{"id":372036,"date":"2025-11-11T17:48:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T17:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/372036\/"},"modified":"2025-11-11T17:48:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T17:48:12","slug":"dabo-swinney-on-louisville-dennis-love-klubnik-freshmen-gideon-davidson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/372036\/","title":{"rendered":"Dabo Swinney on Louisville, Dennis Love, Klubnik, Freshmen, Gideon Davidson"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEMSON \u2014 Late Tuesday morning Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney<\/a><\/strong> again addressed members of the media at his weekly, in-season, news conference. <\/p>\n

BECOME A TIGERILLUSTRATED.com SUBSCRIBER!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Tigers (4-5, 3-4) are preparing to face No. 19 Louisville<\/a> (7-2, 4-2) on the road Friday night. Clemson is a 3-point underdog to the Cardinals at BetMGM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ALSO SEE:<\/strong> Tuesday Insider: Clemson involved with another Penn State commit, intel on weekend D-line visitors<\/a> | Top running back target talks latest Clemson visit<\/a> | The pressure is on Garrett Riley<\/a> | MONDAY INSIDER<\/a> | These aren\u2019t ordinary times for Clemson Football<\/a> | Clemson\u2019s verbal commitments<\/a> | Clemson\u2019s junior commitments<\/a> <\/p>\n

The following is an abbreviated transcript of Tuesday\u2019s news conference. <\/p>\n

Opening Statements<\/p>\n

\u201cFriday night up in Louisville, we\u2019re excited about it. It\u2019s a great venue. This is a really good team. They\u2019ve had two losses in overtime. They\u2019re very well-coached. Probably our worst game last year, especially defensively. It\u2019s a big challenge for us. Jeff Brohm<\/a><\/strong> does a great job. <\/p>\n

\u201cOffensively, they are a ball-control type of offense. A lot of outside zone, formations, eye-candy and movements that challenge you. It\u2019s very well coordinated and they\u2019re explosive. They have some home run dudes at running back. They\u2019ve got playmakers outside. It\u2019s one of the best offensive lines we\u2019ve faced. <\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the best defenses in the country. They\u2019re very aggressive and physical up front. They will challenge you. You have to make competitive plays. Their two ends are very good players. A complete team. Two plays away from being undefeated. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of our team and how we competed last week. We did a lot of good things but still we have things we need to improve. We\u2019ll head out on Thursday. It\u2019s coming quickly. It should be a great night. We\u2019ll have a good crowd who will show up, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: You mentioned eye-discipline and coverage busts. How did you evaluate that this past weekend? <\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cJust communication. They were better. We changed a couple of things in how we were meeting. They\u2019re playing with more confidence and our communication was better. We have to just not get caught up in fourth and two. Sometimes you can get so caught up in the situation and there goes your guy. Just truly be disciplined in your process. The process shouldn\u2019t change regardless of the position you\u2019re playing. Sometimes you can let the situation change your process. That\u2019s where mistakes happen. Trust our eyes and trust the process we\u2019ve been taught. Defensively, it was one of our better games. They were relentless and really affected the quarterback.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: Collin Sadler<\/a><\/strong>? Is he good to go?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cHe\u2019s fine. We were able to hold him (vs. FSU).\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: How much has Cade<\/a><\/strong> been able to practice so far this week?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cAnkle is good. He could hardly walk last week because his thigh was so swollen and blown up. He got better each day and was ready on game day. He\u2019s a lot better than he was this time last week. He couldn\u2019t even practice this time last week. He\u2019s doing better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: You talked about the promotion of Dennis Love<\/strong> to head strength coach last night. How did that come about?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cIt was either that or he was going to be the strength coach for the Vikings. We didn\u2019t have a choice. That was an easy decision. I knew eventually that might happen. Joey Batson<\/strong> decided this was going to be it. Dennis interviewed for the (Vikings) job and was offered the job. There are only 32 of those jobs. We had to kind of work that out (financially) in the summer. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s excited and we\u2019re all excited. This has been a dream job for him. He\u2019s one of the most respected guys out there. That\u2019s why he had the opportunity to be one of 32 guys at that position in the NFL. Guys from all over come to train with him. That was a tough 24 hours for him to make a decision like that but it all worked out. Joey was excited and the players are excited. He\u2019ll take it over in January. That\u2019s not new news. <\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: How is Dennis Love different than Joey?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cHe\u2019s very different. He\u2019s been to a bunch of places. He\u2019s a different person, different leadership style, different in a lot of areas, communication. He\u2019s learned a lot from Joey, too, who has been amazing for years and years. He\u2019ll put his own stamp on it. He\u2019s one of the best guys out there. I told him he could go but we\u2019d be calling him back in January. If it weren\u2019t very Graham<\/strong> (Neff<\/strong>) \u2026 it couldn\u2019t just be a wink and a nod. There had to be enough of a conversation for him to stay. He\u2019s incredibly smart and detailed. He knows the kids. They love him. He has great relationships and great resources across the country that he\u2019ll implemenet here at Clemson.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: To look at the stadium Saturday and to see the support you had from fans in spite of the season, what do you think that meant to your team?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cThat was awesome. That\u2019s Clemson. You could feel it on the bus coming around. It hasn\u2019t been the season that we wanted or expected. They\u2019ve always shown up around here. That\u2019s Clemson. That\u2019s who Clemson is. They love their Tigers. There have been some lean years around here, especially in the 90\u2019s. I wasn\u2019t around here then but I\u2019m sure they showed up then. We\u2019re lucky to have this venue here.\u201d <\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: What\u2019s changed for Gideon Davidson<\/a><\/strong> over the last several weeks?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cConfidence. And just the game is slowing down for him. He\u2019s doing a good job with his protections. He did a nice job on the screen. He understands the totality of what we\u2019re asking him to do at that position \u2026 footwork, ball handling. He\u2019s got natural vision. He\u2019s a powerful kid. He can get low to the ground. He had one run where we got eight and it looked like we were going to get just four.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: Do you feel like Louisville is playing more coverage and less pressure this year?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cThey\u2019re just playing really well. It\u2019s basically four down and a lot of one-high safety. They\u2019re mixing in some zone concepts. They\u2019re a really good defense. They get after you up front. They can create some havoc especially with edge guys. It all goes together. They don\u2019t have a lot of busts. That\u2019s why they\u2019re in the top 15 in the country. We have to play well and execute against these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: Are you preparing for multiple quarterbacks?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cI mean they\u2019re not going to change their offense. They\u2019ll do what they do. We\u2019re preparing for them schematically. They\u2019re going to run that ball. Someone is handing that ball off, especially when it comes to the stretch and getting cut backside. They ran through us last year \u2026 I mean it was embarrassing. It\u2019s going to be a challenge. You have to minimize that. If they get comfortable in the run game and stay on schedule, you have a lot on your plate defensively. It\u2019s just what they do. We have to have a great plan and we do but we have to execute it. We have to do a good job coverage-wise. Jeff has a great feel for his offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: Is David Eziomume<\/a><\/strong> still progressing? We haven\u2019t seen much of him.<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cJust not enough snaps (to go around). It\u2019s just where we are. I\u2019d like to play them all but it\u2019s got to work out that way. Gideon is where he is. He and Adam<\/a><\/strong> have gotten a majority of the snaps. David is a great player and will have a lot of big days ahead. He\u2019s just a redshirt freshman.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: Vic Burley<\/a><\/strong> was on the injured list last week. Is he better now?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cHe\u2019s alright. He\u2019s OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: You and Garrett<\/a><\/strong> talked about getting Gideon more involved. Specifically, how did that come about of late (more playing time)?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cFirst of all he\u2019s got to earn it at practice and then be comfortable in the game. Going into the Duke game, we just committed to the plays and not as much with a series. We just made sure we were going to rotate. We got into a rhythm and created some confidence there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: Your thoughts on Corian Gipson<\/a><\/strong> now after last Saturday. <\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cOh yeah. He couldn\u2019t play last year. He wasn\u2019t able to play. He wasn\u2019t able physically or mentally, coming off an ACL. He\u2019s getting better. He\u2019s just a redshirt freshman. It\u2019s a process. His confidence is growing, his knowledge and strength \u2026 everything is different. He didn\u2019t play his senior year (in high school), so it\u2019s been two years since he played football. There\u2019s a lot to the nickel position, a whole different world than corner. I\u2019m proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: What has happened with Jeadyn Lukus<\/a><\/strong>?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cJust playing the guys who have earned it or have played the best. It\u2019s not anything to do with Lukus. Strozier<\/a><\/strong> has been playing well and has made a move. Jeadyn just has to stay ready. Nothing more. Mike<\/a><\/strong> just feels like the guys in there are the ones playing the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: Watching Cade battle through the leg injury, has it made him tougher?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cHe has complete respect from this team. He\u2019s a warrior. If he can play, he\u2019ll play. A lot of guys wouldn\u2019t be playing in his position. He has a bright future. He really does. He\u2019s had some tough games here and some great moments, but he\u2019s just one guy, one player. He\u2019s a ball player and is getting better and better. He\u2019ll have a great future in the NFL. I think he\u2019ll be a great pro. He just loves ball. He was born to play football. He was born to get up, get to the football office and play ball. He\u2019s always up here watching tape. He loves Clemson and loves his teammates. He\u2019s highly respected in the locker room. They love his toughness and commitment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t play well in the LSU game. He turned it over twice in the Ga. Tech game. He didn\u2019t play bad, though. He kind of picked it up. He did some good things against Syracuse. He\u2019s been pretty steady on the football side. But we\u2019ve had some tough games. He played great at North Carolina, he was amazing vs. Duke. It\u2019s kind of been overshadowed because we\u2019ve lost some games. He was pressing some earlier in the season and he got through that, so he\u2019s just been Cade lately. He\u2019s doing his job and having fun playing football. I\u2019m proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: How much has it helped you offensively to have more continuity up front lately?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cA lot. We had some miscues the other night. We gave up the one sack there. Brayden<\/a><\/strong> has done a great job. With Sadler up and down and with Tristan<\/a><\/strong> missing some time and losing Elyjah<\/a><\/strong>, we\u2019ve had some challenges. Blake Miller<\/a><\/strong> has missed two practices in his entire Clemson career. He has started every game since he was a true freshman which is unbelievable. It\u2019s unheard of. We\u2019ve had to move some players around. Walker Parks<\/a><\/strong>, I was so happy for him the other night. I\u2019d put him and Cade in that same category. If there is any chance at all that he can play, he plays. He\u2019s not been anywhere near 100-percent but he\u2019s as close to it as he\u2019s been. He really played well the other night. He had a really good play on a screen where he just buried a guy. I love that kid, man. He\u2019s tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: Any additional true freshmen we\u2019ll see more of in the coming weeks?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cKenan<\/a><\/strong>, maybe. Blanchard<\/a><\/strong> is probably another guy who could show up if we need him. He\u2019s been ready to play all year. Brooking<\/a><\/strong>, we went ahead and put him in on special teams. He\u2019s going to be a good player. <\/p>\n

\u201cJuju<\/a><\/strong>, maybe. If we had someone go down, maybe. He works on punt return and you may see him there in the future. The arrow is up on Juju. He\u2019s gained 15-17 pounds. He\u2019s still very thin but he\u2019s on his way. He\u2019s got a smile on his face. I just think he\u2019s through the funk and is figuring it out that he can do this. He\u2019s explosive and has been awesome on the scout team. We\u2019ve done some scrimmaging with the young guys the last few weeks to keep them football ready and he\u2019s been a bright spot. Power Hour has been great. He\u2019s really bought into it. He\u2019s gifted. He\u2019s tough. I\u2019m excited about his future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: In today\u2019s world with all the transfer portal stuff, is it still very important to get to a bowl for the extra practices when you\u2019ve had a season like this?<\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cAbsolutely. There\u2019s no coach who will say no to that. If they do, they\u2019re probably not a good coach. Any time you can play football, that\u2019s a good thing. That\u2019s what you do. I\u2019d never turn down an opportunity. Sometimes teams haven\u2019t had enough players, so that\u2019s a different conversation. I guarantee you, these guys want to play another game because they care about each other. We\u2019ve got one of the longest bowl eligibility streaks out there which extends before I got here. We have to go earn it. We have to find a way to get it done. There is a lot of young talent on this team that could use the extra practices. It\u2019s basically another spring practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

DISCUSSION: Join Tigerillustrated.com subscribers on The West Zone Forum<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Question<\/strong>: How do you feel about Cade\u2019s mobility now?<\/p>\n

DISCUSSION: Join Tigerillustrated.com subscribers on our off-topics forum<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

SWINNEY<\/strong>: \u201cHe\u2019s hanging in there. He ran for a touchdown against FSU on a pass call, recognizing the coverage and got outside of the pocket a few times. He\u2019s getting better. He can do what he needs to do. There\u2019s not many people at 100-percent this time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n

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