Liking his team’s ‘spirit,’ Clemsons’ Swinney hopes to maximize spring sessions left

Clemson spring football is hitting the home stretch with a select few sessions to go.

Wednesday, the Tigers go between the lines in Death Valley for the last big scrimmage before the Orange and White game on April 11.

And that wraps the week of on-field action, before three practices next week leading to the spring game.

Clemson’s coach is pleased with the progress so far.

“It was good (Monday),” Dabo Swinney said. “It was a good practice. Tough, really tough couple of days the last week, Wednesday and Friday. Today was going back and kinda re-teaching some things. A lot of fundamental time today. We finished up with a competitive third down win-or-lose drill and then a fourth-and-two on the goal line type of drill.

“So it was good. Good day. Just trying to get them ready for this big scrimmage on Wednesday.”

This has been an interesting spring, with 15 mid-year enrollees and a number of redshirts already fighting for depth chart spots. The emphasis going forward is making the most of this time before breaking for the summer.

“We just have to keep putting some of these guys in some situations so they can improve,” Swinney said. “The more we put them in that, the better they’re going to be Then we will button it all up with the spring game and then review everything and give them some really good feedback as they go into the summer.

“I’ve said this a couple of times: I really like this team. I really, really like the competitiveness of this team. I like the spirit of this group. I think this is going to be a fun team to coach.”

Even though he’s limited to throwing in spring competition, Deshaun Watson had plenty of attention in Monday’s open session for the media. Watson’s real work, however, begins this summer.

“Once we get back going in summer-one he will be able to do all the skills and drills stuff,” Swinney said. “Obviously, we are not tackling people or having football practice in the summer. But we are doing skill and drills and he’ll be able to do all that stuff and they’ll have a plan as far as his weight lifting and all that. He looks great.”

This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 9:19 PM with the headline "Liking his team’s ‘spirit,’ Clemsons’ Swinney hopes to maximize spring sessions left."