After ending last season with a loss to Alabama in the National Championship game, many wonder if Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson will able lead the Tigers to the finish line in college football this year.

The Clemson Insider went back to some of the interviews we conducted this spring as the Heisman Trophy Finalist was able to answer some important questions regarding the upcoming season and what he needs to do to win Clemson its first national championship since 1981.

Q: What are you trying to get better at?

Watson:  “Being an overall player, a better leader, quarterback, and just the fundamentals of the game and the technique of playing the quarterback position. There is always something to better my game at and that’s what I am trying to do.”

Q: What are some things you’re trying to do to be a better leader?

Watson:  “Take control of the whole team and just be myself. There’s so much I can’t really work on. It’s just being myself, leading by example, and knowing the ends and outs of the program, the offense, and the whole team.”

Q:  Having the season you had last year and getting back all the offensive weapons for this upcoming season, is it feasible to think this offense can be any better?

Watson:  “Of course. We can eliminate the sacks we had, the turnovers, and the penalties. We can capitalize on more plays. Receivers can catch more balls. I can hit more receivers in the route running. Wayne (Gallman) and I can break and find better holes. There is always something we can get better at. We are not a perfect team and that’s what we are striving to be, perfect.  It takes everyone to be on the same page and do the same thing. “

Q: What goals have you set for yourself going into next season?

Watson: “I always set goals for myself, for this team, and for this offense. I always strive to be the best ever and that’s what I’m planning on doing. If I take care of the wins on Saturdays everything else will take care of itself.”

Q: What does it take for a football team to reload and rebuild to get back out there this season?

Watson:  “It’s hard. It’s a new team and a new year. Everyone is striving to do the same thing. You have to go ten times harder than the year before to get back out there, especially with what we brought to the table last year. Everyone respected us and what we brought to the National Championship. All eyes are going to be on us and what we can do. We just have to focus on us and take care of our game. If we do that and don’t get distracted, I think we can be up for the challenge again. “

Q: Having so much talent at wide receiver, are you going to be able to get the ball around to all of these players?

Watson: “Yes, that’s the thing about our offense we are not selfish. It doesn’t matter who makes the plays. Everyone is going to celebrate with each other and make sure that we motivate each other. Whoever has the ball is going to be able to make the plays at each position; even the guys who aren’t starting can make plays like Ray Ray (McCloud) and Deon (Cain).  I bet some of the freshmen coming in, who are going to compete in fall camp, can probably make plays. It’s going to be real fun and interesting to see going into the season.”

Q: What do you think about Kelley Bryant and his progression going into the upcoming season?

Watson: “He has been progressing very well, learning offense, learning what to do, and making good decisions.  He has been playing a lot faster than he did last year. He has gotten a lot more confident in himself. He is just going to continue to get better. “

Q: What do you think about wide receiver Mike William’s progression going into the upcoming season?

Watson: “Mike is still Mike Williams before he got injured. He still has the confidence, the swagger, and the strength. He is running better and has gotten stronger. He is ready to get back out there.”

Q: Does this 2016 Clemson team feel like a young team?

Watson: “Not really. Not from what I have seen. We have a lot of guys that haven’t been able to play in the game yet but we have a lot of guys who have and have seen a lot of time. We do have to build some depth with the younger guys but at the end of the day you still have to go out there and perform no matter what year you are and how much experience you have.”