By William Qualkinbush.

Even with starting quarterback Deshaun Watson on the shelf until the summer, the Clemson offense is expected to run at a certain pace. With a warmer day of practice on Monday, Clemson’s co-offensive coordinator says finishing strong was difficult for some of his players—not a bad thing, in the coaches’ eyes.

“Some of them had a little trouble there at the end with the tempo, what we want and what we expect,” Jeff Scott said. “That’s good for them to get some experience with that and having to push through.”

High temperatures in Clemson reached the mid-70s on Monday, a change from the cooler afternoons that have peppered spring practice thus far. Scott says the weather caused some necessary adversity, but he also pointed out the improvements of all three active quarterbacks—veteran Nick Schuessler and freshmen Tucker Israel and Kelly Bryant—that allowed them to pick up the pace in the first place.

“The more comfortable they feel, the better our tempo will be with the second and third group,” Scott said. “It’s not where we want it to be, but it’s definitely better than it was before spring break.”

Hearing the thud. Head Coach Dabo Swinney said Monday’s practice was “all thud”, meaning players completed drills while wearing helmets and shoulder pads. He said there was “a good bit of competitiveness” in practice. The emphasis, according to Swinney, was on fundamentals and trying to teach habits that can carry over into what he calls “Skills and Drills” during the summer months.

Hopper’s process continues. I asked Germone Hopper if he ever got tired of hearing about having the talent but not being able to maintain focus on and off the field long enough to truly make substantial progress as a player. Those comments have become standard whenever a coach mentions his name. He was matter-of-fact in his response.

“It’s the truth,” he said. “The coaches tell me that’s what they see. It’s about what people observe about you. They see that I need to mature more.”

Both Swinney and Jeff Scott said this has been Hopper’s best spring. A year after missing out on spring practice for disciplinary reasons, Hopper says he feels an obligation to make up for lost time.

“He’s been noticed for good things and not the bad things,” Scott said. “That’s what he’s been trying to do the whole time he’s been here.”

The man, the myth… The legend of Hunter Renfrow continues to grow. Add punt returner to the list of roles the preferred walk-on has filled this spring.

Previously, coaches have raved about Renfrow’s work at wide receiver and at punter, where he was so impressive that practice stopped to watch him boom balls off of his right foot.

According to Swinney, Renfrow is one of four players getting reps as the punt returner. Hopper, Artavis Scott, and Ryan Carter are the others. Swinney also said they would probably throw some live return elements into the spring game, a testament to a renewed emphasis on improving in that facet of play.