Jeff Scott says the best thing Clemson’s offensive line has done the past few weeks is stay off the coaches’ radar.
“We have not noticed them,” said the 12th-ranked Tigers’ co-offensive coordinator.
That means the O-Line is getting the job done. That was not the case when fall camp opened up earlier this month. The defensive line was dominating practice and scrimmages the first couple of weeks, but in the last week or so things started to change. The penalties have been eliminated, and so have the sacks and many of the tackles for loss.
Sure there is still work that needs to be done before the Tigers open the season next Saturday against Wofford at Death Valley, but the noticeable improvements have Scott feeling pretty good.
“The guys have a good chemistry and everybody kind of knows where they are and what their job is,” he said. “We fully expect that first group to be able to go out there and execute, and what we are excited about is we think we have five guys behind them.
“We really feel like we have ten guys that can go play.”
Clemson’s starting line will consist of freshman Mitch Hyatt at left tackle, senior Eric Mac Lain at left guard, senior Ryan Norton at center, sophomore Tyrone Crowder at right guard and senior Joe Gore at right tackle. The backup tackles are redshirt freshman Taylor Hearn (the surprise of camp who will also play some at guard) and freshman Jake Fruhmorgen. Junior Jay Guillermo is the second-team center and guard, while sophomore Maverick Morris is a backup guard and tackle. Redshirt freshman Justin Falcinelli will be a reserve guard and center for the Tigers.
“I don’t know how many years you will have to go back, but just of recent, I don’t think we felt like going into the season we had ten guys that could go in and operate and be able to play,” Scott said. “We are pleased with the progress of where we have come since the spring and where we have come since the first week and a half of fall camp.”
Last year, the Tigers played just eight players on the offensive line that had the majority of the snaps on the offensive line and that was the same number in 2012 and 2013. Due to injuries, at one point last year, Clemson played back-to-back games with five offensive linemen taking snaps.
So far it has been a pleasant surprise on the offensive line, especially considering the fact Clemson lost Kalon Davis, David Beasley and Reid Webster to graduation from last year, and before camp even started Isaiah Battle left the team and entered the NFL Supplemental Draft. That’s four of the Tigers’ five starters from 2014, yet, this year’s line might already be better and deeper.
“It is coming together,” fellow co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “Coach (Robbie) Caldwell has done a great job cross training those guys. For instance, you have a guy like Taylor Hearn who was a guy when we came into camp we did not think was going to be able to play on the edge very well. But he was given an opportunity and he has impressed everyone within the program.
“When you have that ability to play guys at different spots it helps you from a depth standpoint on the second team.”
And it keeps the offensive line off the radar, which means they are getting their job done.