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CLEMSON -- Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney addressed members of the media Tuesday at his weekly news conference, this time to look back on his team's opening-season loss to UGA as well as to look forward to Saturday's opponent - South Carolina State.
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The Tigers host the Bulldogs at 5 p.m.
The following is an abbreviated transcript of Swinney's Tuesday presser.
OPENING STATEMENTS: "Everything from an intangible standpoint that you have to have to win was on full display with our kids Saturday night ... their fight, their heart, their will to win, their toughness, everything. We have a lot to learn and improve on, especially offensively. And we will because we have a team that cares. We have to improve on details and precision. Football punishes you for mistakes and rewards details. And that was the difference in the game the other night. We played well enough to win in two phases.
"We have a chance to be one of the better teams we have had around here. I love these guys. It was a tough, hard-fought game. Had we won 10-3, we would be sitting here today with the same problems. It's just better when you come out on top. From what I saw, this team has what it takes. That's exciting to me as we move forward.
"Injury-wise, I think we will get Mason Trotter back next week. He could play guard and be an extra guy for us. He's a functional guy but won't be able to snap for a little while. Last night, as I said Lannden Zanders will be out for the season. It'll be a big loss for us. E.J. Williams, he really wants to try to play. We will see where he is today and tomorrow. He'll have to have the surgery ... a little ligament right in his thumb. We'll tape him up and see how he does in practice. That'll still be up in the air. He'll have to have surgery when the season is over.
"I am excited about this week. Buddy Pough is a friend and a great coach. I always enjoy getting a chance to see him. They are coming off an explosive game. They had a lot of points. They're very explosive on offense. Their quarterback is very athletic and fast. They're led by their backs. Their running back is a transfer from Wake Forest. Defensively, their back seven is very experienced. 73 of their 79 guys are from the state of South Carolina."
Q: So E.J. Williams has not had surgery yet?
SWINNEY: "Correct. He wants to give it a shot. He could do it now and be out four or five weeks. We'll see how he does in practice. They have a plan on how they're gong to tape him up. It's a little ligament in his thumb."
Q: Nolan Turner's status?
SWINNEY: "He's great. He will not play this week. He's really close. He will be full go for next week. I'm excited about where he is and excited to get him back soon. Last week the experience Jalyn, Mukuba and Joseph got will serve us well going forward. Nolan will solidify us when he gets back. We're strong up the middle, man. We did a great job on the back end and didn't really give up any big plays. We also held up on the run. They got outside of us a couple of times there at the end."
Q: There was a lot of talk for months that Ohio State cracked the code on your defense. You seemed to be set every time last Saturday night.
SWINNEY: "We are a more veteran group over there. These last two years, we just haven't been quite as good. We have been young or injured. We had a very thin group last year. A lot of our best players didn't play. We have learned and have worked hard. We're just an incredibly seasoned group. They did a great job. We were physical. We fit things up better. Structurally we are better. The backers - Skalski and Spector - they're the key."
Q: Tony Elliott said yesterday he wishes he had stuck with the run game longer. You agree?
SWINNEY: "Absolutely. No one evaluates themselves more than the coaches. We made some mistakes, too. We should have hung in on the running game more and didn't do it. Definitely something we can approve on."
Q: After watching the film, how did Kobe and Will Shipley do with pass-pro?
SWINNEY: "Fine with that. They just did poor of getting out when they needed to. Sometimes we have protections where they're like secret service. We have some free-release protections, too. They over-complicated things. The ball needs to find the back. They're in the backfield blocking nobody. They have to improve there and they will."
Q: You like to foster relationships with other in-state programs. SC State will get a pretty big payday for playing you. What does your program get out of it?
SWINNEY: "Hopefully we can develop our team. Hopefully we can get some guys some experience and a chance to create some chemistry and rhythm. We didn't get to play a lot of guys last week. Hopefully we can this week. Most importantly, we want to improve on our mistakes. Hopefully we can help them out as well."
Q: How did Marcus Tate do in his first game?
SWINNEY: "Tough, physical but not very good fundamentally. He's the best guy (there). He's earned it. It's the first time he has played. He has practiced well against good people. It's not like he hasn't practiced against good people. He's going to be an outstanding player. He's big, athletic. His effort, his physicality, willingness ... it was there. He just needs to improve some details and fundamentals."
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Q: One of your bright spots was Joe Ngata.
SWINNEY: "He's good. He hasn't really played since his freshman year. He came in at camp and tweaked his hamstring. The last 12 days of practice, he was awesome. Every rep was a game (plan) rep. It was great to see and great for his confidence. He made some plays for us."
Q: What have your conversations been like with Justyn Ross since Saturday?
SWINNEY: "He's locked in. He's mad. He was locked in before. He was just very disappointed in himself. But complete ownership of what he has to do. You'll see it. He'll be just fine. Mentally, he just made some mistakes he hasn't made. He hasn't done that in practice. Just one of those days. It happens. But he'll have a great year. We have an outstanding group."
Q: You're going to go with Justyn as a returner some?
SWINNEY: "No, we're going to go with Will Taylor. He's a guy we will continue to work with some. He's still learning the offense, but has a unique and dynamic skill set. That guy doesn't flinch. He's going to be a really good player. We think a lot of him."
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