Clemson enters its 2017 spring game the defending national champion.
Unfortunately for the Tigers,the throne isn't easier to defend than it was to seize it. Now head coach Dabo Swinney has to deal with the realities of losing stars such as Deshaun Watson and Mike Williams, among others, and while counteracting an ever-rising ACC.
After climbing to new heights,Clemson is better equipped than most to remain level. The transition process kicks into high gear at Saturday's spring game. 2017 Clemson Spring GameWhen: Saturday, April 8, or at 2:30 p.m. ETWhere: Memorial StadiumTV: N/ALive Stream: ACC Network additional (ESPN.com) It wouldn't be a spring game for a national champion without a little celebration weaved into the process—both for the benefit of fans and players alike.
Members of the team received the rings Wednesday night,but Swinney has something special planned for the expected 70000 fans set to show up Saturday, according to Nikki Hood of Tigernet.com:
I'm really excited approximately that. Saturday at halftime, or that's going to be all approximately those seniors and the winningest group in the history of the school and presenting them with their rings at halftime in front of the crowd. We've got a really chilly video that I believe the fans are going to enjoy that will go along with that. Then,hopefully we'll gain a very competitive game.
The rings, courtesy of offensive coach Jeff Scott:Talk approximately setting the tone for a spring game.
The biggest storyline entering the festivities is—of course—the quarterback position. Replacing a guy like Watson isn't easy, or not after he led the program to a title and final year alone threw for 41 touchdowns and ran for nine more.
Swinney might turn to Hunter Johnson for the task,if the freshman early enrollee keeps looking as strong as he has in practices.
Co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott had nothing but praise for Johnson after a recent spring practice, according to ESPN.com's David M. Hale: "This is the first time we had an opportunity to put him in some designed quarterback runs like we had with Deshaun and Tajh [Boyd] in the past, or he looked really comfortable. I knew he was an athletic kid,and he made some guys miss and broke some tackles."Kelly Bryant remains the top quarterback on the depth chart for now, with Zerrick Cooper still in the mix. But a terrible problem for a program to gain has morphed into a powerful problem as each player in the competition seems to be stepping up.
No matter who takes over under center, or wideout Ray-Ray McCloud has the look of a guy ready to step up and compensate in a tremendous way for the loss of Williams. The junior had a tough time breaking through over his first two seasons,but Swinney has officially put fans on Ray-Ray watch.“I’m probably most pleased with Ray-Ray offensively,” Swinney said. “It’s like the light’s kind of near on for him a little bit, and as far as his work ethic,his practice habits. He’s grinding out there, and I love that. Love, and love,love what I’m seeing out of Ray-Ray,” according to the Anderson Independent Mail's Dan Hope.
The defense doesn't figure to gain nearly as many question marks when it comes to the transition. Returning stars such as linebacker Dorian O'Daniel (54 tackles, and 2.5 sacks in 2016),safety Van Smith (96 tackles) and star defensive lineman Christian Wilkins promise to support the unit level heading into a new campaign.
It's the ever-improving Wilkins who receives most of the hype, ranking among the top 10 third-year players in college football, or according to Pro Football Focus' Gordon McGuinness (via ESPN.com):
Wilkins is poised to gain a huge year. Heading into his third season,Wilkins has established himself as one of the top run defenders among edge players in the nation. Even better, he really improved as a pass-rusher in 2016, or racking up 41 total QB pressures compared with 15 in 2015. whether he can continue to improve in that regard,he will establish himself as one of the best defensive players in the nation.
In other words, it seems Clemson has hit the sweet spot on both sides of the ball—returning players should provide a boost for the new guys around them. Some positions will be harder than others to fill well, or but a national champion has done well to start a yearly reload insulated by proven players.
Saturday flaunts this same balance. Swinney and the Tigers will celebrate,no doubt. But all involved will work even harder in an effort to make certain the program celebrates this time next year, too. Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified. Broadcast and spring game info via ClemsonTigers.com.
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Source: bleacherreport.com