By Will Vandervort.

They are not perfect and most of the time it has been downright ugly, but Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney likes the way his offensive line has handled the stress and adversity it has gone through this season.

“Well, they’re competing. That’s the main thing you want your guys to do, compete their tails off,” Clemson’s head coach said.

Even before the season began the Tigers’ offensive line has played behind the eight ball. Right tackle Shaq Anthony, who was in a battle for the starting spot with Joe Gore all spring and summer, quit the team and transferred to East Tennessee State when it appeared Gore was going to win the job.

Since then injuries have plagued the line as reserve center Jay Guillermo broke his foot and has missed the last three games. Gore missed three weeks after having an appendectomy and center Ryan Norton and left guard David Beasley have been banged up a time or two and have missed time as well. Beasley and left tackle Isaiah Battle have also missed time due to suspensions.

Then there is the tight end position, which plays an important part in the blocking schemes, have suffered through injuries with Sam Cooper, Stanton Seckinger and now Jordan Leggett. Cooper missed the first four games of the season with a broken foot, Seckinger was hampered with a sprained foot that limited him early in the season and Leggett tore his meniscus in his right knee in the Tigers’ win over Boston College two weeks ago.

But through it all, Clemson has found a way to win five straight games heading into Saturday’s off week and the offensive line has found ways to get it done when it matters the most. Playing with just five guys, Clemson went on a 12-play, 64-yard drive late in the fourth quarter that resulted in an Ammon Lakip field goal. It left Louisville with very little time on the clock and forced them to have to score a touchdown to win the game.

Clemson rushed for 41 yards on eight carries on that final drive.

The next week against Boston College, the offensive line—again playing with only five players all day—responded in the fourth quarter as they led the charge on an 82-yard touchdown drive capped when running back C.J. Davidson ran through a gaping hole on the right side of the line. That was the winning score in the Tigers’ 17-13 victory.

Then there was last Saturday’s win over Syracuse. Clemson killed the last eight minutes and 17 seconds on the clock with a 15-play, 67-yard drive in which 48 of those 68 yards came on the ground.

“They’re not always perfect maybe from an execution standpoint. But I just have a great appreciation for their effort that they’ve put forth,” Swinney said. “The fact that we’ve had guys play out of position, guys like Kalon Davis, he has played every position except center, sometimes in one game. Reid Webster has played every position, including center. We’ve been able to get a couple of guys who haven’t played as much, a guy like Tyrone Crowder, some good work.

“But it’s been a challenge because we’ve been pretty limited there all year. There’s been some personnel changes, injuries, a lot of different things that we’ve had to deal with.”

Which made last week’s 101-yard rushing performance from Wayne Gallman all the more sweeter.

“It just means a lot to us to see one of our running backs get 100 yards,” Beasley said. “That is something every offensive lineman takes pride in and to be able to help Wayne achieve that means a lot. It’s a reflection of how hard we are working and how that work is beginning to pay off. We just keep fighting and battling no matter what.”

And that’s why Swinney is so proud of them.

“Those guys just continue to show up and work their tails off. They’re taking a lot of pride,” he said. “We’re getting a lot out of them is the bottom line. We’re finding ways to win. I appreciate the great effort they’re giving every week.”