Thin depth a concern during Clemson scrimmage

Dabo Swinney likened his young linebackers to a bunch of green bananas after Clemson’s scrimmage Saturday that exposed an alarming absence of depth at the position.

“It’s an emergency,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “It really is.”

Ben Boulware and B.J. Goodson are the unchallenged starters. Beyond them, it’s a collection of eager, raw players that has Venables wistful for the next two recruiting classes. In the short term, junior Martin Aiken has been moved from end to linebacker.

Depth became glaring when Boulware was thrown off the field early for fighting. In addition, redshirt freshman Korie Rogers decided to leave the football team.

“Don’t have many guys,” Venables said, ticking off the names of the available.

“I like my bananas real ripe, nice and yellow and a little brown on them. That’s when they’re really good,” Swinney said. “We’ve got some green ones out there, but it’s going to take a little time. In three weeks, they’ll be better.”

Both coaches weren’t discouraged by what they saw. Offensive tempo, critical penalties and turnovers bothered Swinney.

“Big picture-wise – not where we need to be,” he said, chalking it up to two tough weeks of practice.

“These guys (are) tired of each other. They’re together all day every day and they’re beating each other up, and they’re ready to hit somebody else.”

Most disappointing were the kickers, a 180 degree turn from the first two weeks: “Really poor,” Swinney said, “inconsistent to say the least.”

Had Ammon Lakip not been suspended following his arrest in June for cocaine possession, it likely wouldn’t be an issue. And though Lakip will rejoin the team once classes begin Tuesday, he faces further team discipline and won’t play initially.

“Thought we were in good shape, but today they didn’t handle the little difference in environment,” Swinney said.

Among the individual winners during the scrimmage, Swinney mentioned receiver Charone Peake, defensive tackle D.J. Reader, safety T.J. Green, corner Marcus Edmond and – of course – quarterback Deshaun Watson, whom he said was “outstanding.”

Venables mentioned ends Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd, and Richard Yeargin; nickel backs Travis Blanks and Dorian O’Daniel, and Goodson.

“Real inconsistent when you’re looking at three groups of guys,” Venables said. “We haven’t developed depth yet, and it shows at times.

“Thank goodness we’re not playing for three weeks.”

Co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott also mentioned the tempo and inconsistency that comes from working so many players. With up to six running backs, eight receivers and six tight ends, Clemson should enter the season rich at the skill positions.

“It’s what we need, quality depth,” he said.

No reason for alarm three weeks from Wofford, Swinney said, particularly with 40 freshmen and redshirt freshmen vying for spots on the three-deep.

“It’s just a process you have to go through to get a team ready to play,” Swinney said. “Right now, you’ve got to give everybody a chance to compete.

“We feel like we’ve got a bunch of young guys that we just have to give them that work to get a true evaluation,” he said. “I like the makeup of the team. I think they’ve got a great spirit to them. They want to be good.

“We’re just not very good, but we will be.”

Notes

Watson completed 5 of 10 passes for 110 yards and touchdowns to Peake (72 yards) and tight end Jordan Leggett (5). Redshirt freshman running back C.J. Fuller had 8 rushes for 80 yards followed by Wayne Gallman 9-43, Tyshon Dye 6-35, C.J. Davidson 8-24, Adam Choice 9-25. … Germone Hopper caught 3 passes for 37 yards, followed by Ray Ray McCloud’s 2-33 and Hunter Renfrow’s 2-10. … Edmond returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown. O’Daniel and Williams had interceptions. Blanks returned a fumble 50 yards for a score. Williams, a freshman from Columbia, led all tacklers with 8. … Starting receiver Mike Williams, who missed the scrimmage (hamstring), should return this week. … Punter Andy Teasdall and Renfrow were placed on scholarship.

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 11:18 PM with the headline "Thin depth a concern during Clemson scrimmage."