By Heath Bradley.

Chad Morris met with the media following practice Tuesday and discussed a variety of topics. These topics included; the play of the offensive line, the backup quarterback situation, and who could see more time in the place of Sammy Watkins.

Morris opened by saying that through four days of fall camp, the offense is where he felt they would be for the most part. “I thought for the first few days that they were at were we thought they would be, where they should be as far as tempo and conditioning. I was pleased with that.” Tempo is such a key part of a Chad Morris offense and it seems that entering camp this year the players seem to have a better idea of the shape and body style that is needed to be successful.

Morris went on to discuss that while the offense players are where the coaches felt they would be, there is still long way for the offense to go. “ I have saw a lot of good things, there are a lot of good things out there, but we are still a long way from being a football team that I feel ready to put on the field right now.” The next few weeks will play a key role in improving physically and mentally for the Clemson offense.

The Clemson offensive line will be made up of many young contributors in 2012, including many seeing their first playing time in a tiger uniform. One lineman that has stood out to Morris and the coaches early on in camp is Shaq Anthony. “Shaq Anthony’s is a guy; again his name keeps popping up. He is having a really good camp, I have been real pleased with him.” According to Morris, Anthony has been playing mainly at left tackle, his improvement and ability to become a contributor will be vital as a backup to Brandon Thomas at left tackle.

When asked about Tajh Boyd four days into camp, Chad Morris seemed very upbeat about the progress Boyd has made this off-season. “He is a lot more comfortable than he is ever been, and I mean comfortable in a good way.” Morris went on to discuss how the way he coaches players is to try and make them uncomfortable so Boyd being comfortable is a very good sign entering the season. “He is comfortable in his environment, settings and his reads.”

While Boyd may be comfortable, Chad Morris knows that he still has a long way to go to be ready to have the season that Clemson needs him to in 2012. One thing that has stood out to Morris though is how Boyd has grown as a leader in this off-season. “He is still what you would expect right now. He is still making some mistakes we have to improve on, but he is definitely the leader of this team and he is showing that.”

The battle for backup quarterback is something that Morris also discussed with the media. “I think that Cole Stoudt right now is our #2 without a doubt and Morgan Roberts is a guy who is battling for it.” “It is those two guys pretty much in a two way battle.” It will be key for Roberts to continually push Stoudt so that both players become the best they can be in case both are forced into action.