By Will Vandervort.

By Will Vandervort

When right tackle Gifford Timothy went out with a knee injury in the first quarter of the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris and offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell were forced to “peace meal” a line together that could slow down LSU’s strong and quick defensive front.

For three straight possessions, they had no answer. Joe Gore, who was playing because second team right tackle Shaq Anthony failed to qualify academically, could not block LSU’s Barkevious Mingo. The LSU defensive end was causing all kinds of havoc in the Clemson backfield.

Scratching his head, while trying to figure out something to do, Caldwell moved left tackle Brandon Thomas to right and brought in seldom used freshman Isaiah Battle to play left. It was a gutsy move considering Battle was lining up against All-American defensive end Sam Montgomery and was having to protect quarterback Tajh Boyd’s blindside.

The move paid off. Battle, with the help of the running backs and tight ends chipping, held his own and kept Montgomery off Boyd. He played the next 73 snaps, almost matching the 80 he played in the previous 12 games combined.

“We thought coming out of that LSU game, ‘Man, this is it. We figured it out.’ But we just quite have not got it done yet,” Morris said following Tuesday’s practice. “It doesn’t mean it is not going to get done. It is going to get done, whether he likes it or not, but it is going to get done and we are going to make sure of that.”

The reason it has not got done, says Morris, is because Battle has been inconsistent in practice. One second he looks like Orlando Pace and then the next he looks like Levi Brown.

“He needs to become more consistent,” Morris said. “He has to make his mind up. Is this what he wants to do? It is time to do it and say, ‘I’m taking ownership of this job.’

“Obviously, we have all seen what he can do. We saw it against one of the best defenses in the country. Now we have to parlay that into practice. He has to practice with that type of mentality and attitude the whole time and not just whenever he wants to.”

Until Battle gets it down, Morris says Brandon Thomas will stay at left tackle. The Clemson coach is hoping Battle will get better between now and the first of fall camp, which in turn will give them the opportunity to see how they can use Thomas this upcoming season.

“A lot depends on Isaiah Battle and if he sets his mind on what he wants to do,” Morris said. “Obviously, we want Isaiah Battle to make his mind up that he wants to be the best tackle in the league, which he could be, and take that left tackle spot.

“That will allow us to be able to have Brandon Thomas and move him around. What position? I don’t know because Brandon gives us some flexibility, but right now he is at left tackle.”

Morris says Battle has the potential to be one the best offensive tackles Clemson has ever had. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native was one of the top rated tackles in the country coming out of prep school at Fork Union Military Academy in 2012.

“There is a difference in looking and playing good and that is thing,” Morris said. “He has it. He has the talent and he has it all. He has to make his mind up that he wants it. I want it for him, but that does not mean a whole lot.

“There are days he makes his mind up, and great, that’s unbelievable. Then there are days when he shows his immaturity. He has to grow up in that regard, but the tools are there so it is a matter of getting that light to click on.”

And if that light does click on, then the sky is the limit for Battle and for the Clemson offensive line.

“If Isaiah Battle comes on like we think he will, and he should, then it is going to make our offensive line so much more athletic and have so much more depth,” Morris said. “We have guys pushing each other. We have some guys that can really fit that piece of the puzzle together.”