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247Sports

Feb 28
Chad Morris says 'nothing slides' in first season back as offensive coordinator
Summary
Chad Morris demands practicing harder than games; QBs competing—Reynolds impresses with live arm, Bradley solid; run game essential for offense.
Chad Morris was named offensive coordinator on January 5. However, Clemson was dealing with a pressing situation that afternoon, calling out Ole Miss for tampering. Now almost two months later, Morris took questions for over 30 minutes at the podium on Friday evening following the Tigers' second full team practice of the spring. Returning to coach for Dabo Swinney for the first time in 15 seasons, Morris went deep in his assessment of the Clemson offense — here were the main points: -- When asked about 'needing to strain' his quarterbacks, Morris said it's actually important to strain the staff and the entire offense, which does include the quarterbacks: "Practice should be much more demanding than any game." -- Morris says he's been in every meeting with that position group. All five guys are 'competing' while also 'drinking water from a fire hose,' which Morris said he fully expected. -- Both Tait Reynolds and Brock Bradley have impressed Morris, who noted that Reynolds is coming in 'thick' with a 'live arm' but is still processing a lot right now. (Photo: Cory Fravel, 247Sports) -- Morris said Clemson 'has to run the football' to be able to establish his offense. To him, the run-pass option starts with the run, with the alternative of throwing out of it. -- Morris joked that he's going to make sure to show some of Tajh Boyd's bad clips from his last tenure, not just the good ones that he's been showing the quarterbacks. "To be able to be with a guy that you coached that had so much success in this offense and still owns so many records, know how he can interact with our players, it's special." -- Morris said one thing he's noticed about transfer running back Chris Johnson Jr. is that he is 'extremely hungry.' -- Morris said he's been pleased with how the players have responded to Christopher Vizzina stepping into a new, more profound role this offseason. Only two days into practice, Morris said a few things he's already coaching him on are shortening his base and keeping his motion more compact, rather than pulling back and winding up to throw so often. Morris said Vizzina is taking well to the learning — I did see Vizzina working on shortening his throw motion pretty much after each rep during individual drills on Friday. -- It depends on the day, but Morris said he is still taking down Red Bull energy drinks to get him going. Just maybe not at the same level he was about 15 years ago. "Some different flavors, some different styles, but it's still pretty good." -- Morris says that while he's excited about being an offensive coordinator again, he also feels an obligation to the younger coaches and future coaches to show them the way. "This is how it's done. We're preparing our next generation that are coming through — some of these kids are gonna be coaches, how are they gonna coach? Just like they were coached. That's what I'm going to enjoy the most ... I mean, you should see Artavis [Scott] in there with those guys, trying to tell those boys that they're not ready for day one." "After about the third period, I had a few of them wanting to throw up. They asked if we were ever going to slow down — I said no, not really. After practice we will." Morris said Scott was 'grinning ear to ear.' -- Morris said that there's a ton of talent in the tight end room, but at first, they didn't 'understand just how important they are in what we do.' A few days in, they're fully aware. "They just thought it was all talk. I think now they're understanding that they're heavily involved. They like it, they actually love it, but they have to be on point." -- In watching Clemson play in recent seasons, Morris agreed with Swinney that they've been so close to more, but perhaps 'little intricate details might've been overlooked.' "He wanted someone that could come in that room that understands Clemson and what it's about, how he works and how he commands a staff. After our many, many hours of talking, he wanted someone to come in and demand accountability from the staff down to the players, someone to put our guys in the right spot and get our playmakers the ball." "We're not letting anything slide. Nothing slides. We're not letting anything slide — from the staff, to the players, nothing slides. Sometimes I have to be ugly to get my kids' attention. They really respond when I have to get ugly at times. I don't like getting ugly, but sometimes that's the best way to get people's attention. Nothing gets overlooked, everything we do has a purpose. I will give them this — man, they're trying. They're wanting it. The look in their eyes, these guys are hungry. The hungry cat hunts best. That fat cat sitting up there on the porch, he ain't real hungry when food runs across the road. But if you're really hungry, you're going to work. And these guys are hungry — staff, as well. That's great to see."

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Teams: Clemson

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