Clemson doesn’t lose games such as these – anymore – so the first two of 2015 served as a “preseason” of sorts before 10 straight against teams that can create great angst.

Since the schedule doesn’t always oblige, Dabo Swinney was grateful for the opportunity to virtually empty his bench against Wofford and App State. A week ago he used 27 first-year players and nearly as many Saturday in the 41-10 win.

The overarching reason for his gratitude was those games with Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Florida State and South Carolina that loom as potential harbingers. There are still issues with depth at several positions, particularly linebacker, and kickoff coverage that eventually could bite a team not paying attention to the details.

“After two games, I feel good about where we are,” Swinney said Saturday. “To have played as many people as we have … that’s going to help us.

“It wasn’t pretty at times,” he said. “But they’re talented guys who are going to get better.”

Opening at Georgia a year ago wasn’t possible to be certain Deshaun Watson was his best quarterback, though there were indications during August practice and even back during the summer. Imagine how a game or two against a Wofford or an App State might have changed history.

Since all 12 regular season games count when the CFB playoff committee huddles to pick the Final Four, Swinney wasn’t willing to gamble.

“It’s not something you can really count on,” Swinney said. “You have no idea

“You’re all in every single game.”

Coming into this season he knew what he had in Watson, most of the receivers and backs on offense; and on defense Shaq Lawson, corner Mackensie Alexander, safety Jayron Kearse, linebacker Ben Boulware and several others.

He also had a pretty good idea the offensive line might be fine with freshman Mitch Hyatt at left tackle, but he couldn’t anticipate injuries to receiver Mike Williams and safety Korin Wiggins.

There were some other things about which he couldn’t be absolutely certain, which was why these two games became critical.

“Two weeks in a row we were able to go deep into our bench. Hopefully that’s going to pay off for us,” he said. “It was a little frustrating, but that’s the only way we’re going to get better.

“Right now we’ve got a bit of a drop off in a couple of areas,” he said. “The bottom line on this game, our backups have got to get better.”

Swinney was asked if he had an identity emerging on this team. A year ago they were tough and nasty because the defense was relentless and focused. They were able to overcome Watson’s on-again-off-again season. And who knew Cole Stoudt would deliver his career game against Oklahoma?

If anything, Swinney said, this team comes to work.

“I don’t know that we know a whole lot yet,” he said. “We’re supposed to line up and we’re supposed to beat Wofford, and we’re supposed to beat App State . And we did, in a convincing fashion.

“The biggest thing they’ve proved now is that they can take care of business. They’ve been able to stay focused on the task at hand.”

Talk about Louisville and Notre Dame seemed around every corner last week, and it didn’t help that a TV reality series on Notre Dame’s season debuted last week.

“They’ve not gotten distracted,” Swinney said of his players. “It’s hard. Everybody’s talked to them about Louisville and Notre Dame and all this and that. And I’m trying to beat App State.

“But they’ve been a team that’s showed up ready to play. Hopefully that will continue.”

When you still have questions to be answered and another game in five days, that’s probably all you can ask.