Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and the Clemson staff are starting to make decisions about what the depth chart will be entering the first game of the season.  Saturday will be a critical day for those on the bubble for playing time.

“Well this is day whatever.  We are a long way into this thing now.  I think we are starting to settle in on some directions.  Tomorrow is a big day for a bunch of guys.  It will be our last full live scrimmage.  We had a pretty good bit of live work today.  It will be a really important day for some guys as far as how we are going to set that depth chart going into Monday,” said Swinney.

The Tigers will start turning their focus to Auburn on Monday.  This will be earlier than in years past.

“We have a two-a-day on Monday but we are going to start flipping the script pretty quick.  We are going to start getting geared into Auburn a little bit earlier than we did last year.  The biggest reason for that is we have so many young players.  A lot of them have played but we have so many of them that we are going to need to depend on to play at a high level.  We are going to start a little bit earlier than we normally have.  Last year we had a pretty veteran front on both side.  So we will probably turn the script to Auburn at some point Monday,” said Swinney.

Coach Swinney likes where his team is after the first two weeks of camp.

“I like where we are right now.  I think health wise we are pretty good.  I hope we will finish strong in that regard tomorrow.  We still have a lot of work to do and a couple of weeks to get it done,” said Swinney.

The depth chart at right guard and right tackle is starting to take shape.

“Beasley has been working with the ones the past couple of days.  Basically where we are right now we are zeroing in on he and Kalon and letting them really compete for that starting spot on September 1.  And then over at right tackle Shaq Anthony has been taking most of the one reps the last couple of days since our last scrimmage.  He and Joe Gore are battling for that right tackle spot.  I anticipate unless something drastically changes between now and next week right now that is kind of where we are zeroed in.  We are trying to get Norton to be really confident at the center position.  Also we are still trying to keep his hand in at guard a little bit but I like what I have seen from Beasley and I like how Kalon has responded.  He is trying to get a little better day to day so we are just going to let those guys compete.  The same thing over at right tackle.  I think Shaq stepped forward on Wednesday and Joe took a step back.  It is just kind of a competitive battle there,” said Swinney.

Two freshman already appear to be set to play this fall, Carlos Watkins and D.J. Reader.

“Both of them were well coached in high school and they get it.  I would be surprised if both of those guys don’t help us this year,” said Swinney.

Coach Swinney was asked if there was a freshman that came in this year and he could tell immediately was ready to help the team, similar to Sammy Watkins last year.

“Well if you had to pin me down I would probably say D.J. Reader.  It might shock you when I say that but he reminds me of Sammy in a lot of ways.  He reminds be of Sammy in a lot of ways.  It is a different position but he reminds me of Sammy in how serious he is about it, how competitive he is about it, how technically sound  he is, how quick he has picked up the system.  Those are things that separated Sammy last year,” said Swinney.

A decision has not been made yet on whether to play Germone Hopper this season.

“I haven’t made a decision on that yet either.  He is one of those guys right now that I think we have to keep getting ready.  At some point we have to make that decision but not today.  I think he could help us.  I don’t want to just play him because Sammy is out for the first two games.    If we are going to play him it is because he is going to play all year.  So those are things we really have to sit down and look at as a staff.  I am really proud of how he has worked.  I love his effort and his attitude.  He has a lot of confidence and is playing well.  We will make that decision at some point in the near future,” said Swinney.