Tony Elliott describes Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson as a football junkie.
“If you go back and watch him, every Sunday, I think, he was at the Falcons’ game as a ball boy hanging around football,” the Tigers’ co-offensive coordinator said on Monday. “You saw him coming up with that passion for the game.”
That passion has translated into everything Watson does on and off the field. Watson’s coaches and teammates say he is one of the smartest guys they know, and he has a 4.0 GPA to back it up. His work ethic is unmatched and his football IQ is unlike anyone’s on the team.
Offensive guard Eric Mac Lain says, if someone saw him play and did not know who he was, they would swear he was a fifth-year or sixth-year senior who has been in this offense all of his life. They definitely would not think he was a sophomore.
“The kid has made unbelievable reads and calls,” Mac Lain said. “I think the biggest surprise that we have seen is the confidence he has in protections. He has really taken it upon himself to learn the protections of the offensive line where if he sees some sort of blitz or coverage he does not like he can call a different one to put us in a better situation.
“You don’t see that from a sophomore or 19-year old kids being able to read a defense that way.”
Mac Lain said Watson reminds him of Peyton Manning when he comes to the line of scrimmage and starts changing the play. Manning of course is known for his ability to come to the line and reset an entire play to fit what the defense is showing.
“If he sees a bear-front or some sort of odd, he will check us out of it and get us into a better situation,” Mac Lain said.
That perhaps explains why the 12th-ranked Tigers were so much better offensively with Watson starting or playing last year. Clemson averaged more than 40 points and 540 yards a game when the Gainesville, Ga., native played last season.
“That is a testament to his high school coaches and him, and the preparation he puts in,” Elliott said. “He is one of those guys that he has that ‘it’ factor. He is passionate about it. He prepares with purpose. He does a lot of work outside the building on his own. You see him doing things that you expect a junior and senior to do and he has only started a couple of games. It is impressive to watch him work.”
Watson has learned a lot in the last year, especially with the time he had off while recovering from ACL surgery. He said he spent that time understanding the coach’s perspective from the sideline.
“Talking with Coach (Dabo) Swinney and seeing what he sees, I try to think like him, so I think I’m a lot better than I have been before,” he said.
Watson says he pretty much knows the whole playbook, and understands the reasons why Clemson runs certain plays. He understands every little detail from what they do to the offensive line calls.
“Really, it is everything we do,” he said.
Watson says he spends as much free time as he can get studying his opponents. He has basically already gone over and watched everyone on Clemson’s schedule and he plans to look at them again when each game gets here. Right now, he says all of his focus is on Wofford.
As for how much control Elliott and Jeff Scott will give him each week, Watson says, “It is based on week-to-week and what we go over. They give me a list of things I can check to versus different defenses. It’s about having that trust between myself and the coaching staff and being able to play and execute.
“Right now, I’m still learning and getting all the details down for the offense. Each week is different. I’m gaining that trust and that leeway to be able to change and operate on the field.”
Elliott’s only goal right now when it comes to Watson, “I don’t mess with Deshaun that much because he does an unbelievable job preparing. He is very smart and he takes pride in his work.”
But what else would he expect from a guy he describes as a football junkie.