Clemson Football Practice Report – August 15

Aug. 15, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Moving week began at Clemson Monday morning, and it had nothing to do with the student body moving in to their dorms.

Instead, it is moving week on the football team, where Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney told those who plan to contribute to this year’s squad to start showing more in practice.

“There are a few guys who are going to have to make a move this week if they are going to make a move (on the depth chart),” the Clemson coach told the media Monday after the first of two practices. “There are guys who can help us, so we are challenging them.”

As for the guys who are responding, Swinney can’t be more pleased. He highlighted several players who have made the most of their opportunities in camp, including fullback Darrell Smith, reserve right tackle Gifford Timothy and reserve guard Reid Webster.

Swinney says Timothy and Webster, both red-shirt freshmen, have really made some progress along the offensive line, especially in last Saturday’s scrimmage.

“We are encouraged. Giff still has a lot of work to do,” Swinney said. “If we played today we would have to swing a guy probably (to the right side), but we are very encouraged with what we have seen from Giff.

“He and Reid Webster have made some progress this past week. Reid is primarily working at guard right now. He is still not as physical as we want him to be, but he is improving.”

Swinney says Smith’s stock is on the way up too. “He is really having a good camp,” the Clemson coach said. “He is one of those guys that needed to show some life. He is playing confident. He is playing really fast, he is physical. He is one of those guys that we are pleased with that need to make a move coming in.”

A guy who didn’t have anything to prove, but is playing as if he did, is starting left tackle Phillip Price. Swinney says the 6-5, 300-pound senior from Dillon, SC has been playing with a chip on his shoulder all camp, and has had one of the better camps amongst the offensive linemen.

“Price has had the best camp of anybody (on the offensive line),” Swinney said. “He is really, really playing well. A lot of that we can thank to (the media) because everybody thinks he is supposed to be beat out because he is from a small school and is an original walk-on.

“He has had a great camp. He is playing with an edge and is trying to be a leader for us. It has been interesting watching him transform into this role. I’m proud of Phillip and Coach (Robbie) Caldwell is too.”

Starting defensive end Demont Buice missed action with ankle injuries.

The Tigers will hold their second practice of the day Monday evening at 7:15 p.m., and will hold just one practice on Tuesday starting at 4:30 p.m. Both practices are closed to the public.

Clemson Fan Appreciation Day will be held this Sunday at Memorial Stadium from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

By Will Vandervort, IPTAY Media