As Clemson opens the season against Auburn next Saturday, offensive guard Tyrone Crowder is ready for the challenge that lies ahead. Crowder understands Auburn is a very physical defense, but he mentioned that they are nothing they haven’t seen before.

“They are really physical and very explosive. They have a little funky stuff that they use, but it is nothing that we can’t handle,” he said.

The ACC’s Tigers have been working hard to prepare for the new season. Throughout this summer, Crowder said everyone was willing to work and improve on some aspect of their game.

“The focus we have had throughout camp is everybody is willing to work and everybody has something to improve on,”  he said.

With Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson leading the offense, the 6-foot-2, 340-pound offensive guard doesn’t feel intimidated at all by the challenges that lie ahead.

“He is kind of in his own little league. He is a freak. It’s a different level with him,” Crowder said.

With so many threats on offense, like Watson, the offensive line at times gets overlooked, but after having such a successful season last year it is starting to get the credit it deserves.

“The offensive line rarely gets any recognition anyway so we kind of take pride in it, but it is not our main focus,” Crowder said.

Last season the Tigers rushed for 200 yards or more in 11 games and only allowed 18 sacks, the fewest in the ACC.

As the Tigers enter the 2016 season,  as the No. 2 team in the nation, Crowder says they have not let the hype be a distraction.

“I feel like we handle it pretty well. We are just trying to take it one day at a time. We don’t really pay attention to the outside sources,” he said.

Knowing that the season opener at Auburn is going to bring an intense and loud atmosphere, Crowder said they are used to it from playing in Death Valley and that they are making adjustments in practice to prepare for it.

“We talk about it a little bit. We are kind of used to it and have some experience with it, especially being in Death Valley with all the noise We know it’s going to get loud so we kind of changed up some things, ” he said.