Clemson Football Practice Report: Day 9

Aug. 13, 2009

Clemson, SC – Clemson had one full-pads practice on the fields behind the Jervey Athletic Center on Thursday. It was a two-hour and 20 minute practice for most of the team, a little longer for others.

“It was a good practice today,” said Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney. “Wednesday’s two-a-day might have been the best two-a-day practice session I have been around in coaching. So I might have seen a let down from the team after we went so long last night. We all got off the field at nearly 10:00 PM on Wednesday night. But, the team had good tempo today.”

Swinney felt everything went well with the exception of some poor quarterback-center exchanges. “We worked on situations a lot today….coming off the goal line and trying to score from the one. The offense got off the goal line a couple of times, but the defense had a pair of safeties. The most disappointing thing with the entire practice was some fumbles on quarterback/center exchanges when we were in goal line drills.

Both quarterbacks Willy Korn and Kyle Parker had fumbles in that goal line situation. Both quarterbacks worked with centers Mason Cloy and Dalton Freeman for considerable time after practice. “That is something we have to get corrected. We have zero tolerance for fumbles in that situation.”

Also noteworthy in the goal line drill was the presence of Chad Diehl at an inside linebacker position. “We experimented with that some in the spring and we tried it today. Chad is a train wreck waiting to happen. He gives us some size in there in that short yardage situation.” Diehl continues to work at fullback as well.

Swinney also announced after practice that he hopes to red-shirt defensive end Kourtnei Brown this season. Brown is a junior from Charlotte, NC. He has played 24 games and 404 plays at defensive end over the last two years and has 33 career tackles. “We are going to try to red-shirt Kourtnei Brown if we can this year. If there is an injury that could certainly change.

“Kourtnei has a chance to be a great player and we would like to have him for two more years (after this year) instead of just one.”

Seven players were in yellow jerseys due to injury and did not go through the full practice on Thursday. Jamie Cumbie (shoulder), Wilson Norris (knee) were injured in Wednesday evening’s second practice and missed Thursday’s practice. The injuries are not serious.

Brandon Clear (ribs) continued to miss practice due to previously announced injuries.

Clemson returns to the practice field at 9:30 AM on Friday. The practice should run until 11:45 AM. The practice is closed to the public and the media.