Since the spring, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney thought this year’s team had an opportunity to be a really good team. Seven weeks into the year, he is enjoying every minute he is getting to coach the 2015 squad.
Clemson is ranked No. 3 in the latest Associated Press top 25 poll, and following last week’s 58-0 blowout at Miami, the Tigers are among the favorites, if they can keep winning, to make the College Football Playoffs.
The Tigers travel to Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) to take on ACC rival NC State.
Clemson has won its first seven games by an average of 24 points. Is this the most focused team Swinney has had the pleasure of coaching?
“I thought we were very focused last year, too” he said following Wednesday’s practice. “That was as fun of a group as I have ever been around. That senior class won a lot of games. But sometimes things just don’t go your way. I mean we did not lose in Tallahassee because we were not focused. We lost because we had about four really stupid plays, and they are a good team.”
The Tigers (7-0, 4-0 ACC) have had very few stupid plays this season, though some blow coverages in the Notre Dame game nearly cost them in the end. Other than that they have played fairly well for the majority of the year.
Swinney said this year’s squad has been a little more fortunate with injuries, too. The biggest of course being the injuries sustained to quarterback Deshaun Watson. This year, Clemson lost starting wide receiver Mike Williams to a neck injury, safety Korrin Wiggins to a torn ACL and center Ryan Norton the last five games due to a knee injury, but other than that it has stayed relatively healthy for a football team.
“For the most part, especially defensively, we have been able to bring our depth along at a healthy pace,” Swinney said. “I knew our first group was going to be awesome. But if you get an injury, now you are going to have to play somebody before they are really ready to play a heavy load.
“We’ve been fortunate because we only have thirty days left in the regular season between now and South Carolina. We started with hundred and twenty something days. We have put a ton of work in. We have been fortunate at this point because our depth has been able to come at a healthy pace. We have gotten a little lucky with the injuries, but we have made some of the critical plays along the way.”
Those critical plays include the stop on Notre Dame’s two-point conversion and Kevin Dodd’s sack on Louisville’s last possession, which forced the Cardinals to have to jack up a Hail Mary at the end which was intercepted by safety Jadar Johnson.
“We have found ways to win,” Swinney said.
Mike Williams update. Swinney said Mike Williams will get the hard neck brace he is currently wearing removed next week. It will be replaced with a soft one. There is still no timetable on when the wide receiver will be back or if he will be back with the team this year.
Other injuries of note. Defensive end Kevin Dodd (foot) moved around a little bit better on Wednesday and Swinney said he will be able to play on Saturday against the Wolfpack. Defensive tackle Jabril Robinson will miss his second straight game with a knee injury. He was in a yellow jersey (no contact) on Wednesday.
Reserve center Zach Riggs will also be held out, while senior center Ryan Norton is questionable for Saturday’s game, though Swinney said he looks way better.
“That’s the best he has looked,” Swinney said.