TigerIllustrated.com - Thursday night practice notes

November 5, 2009

Larry Williams
TigerIllustrated.com Senior Writer

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CLEMSON, S.C. -- Mason Cloy's role has diminished since Dalton Freeman took over as the starting center, but Dabo Swinney said he envisions Cloy as a dependable and often-used backup at all three interior positions on the offensive line.

"He'll probably play pretty even at left guard, center, right guard," Swinney said Thursday after the Tigers wrapped up practice in preparation for Saturday night's game against Florida State.

"In practice, he just rolls. He stays on a rotation, and it's really been good for us. He works with the ones and just kind of rolls two plays at right guard, center, left guard. He just kind of keeps it going. We anticipate him playing all three spots."

Cloy started the first five games at center but shifted to a backup role after Freeman was elevated to starter during the open week that followed a 24-21 loss at Maryland.

Cloy has since mostly served as a backup to right guard Antoine McClain. He totaled 18 snaps in last week's 49-3 win over Coastal Carolina. He played 34 snaps against Wake Forest and 38 against Miami.

With Cloy and backup tackle David Smith, Swinney likes the depth on the line as the Tigers prepare for the last four games of the regular season.

Swinney said Smith, who switched from guard to tackle after left tackle Chris Hairston suffered a knee injury against Boston College, has solidified himself as the Tigers' No. 3 tackle ahead of Cory Lambert.

Smith has averaged 30 snaps over the past three games after totaling 32 snaps in the first five games. Most of his work has been at right tackle alternating with Landon Walker, but he's also getting work on the left side.

"Couldn't be more pleased with him and his emergence," Swinney said. "The light has kind of gone on. He gets it. And he's done well on the field. A lot of that confidence comes from getting in the game and having some success."

-- Swinney has been impressed with Kyle Parker's maturation as a redshirt freshman quarterback.

"He's still a freshman, but he's not a rookie anymore," he said. "He's much further along. Billy (Napier) has done a great job with him, maturing him with his preparation. He's put a lot more into it."

Swinney said Parker has come a long way since late in a loss to TCU, when he lofted a ball high for tight end Dwayne Allen. Had the throw been on target, Allen likely would've scored a touchdown and the Tigers might've held on to win instead of suffering a 14-10 loss.

Two weeks ago at Miami, Parker nailed a similar throw when he unleashed a laser to Jacoby Ford on the 26-yard touchdown pass that won it in overtime.

"That, to me, is big-time growth," Swinney said.

Parker has tied the school record for wins by a starting freshman quarterback, matching the total Rodney Williams set in 1985 as a redshirt freshman.

Parker has thrown 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 52.3 percent of his passes. He's averaging 177.9 passing yards per game.

"He's still got a little bit of gunslinger in him, and that's OK," Swinney said. "But you want him to just make sure he's a good, cerebral guy out there."

-- Swinney said he endorsed an idea by students to have fans lock arms before the Tigers run down the hill Saturday night.

"They wanted to know if I was OK with it," he said. "I said 'Good luck organizing that.' ? I have no problem with it. I think it's great.

"I think they're going to lock up and just show some unity. That's a pretty neat gesture by the student body. That's getting all-in right there, and taking some ownership."

-- Swinney said the ticket office informed him Thursday morning that about 5,000 tickets remained for Saturday night's game.

"I think it'll be pretty close to a sellout, so that's good," he said.

-- Swinney said tailback C.J. Spiller has been full-go during practice this week.

-- Another tombstone has been added to the team's collection of them outside the practice fields, this one commemorating the 40-37 triumph at Miami.

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