By Heath Bradley.
It is finally game week for the Clemson Tigers, and Chad Morris is excited. As he sat down with reporters today to discuss the upcoming game with the Auburn Tigers, Morris flashed a grin and told reporters to smile saying, “it’s game week, be happy.” For a coordinator without his most explosive playmaker and an inexperienced offensive line, Morris was as confident as ever in his players entering this 2012 season.
Since the Tigers last faced Auburn, the SEC Tigers have had numerous shakeups in their coaching staff; this includes the loss of defensive coordinator Ted Roof who left to take the same position at Penn State. Roof has been replaced by Brian VanGorder, who has spent time previously in the SEC as well as the NFL, most recently as the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. With a change in coordinator, a change in philosophy is often the case. This means that Chad Morris and the Clemson offensive coaching staff has worked extra to watch film and prepare their offense for what they may see. However, according to Chad Morris, the Tigers must focus more on what they are looking to accomplish as a team, than what defense Auburn will run.
“I have looked at everything, anybody that has had any contact. We have gone back as far as we have needed to go back. You have watched so much; you kind of get film crazy over it. It is like all first games of the year, you better worry about the Clemson Tigers. You better worry about yourself, you better get good at something, and you better worry about what you do. That has been our focus and philosophy, especially in these first couple of games. You better be able to protect the football, and you better have an identity. We have watched a lot of film and have tried to put our players in a position to be successful. That is all you can do the first week, we have to take care of the football,” said Morris.
When asked what to expect from a Brian VanGorder defense, Morris was very complimentary of what VanGorder tries to accomplish.
“He is going to do a good job mixing his coverage. He wants to bring pressure. He does a good job of disguising his coverage. He likes to move his front; they have one of the top defensive fronts in the country. They want to get you in third and long so they can get you in pass rush situations,” said Morris.
The Tigers will be without their most electric playmaker in Sammy Watkins Saturday night, while this may frighten many, Chad Morris feels that this team is ready to play without him. This is due to how they have prepared during fall camp, as well as how many other playmakers this offense possesses.
“I think we have done a really good job during fall camp, Coach Swinney has with the way we went through workouts, keeping Sammy out. Letting him go and do other things, whether it is scout team or what not, we have had to manage. There are more guys out there than just Sammy. We had to have guys out there to make big plays besides Sammy. We all know what he is like when he is in there, and the impact he has. It is not about Sammy, it goes back to you better Have Tajh Boyd, Andre Ellington, and an offensive line that is ready to go. You better have skill guys out on the edge that are ready to go. I feel good about that, we have had a good camp, now it is time to put it all together,” said Morris.
Charone Peake is one of those players this offense will count on to make plays on Saturday night. Peake will get the nod in the place of the suspended Watkins, and Morris is confident that the strides Peake made in fall camp will have him ready to contribute. His consistency, something he once struggled with, is now one of his strengths, according to Morris. “I think his consistency in camp, had pushed everybody over the edge. He was as consistent as anybody we had. He is a huge playmaker. He is one of the fastest players on the team. “
The biggest news of the day is in regards to the offensive line. According to Morris, Giff Timothy should be back for the game, and as of today, should start at right tackle. When asked about Timothy’s progress and his chances to play Saturday, Morris lit up and responded by saying. “I feel like he will be ready to go, I feel like he will be able to start. We will know this week. He worked out last week. The more the week progressed, the more reps he got. He looked good, he is a little out of shape, but that comes with having two weeks off. We have to get him back in shape, but I expect him to be the guy. ”Morris seemed to be very pleased with the improvement of the offensive line throughout fall camp. Their maturation will be key for the success of this offense, and if today was any indication, Morris expects these players to become a strength for the Tigers during the season.