Dabo Swinney 2024 Clemson football season preview, pt. 1

Intro all right well good to good to see everybody hope it's been a good day uh something that that we've tried to do you know each and every year for a long time now uh it's evolved over the years uh but just to give you know all of our our our local media uh an opportunity to kind of you know help y'all get off and running I know it's it's a coming out of a little bit of a dead time but hopefully an opportunity for a lot of y'all to get a head start on some of your stories and things you're wanting to talk about or uh and and all that but appreciate you guys coming today appreciate the opportunity to you know kick this thing off u in this 20124 season it's going to be uh it's going to be a lot of fun you know we as coaches this is we we love this time of year you know we we are we start over in January that's what we do you know it's just the nature of of our of our our world um but it all builds to this you know everything builds to getting back on the field you know everything you know you know you're starting over in recruiting and offseason program and you know Matt drills and new team and new leadership and new roles and spring practice and you know summer workouts and you know just just meetings Etc it all builds to to right now and and getting back on the field getting an opportunity to go play games get a judgment every week you know good or bad uh so that's that's that's what it's all about so it's fun to to to get it going um there's a lot that goes into you know getting to this point and I really appreciate you know the the work that's that's been put in by our staff um and and especially our players uh but you know it's it's another year it's it's a blessing this is my um I guess my 35th college football season uh and uh it's just it's just you know it never gets old and so we're excited about it we got a lot to do tomorrow we'll start our our kind of our all-in meetings if you will with our with our staff you know that's usually about five days and and um uh we've got obviously the media day next week in Charlotte um excited about that and the players that'll be representing us up there and then um you know we're we're got a couple more weeks of training you with our guys getting them getting them ready to roll right into camp and uh so we'll be starting on the 30th as far as you know our admin meetings report day and then first day on the field uh we'll be the first so a lot of work to do excited about it um and uh you know lots of lots of uh opportunities to improve you know in all areas U you know offensively for us I think the biggest thing is just year two making a big jump you know uh with Garrett coming in last year and and obviously we had you know uh not everything at our disposal you know we had we had some injuries and things like that but just biggest thing just you know taking a big jump in year two um you know as a in totality as an offense and then certainly for Cade you know coming off of first year as a starter uh seeing him you know take that next step and uh that's really what you want to see and uh you know figuring out who are our uh you know best best five best 10 are in that offensive line I think we've got really good experience there you know for the first time in a while um we got 10 guys on scholarship at receiver and and they're actually all healthy uh so we're in a good place there so hopefully um through that competition we'll be able to create the type of playmaking and big plays that we want to have at that position uh so mafa is is going to set the tone for us U I'm excited about the competition uh behind him uh biggest thing for us again offensively to take the next step is just you know just cutting down on the negative plays U you know obviously had too many turnovers and those type of things um you know we got to improve in the Red Zone scoring area and then our pass offense has got to has got to take a big step forward for us this year that was a big area for us of emphasis defensively last year and we took a big big step forward and hopefully we can we can do that uh on the offensive side and I think health and availability and depth uh at our skill Position will be a big part of that uh so excited about about the competition at running back too outside of mafa I think we all know you know what we have there uh but you know just I think it's going to be a lot of fun uh we got a very competitive group behind him and kind of see you how all that sorts out will be a lot of fun then defensively just consistency you know we're coming off a top 10 finish last year in defense uh you know let's let's let's put back toback years and let's create the type of consistency that we want um got to improve in the Red Zone there as well uh we you know we we didn't we didn't we didn't give up not many people got to the Red Zone a lot but when we did we gave up too many too many touchdowns in that that area that's been a big uh emphasis for us uh in the off season here uh figuring out our best four our best eight in that defensive line and how to best use our bodies we got a lot of big strong athletic bodies there and how to use those and I'd say the same thing on the back end um we've got a good mixture of some Savvy veteran guys and and a lot of lot of really good young talent and and some good experienced young Talent uh so we got we got length and athleticism but how to how to best use those bodies uh you know on the back end will be a big emphasis in Camp and then just solidifying who our our top six are at linebacker you know I think there'll be a lot of competition right there special teams uh you know kicker competition obviously the number one thing for us there is we got to get better in field goal that really hurt us uh you know especially early part part of the year and uh we we've tried to address that and hopefully we'll have great competition there and improve there confidence with our punt returners uh we we think we have Elite ability there uh creating that confidence you know with the with the catchers there um and then Jack Smith we got Aiden back want to see Jack really we we saw it in the spring want to see him continue to create the type of consistency and hopefully you know he'll get a little more opportunity uh as well this year and then you know just you know last year we we gave up blocks we gave we had a turnover and we we had big big play returns you know and those those are negative so uh you know those are things that we're wanting to eliminate within the Special Teams this year and uh excited about it but lot to do a lot of work ahead uh you know again this is my favorite time of year because you get a chance to really create routine and structure and you and you get a chance to get back on the field uh with your with your players and so um you know just ready to get it going and hopefully today's been a helpful day for y'all to to you know get y'all's work off and running too Sal as far as the spring game went um you know you always take for with a grain of salt and not too many were excited about Kate's stats but I thought he did show that he showed signs of that maturity that you talked about that that burning curve uh making the smart plays had a great yeah he had a great spring uh he really did and uh you know we we we don't we don't put a lot on the spring game good or bad uh it's just one of 15 days and it's and it's really the the one day where you kind of everything is diluted but um you know we evaluate him on what we've seen um you know each and every day and and even the summer part of it he's he's he's in our eyes has taken the next step that we need to see to this point now it's got to go happen on the field and that's what you want to see and that's what that's what it's all about out you know it's a I just think that uh I mean he's a first year starter and we were just so quick to just you know crucify people if you will you know if they're not some Johnny All-American uh the first time they step on the field and if that was the standard for especially a quarterback there's some of the best quarterbacks that have played college football and even in the NFL would have never happened right guys get better and it's a developmental game if you're made of the right stuff and you have the tal you got to have the talent uh but if you got the talent You're Made Of The Right Stuff the right type of character football character work ethic uh will to improve um then you're going to get better and and he and he's he's got all that and so I I I really we expect him to take another big step for us and he's really not that far you know I mean the biggest thing is just to physically mature continue to do that he's I don't know if y'all saw him today but he looks he looks great I mean he's really just in a you know as you should as you go I I was telling Eric mlan that today I was doing a podcast with him he was not a very good first year starter he's a good player but he wasn't very good first year starter but by the time he left here he was all conference you know because he was made the right stuff and he got better and that's what you know you look around the country this year and look at some of these quarterbacks you know Bo Nicks who his brother is on our team that's why he pops in my head you know Caleb I mean this guy was a six-year quarterback and and what he finished second the hosman and you know his first couple years it was not many people writing good things about him and you know he's first round draft pick so you know guys get better and and I think that you know we just have to be careful when we are so quick to to you know that's why I'm hesitant with young players you know I to just want to put too much on these guys uh because I know what's coming if they don't meet somebody else's expectations and uh but I'm proud of him man I mean he's really worked his tell off physically he's mature the biggest thing for him is just you know minimizing the negative plays I mean just too many negative plays last year as a first year starter and what I mean by that well he had too many fumbles you know just balls on the ground uh too he took too many tfls tackles for loss that shouldn't have been a tackle for loss you know um he took too many sacks on his on him you know and so uh those are things that you want to see him take a a big step forward this year as a seconde starter I think we will uh so On last years success we're gonna find out real quick in that opener uh you know so uh but but uh he's worked hard you know he's really grown as a leader um and we're excited about you know where he is to this point and just got to go we got to go to work man I me gotta go everybody's got a lot to prove and uh he's one of them for sure yeah you you guys finished last year created a lot of momentum heading into the off season no question do you think your guys used it in the right way up to now that they you know they they where they can build on it heading into uh PA Camp yeah I don't think there's any question about that I mean I mean we were we were in a tight spot you know it's been a long time since we lost four games around here and now you look up you got to play Notre Dame you know a team that kicked you in the teeth the year before and you know by the way you're going to start a true freshman going to start a guy that's never started a game and you know and then boom here they went that confidence was just kind of what they needed and man to finish you know winning five and and who we beat and the quarterbacks that we beat um you know down the stretch there was impressive and then to go beat another SEC team uh in a bowl game you know uh and to have to how we had to win it was really painful those was just painful have to go through those type of games uh but how was there like I don't know 60 points scored in like seven minutes or something it was crazy uh but to see our offense have to go do it to see our pass offense and to see our quarterback because obviously we got our pass offense has to improve this year we're going to we're going to get better uh we got to be more explosive there we got to we got to we got to we got to we got to improve now a lot of that is again availability you know uh we got Antonio back in that bowl game he made some big plays one of them was I don't know fourth down uh we got we got uh Tyler Brown obviously was was a beneficiary that Adam Randall and the confidence that he he regained down the stretch and in particular that game all of that to in totality really I think carried over into the off season so you know it's On Antonio Williams it's uh you start over uh you don't get to carry any you know big plays or touchdowns over but certainly the momentum I think put some good wind in their c um as they went into the off season and and then started to evaluate themselves from last year and what they all got to do to get better with Antonio Williams being sideline most of the season last year how have you seen him attack this coming season with that experience he's been Relentless I mean I if if I could just pick one guy on this team that has transformed and gotten better um in every area it's Antonio and that's again it's what I was alluding to earlier you know the guy makes freshman All-American and he's you know that makes him the greatest thing ever no it doesn't uh it just mean he had he he caught a few balls made a few plays as a freshman but man he had so much work to do to get better and and to and then last year obviously he he's out you know what whatever game three he's basically done for the year so we actually able to red shirt him but um man he has grown gr and matured and who he is today um compared to who he was when he got here it's not even close I mean he has become a leader his work ethic his spring practice uh the practice habits that he displayed day in and day out just his overall development I mean I'm just really proud of him I mean Gris has done an awesome job with him you know he he he's he's gish's first recruiting class if you will was was Adam and Antonio and Cole uh that that's his first recruiting group and then uh and all those guys you know are on their way in different areas and we think are poised to all three of them to really really help this football team then we On negative plays followed that up last year with you know Tyler and those guys so U I'm really proud of Antonio he's he's kind of setting the setting the tone for us in that room in this off season uh you know he and Adam both what you talking about the negative plays You' been like you said for 35 years I'm sure you don't do anything much differently in practice I mean what how do you so how do you solve that issue well I mean I mean with just in totality or just the quarterback which one you talking about well I mean I mean the big the big the biggest thing is you know from a team standpoint offensive standpoint uh I don't know we were hundred and something in fumbles lost um and if we're 50th we're probably 11 And1 last year that's just the reality of it but that's how small the margin is uh you know in in the game of football you know we're we're we've got to win the close games you know we we've I think we lead the nation in close gamees since 2011 eight points or less and like and there's a bunch of them and I think I think we lead by a good margin I think we're almost 78% or so and I don't think anybody else is in the set I think next closest is maybe 60 something perc those are hard games to win and but in the last three years we haven't done a great job in those close games you know one play One play you know and you got different narratives and different comments and things like that not much has changed so sometimes you just got to have a little Good Fortune you know we've had a bunch of it around here often times we discount the the impact of just a little luck you know sometimes you just have a little luck go your way and sometimes it doesn't go your way you know that ball hits the goal post with with whsy and and it just went that way you know uh Kon Wallace punches that ball out at Texas A&M you know guys walk going in to score and instead of the ball going just behind the pylon it just goes in front of the pylon so it's a Touchback we got the ball as opposed to they got the ball in the one you know I don't sometimes you just you you got we've had a ton of of of good fortune and and with health and and guys being able to you know you go back to 2018 we pretty much had 5D linemen and everybody else was pups and they stayed healthy all year you know and so you need a little luck along the way and I think we've had you know some of that's just some some bad luck you know it's not just a fumble a sack fumble it's a sack fumble guy catches picks it up perfect scoop score it's not just a deflected ball it just falls into the best player's hands and you walk in for a touchdown these are things that it's football it's football so you know I think you just you got to you got to take the good with the bat and again we we've we've been good we've been good these these last three years in this so-called horrible terrible uh era of Clemson football um you know we've been good we haven't been great I mean I think we're in the last three years we're 94th percentile in America you know we've won more games in the last three years than 126 of the 134 division one teams winning 30 games so that's 94th percentile I think we'd all say that's good that's an A but to get an A+ we got to we got to be great and when we've been great uh we've been really Elite in executing our plan to win we've been Elite uh in particular when it comes to Big play margin uh when it comes to uh uh winning those close games when it comes to Red Zone scoring offense and defense and you know that's just the reality of it and you know for us to to go from good to Great you know we've got to we got to win the close game you know it's just simple as that and again we lead the nation since 2011 but these last three years we're like 27th in the country we're still I think we're still like 11- six in those close games but not not to our standard and and why is that well when you get the ball first and goal on the one in the same game twice and you rush for 250 plus and pass for 250 plus and you still win a game for the first time in 128 years um that's how you get beat you know when when you you you you one play in an overtime One play in a double overtime these are things that change momentum and psyche and narratives and you know all these type of things you're not that far away uh and so you just got to we got to coach a little better we got to strain a little more um you know some some players got to got to get a little better got to develop a little bit more get a little bit of luck with with some health and availability and and and all those things so it's it's all goes into it you just you know um you take the good with the bat and um again we've been good but but not great and uh you know we've been a six playoffs we were great in those areas and you know I think we were like 82% number one in the country in the close games in those six playoff runs it's not like we were just that much better than everybody I mean but but we you know Marcus edman made a play in overtime Marcus edman made a tackle on fourth down you know it's never easy 2016 we got to go to Auburn it comes to a hill Mary and it went our way you know so we've had a ton of Good Fortune so I think as if you do this long enough you understand that if you can be consistent you'll have those special moments but you got to be consistent to do that you got to be consistently good at something in order to be great and and we we we certainly have done that I mean 13 years in a row we finished what top 20 in the country you know or 13 n plus win seasons in a row Us in Alabama we've been very very good but in order to have those great years you know there's a lot that has to go into it and U you know we're excited about another opportunity and you know doesn't it's never easy and and it's certainly not going to be easy for us um you know we got a tough schedule just like everybody else and every single game game that you play especially when you're Clemson uh you better show up and and and you better fight your butt off to execute that play and to win