MIAMI, Fla. – On Sunday, Clemson began its first practice at NOVA Southeastern University and kicked off the day with player and coordinator press conferences.
Here is what we heard from the players and co-offensive coordinators:
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson said that this Oklahoma team is much different from last year’s team on both sides of the ball.
“When I go to play different teams I don’t compare them to no one else. I respect everyone, and they’re very good. They wouldn’t be at this point for no reason. We just have to go out there and play,” Watson said. “He’s (Baker Mayfield) a special player for their team. You know, he does a great job because without him they wouldn’t be in this position. It takes a special guy to lead a great team, and they’re pretty good.”
Running back Wayne Gallman agrees that Oklahoma’s defense has a different look to it this year.
“They’re fast, physical. Their D line is a lot more athletic this year, more fast. I mean, they’ve always been strong, but last year their backers, they played real flat, didn’t move from side to side really good. So that’s what you’re going to have to look forward to,” Gallman said.
However, offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain noted that Clemson is a very different team this year as well.
“Guys are excited to be here. Guys are happy for the opportunity. I think the biggest thing about this team that’s so unique is we all love to play football. It doesn’t matter whether we’re playing Wofford, Furman or Oklahoma in the playoff game. We’re all going to be excited to play, and I think that’s been something that’s been different about this team, and I think that’s what makes us so dangerous,” Mac Lain said.
Both Gallman and Mac Lain added that even the way that Clemson approaches bowl games is different now. Mac Lain said that head coach Dabo Swinney now has a more relaxed approach to bowl game preparation than he did in the past.
“I think the biggest thing that you’ve seen is the way the coaches have approached the situation with the bowl. We’ve had great success the last four years since then. I really think that Coach Swinney has changed and adapted to the way that he coaches. The first year we were here a week early, it was basically camp. No one wanted to be here by the time the game was played. We were all tired, tired of seeing each other, and so I just think that with the physicality that we practiced with and things like that it just wasn’t smart for playing 11 or so games. So he’s realized now that you’ve got to take care of your players, and he’s done an outstanding job in the way that he’s progressed and grown as a coach,” Mac Lain said.
“He (Swinney) actually tells us that he’s learned from the past and he knows that we need more rest, more time to relax, and we’re just down here to have fun, but we’re also down here to beat Oklahoma,” Gallman said.
Last year’s matchup against Oklahoma was the first test for Clemson’s newly promoted co-offensive coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott. They passed that first test and continued on to have an undefeated regular season in their first year as coordinators. Now, they feel more prepared for the task at hand.
“I Think the biggest thing for me is just growing in confidence prior to the game last year, I think all the way up in preparation I was fine, and then we had our final meeting in the hotel before we sent the kids back to the room before pregame, and that’s when I started to get nervous, and I don’t quite get as nervous because I know that, I’ve got a great staff and a great group of players that believe in me. The coaches are prepared. The call sheet is not too big,” Elliott said.
“Just like we coach our players, you never arrive as a player. You always are continuing to learn and get better, and as coaches we’re the same way. We don’t feel like we’ve arrived and we have all the answers. But we feel like we’re a lot more prepared, and so I think with preparation kind of alleviates a little bit of the pressure,” Scott said.