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-- No training wheels for quarterbacks when they're facing this defense.

There's no such thing as easing a new quarterback into spring practice at Clemson. At least not as long as Brent Venables is around.

Facing the abundance of talent at all three levels is hard enough for Trevor Lawrence, as it was for Hunter Johnson a year ago.

But what makes it truly nerve-wracking is the full assault of looks Venables brings, basically from the first day on. This trial by fire ultimately pays off, because the offense probably isn't going to see anything in the fall that it hasn't already experienced on the practice fields.

But, well, that is then and this is now.