⚡ CFB Dashboard

Usually, the spring game marks the end of practices for Clemson. However, the Tigers will have one more workout on Monday before wrapping with player meetings next week. The talent was much more spread out in last year's rendition of the team scrimmage, but Saturday still ensured an opportunity for the staff to see the group's competitiveness. Dabo Swinney was on the microphone in Death Valley throughout the afternoon, lifting some guys up while also criticizing others plenty loud enough for the audience to listen. "A little instant accountability right there," Swinney said to reporters. Here's a full overview of Swinney's comments following the Tigers' spring game: "You think we got a sack when really it was we forgot to motion and block a guy. Somebody made a wrong read, or the quarterback threw it in the ground but the receiver converted. I try to give a little bit of commentary and then, just create some pressure, some call-outs," Swinney said. "I wish we had preseason games. Braden Wilmes might've had his best rep when I said, 'We're all watching you on this play' — might've been his best rep of the day. Just seeing how guys respond, we're not opening up with Eastaboga Community College." -- On the defensive side of the ball, Swinney has been very pleased with the and talent and mindset of the group, noting the several offseason additions for Tom Allen. (Photo: Cory Fravel, 247Sports) "We're long, we can run. It's a physical group, it's been a physical spring. We're much improved defensively, much improved, from any point in time last year," Swinney said. "Offensively, a lot of learning — we got better and better and better as the spring went. You almost wish you had like seven more days of practice, but you run out of days." -- Swinney said that while Gordon Sellars III was the most technically sound of the true freshman group of receivers, all of them are now starting to shine on the grass regularly. "Those guys got a ton of reps that they might not have if we'd had our Ferraris out there. They looked like Pintos and Chevys — they look a little bit more like some Malibus [now]." "They've never had a peer. Ain't nobody walked up to them on Friday night and said, 'Alright it's me and you all night.' That don't happen," Swinney said. "They've never really had to play with their hands or their feet at that position, they're just faster and better. Most of the time, if someone is pressing them, there's help over the top. Or they just run by them." -- The most notable commentary was about, unsurprisingly, the quarterback competition. Chris Denson, expected to compete for the job, was the fourth guy on the field yesterday. Christopher Vizzina remains in front. Tait Reynolds is coming on strong. Even Trent Pearman shows a command of the offense at times, making him the realistic third-string. (Photo: Cory Fravel, 247Sports) "It's just the depth chart. CV is one and Tait is two — it's not close. Those two guys have separated and that's where we are. That's just where we are. CV had a good day today, and again, he's had freshmen out there with him all spring. He had a good spring, he's still got a long way to go. This is going to be a very competitive summer, very competitive camp." "He was the lead horse coming in, and he's still got the pole position, but Tait, we made that decision after the break," Swinney said. "He's just clearly number two. I'm really proud of him, he's done a lot of work. He's got elite arm talent, big, strong — he might have forgotten a couple motions, there's some operational things he's got to keep getting better at." "We're coming out of spring with some clarity. I think the team needed that." -- Swinney said that Denson is as 'physically as gifted as anybody we've got' but is struggling as a passer. There have been early discussions about a position change. "Just not where he needs to be from a passing standpoint to compete like he needs to." "If he stays at quarterback, he will play for us, he'll have a role. He's too talented. He'll help our football team no matter what. Coming out of spring, that's just where we are. You've got to make tough decisions, but it really wasn't close. He's just limited in the pass game right now, where he is. I think he'll keep getting better, but we play in five months. We gotta keep moving and put the team in a position to win and there's no question that coming out of spring, CV and Tait are the two guys that give us the best chance," he said. -- Swinney is really excited about the promising future of Polo Anderson. "We got us a good one. He's not where [Corey] Myrick or Jerome [Carter] or Ronan [Hanafin] are, or [Kylon Griffin], from a knowledge standpoint, but he's a high-school kid in his first semester of college. Sammy Brown wasn't very good his first spring ... I'm like 'Hey man, if you don't learn what to do, you're just going to be a talented guy on the sideline." "By the time we got to the end of August, [he] was going to be ready to help us." "I would say the same thing about Polo." -- Vic Burley recorded a couple of sacks, though it can hard to truly evaluate a pass rush during spring games with the personnel and just needing to touch guys. Still, it had to be somewhat promising? "He's a guy we're counting on," Swinney said. "If he don't do it, it's nobody's fault but his. Because he can."