to the play calling. It means that RPO is back in play. When you’re short on depth at the quarterback position, you mean lean towards fewer quarterback runs, and as far as the Clemson offense, it’s been a very important piece to the offense. QB DJ Uiagalelei is a big quarterback, fast, agile and is a load to tackle. Getting Phommachanh back is a blessing and Dabo doesn’t have to throw a young, inexperienced freshman to the wolves early.
