Author: Chase Rader
The Mean Green finished up with the last of their two scrimmages Saturday at Fouts Field. This was the last chance for players to step up and claim a depth chart position before Clemson preparations. The main storyline of the day, as well as camp, was if either Nathan Tune or Derek Thompson would separate themselves in the battle for the starting QB job. Both have played well, worked hard, gained the trust of their teammates, but, there is still no clear-cut winner.
Derek Thompson had a better showing in the first scrimmage. He hit Tyler Stratford and Chris Bynes for long TD strikes. Coach Dodge also pointed out that Thompson had more opportunity for the long ball than Tune. Nathan Tune looked slightly better for scrimmage two. He seemed to have a better grasp for the timing of the offense. Tune made some solid throws stepping up in the pocket. Tune also had a couple of nice throws dropped. Thompson had a long completion to Brelan Chancellor and a nice TD pass to Chris Baines.
However, Thompson also threw the ball into triple coverage and had a pass deflected of a nearby linebacker in double coverage. Offensive coordinator Mike Canalas used both quarterbacks, Thompson more than Tune, in option situations. Neither QB is as fast as last year’s starter Riley Dodge, but, both are more mobile than advertised. Dodge did take a handful of snaps at QB in the first scrimmage, mainly for wildcat purposes, but none in scrimmage two.
I expect to see Nathan Tune the starter for Clemson. He already has a big game under his belt with his start at Alabama. Derek Thompson seems to be the big play threat, but the way he threw into coverage in the scrimmages might keep him on the bench for the first game. That being said, I expect both to see significant playing time this year.
Head Coach Todd Dodge is expected to pick his starter for Clemson Wednesday after practice.
It’s no secret Lance Dunbar is a star. What might be a secret is how good the back-ups are. James Hamilton had a solid camp. Hamilton scored multiple times in the pair of scrimmages. Hamilton is an explosive runner who is also patient with his blocks, and, loves to take to the air in goal line situations. Brandin “Barry White” Byrd is an entertaining and bruising runner. Byrd, a freshman out of Copperas Cove, looks for someone to hit as soon as he gets the ball. Dunbar made short but solid appearances in the scrimmages, for obvious reason of keeping him healthy.
The receiving corps looks good so far. There is a source of concern with the amount of drops among the group. Two drops from over the middle passes in scrimmage one, ended up in defenders hands. OU transfer, Tyler Stradford, had a big TD grab in the first scrimmage, but, he had a couple of key drops in scrimmage two, which were probably due more to tight coverage from CB Steven Ford.
Freshman Brelan Chancellor had a great showing in the scrimmages, it is not known if he is going to be redshirted or not. Chris Baines, Alex Lott, Michael Outlaw, and Willie Taylor had some nice grabs in scrimmage two. Jerad Harrison had one the better TD catches making a nice adjustment in the corner of the end zone on a fade pass from Chase Baine. Riley Dodge seems to be a workhorse receiver. Look for him to find open zones on third down. Veteran Jamaal Jackson was out for scrimmage two with a cast on his hand. Darius Carey missed both scrimmages with a hand injury as well.
Mike Canalas will use the Tight End this year. The starter looks to be big Draylen Ross. Ross, (6’4” 294, Sr.), converted from defensive tackle in 2009, made a nice one handed grab in scrimmage one. Conor Gilmartin-Donohue saw first team action. Greg Brown and Austin Fitzpatrick also had some nice grabs.
In my season preview I wrote that Coleman Freeley would be the starter at right guard. It looks like Matt Tomlinson has stepped up and taken that position. The starting five will be from left to right; Victor Gill, Kelvin Drake, J.J. Johnson, Tomlinson, Santiago.
In one of the brighter moments of the scrimmages, Demario Dixon ran onto the field in shorts for scrimmage one. By scrimmage two, he was in the defensive line starting rotation. Dixon has Grambling listed as his last school.
The defense looked good in scrimmage one, but had some trouble stopping the run in the final scrimmage. Thanks to the “W” drill in the preseason, there was no shortage of contact in the contests.
Along the defensive front K.C. Obi spent a lot of time in the backfield. Shavod Atkinson and Kelvin Jackson did a good job of filling space. Freshman Aaron Bellazin continued to impress.
The LB crew has yet to fill its starting middle linebacker spot. The competition is between A.J. Penson, Daniel Prior, and freshman Zach Orr. I predict it will be Daniel Prior. Number 52 impressed me a lot, but I couldn’t find him on the roster. The outside backers Craig Robertson and Jeremy Phillips played well to solidify their spots.
The best of all the position groups was the defensive backs. Steven Ford performed well in both scrimmages and looks to fill the vacant corner spot across from Royce Hill. DaWaylon Cook made his presence known in both scrimmages with some monster hits from his safety position. Cook and Ira Smith will occupy the two safety spots, as they both had good showings.
The biggest question mark of the whole team right now is the kicker. North Texas brought in highly recruited Zac Olen to take over the kicking duties. He is in a non impressive battle with Jose Serrano for the job. Both missed multiple short kicks in the final scrimmage. Will Atterberry had some booming punts in the first scrimmage in some good special teams news. Also, Riley Dodge looks to occupy the holder position. That could figure in for some interesting fakes.
