Short week means no time to celebrate

CLEMSON -- Some of Dabo Swinney's family and friends from Pelham, Ala., traveled to Clemson for Saturday's season-opening 37-14 win against Middle Tennessee, sticking around to attend his post-game press conference.

By the time Swinney wrapped his media briefing at 10:20 p.m., there was little time to visit and celebrate.

Swinney and the Clemson staff arrived back at their offices between 6 and 7 a.m. Sunday morning to prepare for what figures to one of their greatest tests of the season -- on the road Thursday at Georgia Tech, facing a polar opposite offense to Middle Tennessee, and on short rest.

"(Sunday) is like a Tuesday, Monday is like Wednesday," Swinney said. "I'm all screwed up. I'm just looking for a normal week but we ain't going to get it for awhile."

After reviewing game film, Swinney was pleased with the focus and energy of his team, noting just four penalties, and said mistakes were correctable. He awarded player of the game honors to linebacker Brandon Maye (13 tackles) and quarterback Kyle Parker (two touchdown throws, no turnovers).

The cloud looming over the game is the health of C.J. Spiller.

The senior running back was so excited he had to be held out some of the first half after he hyperventilated. Swinney said he kidded Spiller about losing his breath at dinner Sunday, asking him if he was going to play Saturday.

Spiller was held out the entire second half, jamming a toe and feeling a pull on his hamstring on a 12-yard punt return with three minutes remaining in the half.

Surrounded by a horde of media following the game, Spiller insisted the move was precautionary. He says he'll play Thursday.

Swinney reiterated Sunday that Spiller will play.

Clemson didn't need Spiller on Saturday with solid performances from Jamie Harper (76 yards and 15 carries) and former Berkeley High star Andre Ellington (72 yards on nine carries). But to win against the Yellow Jackets, Spiller will likely need to play and be effective.

The other challenge is defending Tech's ground game, which Swinney said the staff began preparing for in the spring when studying opponents to determine what they should focus on during the installation process.

Swinney said the staff paid particular attention to "unique" opponents like Georgia Tech.

To defend the Middle Tennessee five-receiver sets, Clemson played a base dime package and rarely fielded linebackers Scott Cooper, Kevin Alexander or Kavell Conner, who led the team in tackles last season.

Against Tech, the Tigers should go back to fielding a full complement of linebackers.

In last season's 21-17 loss to Georgia Tech, Swinney's first game as interim coach, the Yellow Jackets blitzed the Tigers for 207 yards on the ground.

"It's a game we have studied tremendously," Swinney said, "there were certainly some base things you can take out of our game ... some things we could do better."

Georgia Tech and star running back Jonathan Dwyer look to be right back on track Saturday. Dwyer took his first carry of the season 74 yards for a TD against Jacksonville State and the Yellow Jackets rolled up 335 rushing yards in a 37-17 win.

On Saturday the Tigers worked out wrinkles, on Thursday they'll attempt to prove legitimacy.

Reach at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at
www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.