If there is one guy who knows a thing or two about what a good defensive front looks like, Clemson center Ryan Norton is that guy. As the 12th-ranked Tigers’ starting center the previous two years, he had to battle All-ACC defensive tackle Grady Jarrett in practice every day.
Though Jarrett is now making a living in the NFL, Norton says there has been no drop off now that he is facing D.J. Reader instead of Jarrett.
“There is no difference in blocking Grady and blocking D.J.,” he said. “D.J. has cut weight, he has gotten faster. He has been unbelievable.”
Reader is faster, too. The senior defensive tackle dropped about five pounds over the summer, which has allowed him to be noticeably faster in practice.
“He was doing a few slants today. He moves pretty fast now … I can’t tell you like miles per hour. I have not clocked him, yet,” Norton said smiling.
It’s not just Reader. Norton says there has been no drop off whatsoever on the defensive front. He explains it is a testament to the way defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks rotates guys in and out up front.
“We had such quality depth last year, there is not going to be much of a drop off,” he said. “I can tell you that much.”
Carlos Watkins has been starting right alongside Reader on the first-team defense, while Scott Pagano, Roderick Byers and freshman Christian Wilkins are rotating at second- and third-string.
Watson looked sharp. For the second day in a row, quarterback Deshaun Watson was on the money.
The sophomore completed 12 of 15 passes for 216 yards during the seven-on-seven and team passing segments of the practice. He has not thrown an interception through two practices.
In good company. Swinney had high praise for wide receiver Mike Williams following Wednesday’s practice. He said the junior is stronger than Nuk Hopkins was when he was a junior.
“Mike can be another Nuk Hopkins,” Swinney said. “He is stronger than Nuk, but he needs to develop the killer instinct Nuk had here and continues to have at the next level.”
Williams led Clemson last year with 1,030 yards and enters this season as a candidate for First-Team All-ACC honors.
Plenty of weapons at tight end. During Wednesday’s practice, tight end Jordan Leggett laid out for a pass from Deshaun Watson and made a diving 25-yard reception.
Swinney said, “There is a different look in Jordan Leggett’s eyes” than in years past. The Tigers are hoping Leggett will have a breakout season this year.
Tight end Jay Jay McCullough, who Swinney said he isn’t expecting anything from, made a nice catch down the sideline on a Nick Schuessler pass.
“We are much deeper at tight end than we were last year. We really were hit by injuries there last year,” Swinney said. “Now we have Cannon Smith, Milan Richard, D.J. Greenlee and Garrett Williams in the mix, and Jay Jay McCullough has been good so far. They give us a big shot in the arm.”
Stanton Seckinger is also back in the mix after coming off surgery. He has been working with first-team offense, along with Leggett.
Tigers will be in shells. Clemson will wear some pads (shells) on Thursday and eventually put on the full uniform for Saturday night’s practice.
“I have been pleased with what I have seen so far, but in shorts there is only so much you can do,” Swinney said. “You can work on assignments and being in the right place, but football is a game of physical and mental toughness.”
Tucker to miss four weeks. Swinney said after practice that backup quarterback Tucker Israel will have surgery on his broken foot on Friday. Israel suffered the injury within the first few periods of the first practice on Tuesday. He is expected to miss at least four weeks.
The only other player to miss practice due to injury on Wednesday was linebacker Korie Rogers. He is expected to return soon. Clemson did not report what his injury was.