Over the first three weeks or so of fall camp, second-ranked Clemson’s practices were largely a physical, grueling grind as the players prepared their bodies for the rigors of the upcoming season.
But this week in practice, with Clemson beginning its preparation for Auburn, the onus has shifted from physical prep to mental prep.
“It’s definitely more mental than physical,” Boulware said when asked how Clemson’s practices have changed this week. “We’ve had a good, solid three weeks of just physically grinding every day. Now it’s about perfecting the mental side of it, getting our game plan down and getting ready for them.”
Boulware said Clemson’s coaching staff has figured out which players are ready to play from a physical standpoint. Now, he said, it’s about finding out who is mentally ready, as well.
“In camp, we kind of weeded out the guys who are ready to play and who aren’t,” Boulware said. “So now they don’t really have to kill us on a daily basis on the physical side of it. They know who’s capable of playing, now they’re just trying to see who’s mentally capable of playing.”
A vital part of the mental preparation for any game is watching film, and Boulware said he has seen a good bit of Auburn on tape.
Boulware sees an offense akin to Clemson’s and says that should benefit the ACC’s Tigers in the game.
“I think they’re very similar to our offense,” Boulware said. “They can spread it out. They have a lot of speed. They have a pretty talented O-line. I know they’re still trying to figure out the quarterback situation, but from top to bottom, they’re a talented group. They’re very fast, but I think we’re prepared for it going against our offense every day.”
The biggest unknown on Auburn’s offense is at quarterback. Because head coach Gus Malzahn hasn’t yet named a starter, and could play multiple quarterbacks in the season opener, Clemson is forced to game plan for all three signal-callers.
Boulware said Clemson’s plan will vary in some ways based on whether Auburn runs out Sean White, Jeremy Johnson or John Franklin III, but not as much as one might think.
“You’re going to have to change it a little bit, but not too much,” Boulware said. “I know that they’re all pretty good passers. They’re all really athletic guys. Sean White surprises me with his athleticism. He likes to run, too.
“So, they’re different, but similar in some aspects.”
The longer Malzahn and Auburn waits to announce a starting quarterback, the more difficult it could make things for Clemson.
However, Boulware isn’t concerned about that.
“We’re not really focused on that,” Boulware said. “We’re focused on our game plan. We leave that up to Coach (Brent) Venables. I’ll let him stress out over that. At the end of the day it’s still football for us. Their quarterbacks are either going to run it or throw it. I think if you dumb it down and narrow it like that, it makes it pretty simple.”
One thing is for certain — Boulware is looking forward to hitting somebody other than his teammates at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sept. 3.
“It’s fun because you know how close it is to game time,” Boulware said. “During our scrimmages and stuff, I’m tired of having to tackle all those dudes. I’m definitely looking forward to tackling a different color.”