Deshaun Watson is continuing to impress during practice, and co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott thinks he is playing like he has never been injured.
“He’s looked great. He looked just like he looked last year, just very sharp, clean and efficient. He knows where to go with the ball, and the whole offense operates completely different when he’s in there,” said Scott.
The receivers are doing excellent as well and are gaining high praise. Artavis Scott was getting a lot of touches with the first team, and Swinney had nothing but good things to say about Mike Williams and Trevion Thompson.
“They all look good. Trevion probably looks the best of anyone out there,” said Swinney. “He’s been tremendous. This kid is going to be a great player for us.”
“Mike can be another Nuk Hopkins,” Swinney continued. “He is stronger than Nuk, but he needs to develop the killer instinct Nuk had.
On the newest members of Clemson’s receiving corps—Deon Cain and Ray Ray McCloud— Swinney said, “They’re just natural football players.”
At tight end, Jordan Leggett is doing well, and Clemson has a lot more depth than it had last season with the additions of Cannon Smith, Milan Richard and Garrett Williams. D.J. Greenlee and Stanton Seckinger are also back after suffering injuries last year.
“We are much deeper at tight end than we were last year. We really were hit by injuries there last year,” Swinney said.
“There is a different look in Jordan Leggett’s eyes,” said Swinney.
After day two of going up against the new defensive line, Ryan Norton is confident that there will not be a drop off in talent this season.
“There is no difference in blocking Grady and blocking D.J. (Reader),” Norton said. “D.J. has cut weight, he has gotten faster. He has been unbelievable.”
“We had such quality depth last year, there is not going to be much of a drop off,” said Norton.
The veterans on the defensive line are also pushing themselves to be the best they can be.
“Carlos (Watkins) is working,” said D.J. Reader “I’m going to push him and he’s going to push me. As long as we’re bouncing off each other, we can lead those young guys.”
With Travis Blanks back, there has been some added competition with the linebackers, especially for the SAM position.
“When it’s all said and done, the best man is going to be on the field, and I’m enjoying it. I haven’t had competition like this in a while just with as many talented athletes in the same position,” said linebacker Dorian O’Daniel.
Tucker Israel’s will have surgery on his foot on Friday. Swinney wishes he could have seen him compete with Kelly Bryant in camp, but believes Bryant now has an incredible opportunity to grow from here.
“It’s a lot of opportunity for Kelly. That’s just the way it is but Tucker is not out of it. Who knows what’s going to happen between now and September the fifth,” Swinney said.
The team will now start practicing in shells (Shoulder pads and shorts) for Thursday and Friday’s practices and will practice in full pads on Saturday.
“I have been pleased with what I have seen so far, but in shorts there is only so much you can do,” Swinney said. “You can work on assignments and being in the right place, but football is a game of physical and mental toughness.”