* Practices have been solid. Good effort. Guys are locked in. When you have four days off for Christmas, you worry about that, but they've been good. It's been awhile since we've tackled like, so that makes a defensive coach a bit nervous.
* Delicate balance between having fun and being locked in for a bowl game like this. They've had a lot of fun down there in Florida, but you can tell they're starting to lock in now. Have a bunch of guys who know the routine.
* There's a comfort level and cohesion among this group being largely intact for the bowl game.
* Clemson backs (Will Shipley, Phil Mafah) are both really good after contact. A lot of broken tackles. Sometimes they put them in together, and they're both willing blockers for each other. Playing some "football dudes." You can tell. "They're going to come in ready to rock and roll in a game like this."
* Thinks the narrative that they don't pass the ball well is overblown. Maybe the style causes that because they're a little more horizontal than vertical with a lot of screen passes. They get the ball to their playmakers quickly. They are efficient enough in it that you can't just load up the box to stop the run.
* Some Mike Leach elements to this Clemson offense. It's not HIS offense, but they borrow from it. Notes that guys have to get lined up fast. They're not going to go "Tennessee fast," but it's still high volume with fast pace. Unique style. Reminds you of people we've played this season, but not any one team specifically. In some cases, it's a lot like someone they've seen, but maybe the OL blocking schemes are different.
* Haven't talked about the Clemson QB Cade Klubnik extending plays with his feet enough. Stuff he does like that doesn't show up in the passing stats, but in a way, it's part of your passing offense.
