As spring slowly and steadily comes into full force, the answers to all of the questions on offense are still not there. However, the pieces to the puzzle are coming into place with each practice leading up to the spring game on April 8.

Offensive coordinator Jeff Scott still has plenty of work to do in order to have his young offensive unit ready to come in and compete right away next season, especially with Auburn and Louisville highlighting Weeks 2 and 3 of the Tigers’ schedule.

Monday, being the first day back from spring break, was just the beginning of the long road back to next season, and being college kids coming back from a break, it was a bit of a slow start.

“It definitely looked like the first day back…sloppy at times, but we did some good things but also sloppy,” said Scott afterwards. “You could really tell with the skill guys doing a lot of running, they were sucking in beach balls there on the sidelines today…it was definitely inconsistent overall.”

Now part of the reason for the slow start was the quick change of pace the offensive coaches ran the offense. Even after the break they ran them hard, sort of weeding out the men from the boys if you will.

“We scripted a bunch of plays, we did our team tempo right off the bat,” he said. “Twenty plays in five minutes to try and gas them and get them to that point to see how they respond. Some of them responded well and pushed through and some of them didn’t.”

The big question will persist until maybe even after the first official game of the season is who will claim the starting QB spot. While that still looms over everyone’s head, Scott said they will finally get to begin to truly analyze each player after the next practice.

“We have one more day of install and after that it’s really all about evaluating the guys now that everything is in…each of those guys have their moments and their times,” said Scott. “They do a good job of getting the ball off on time, make the right calls at the line but they also have some poor decisions as well. That’s all just a part of the process.”

The quarterbacks have a major impact on the team as a whole, but there are many pieces to the team that have lots of young, unproven talent that can have a major impact on the team, albeit. There are three wideouts that have impressed Scott over the first part of spring practice.

“I really think all three of those guys have done a good job. (Diondre) Overton kind of got off to a little slower start, being on the boundary, that’s the toughest position to play.,” he said. “We really challenged him and he’s really responded. I think Cornell (Powell) has been as consistent as any of those three guys…T.J. Chase has been another guy. He’s been getting a lot of reps with the second team and has made a lot of plays.”

Along with those three young guys, Trevion Thompson has been patiently waiting his turn after several years of playing behind top talent and being plagued with injuries.

“He’s been in that top group, that top four of Hunter (Renfrow), Deon (Cain), Ray-Ray  (McCloud) and Trevion (Thompson),” said Scott. “I think those four are kind of ahead of everyone else. Part of it with Trevion has been injuries…he’s a guy we’ve been moving around looking for some depth. It just gives us more combinations.”

Even on the offensive line, one of the few true veteran spots on offense, has young players that are ready to step up and play this coming season.

“John Simpson is a guy that’s really stood out in that second group.,” he said. “He’s obviously a very talented guy, very athletic. (Our defense) has been a challenge, but I’d say John is one guy that’s caught the coaches eye.”

The offense will be tested this spring and summer, and Scott believes the Clemson defense will have the offense ready for the start of the season.

“We’re going against a very talented defense over there,” said Scott. “There’s three top 15 picks on that defensive front.”

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