Antonio Williams dishes about how team competitiveness led to a fight at Thursday's practice
The Clemson defense got the better of the Tigers offense for the majority of practices before and during the 2022 season. The offense has done a much better job of holding its own so far in 2023.
Players on both sides of the ball have said that the offense has been much better and practices have been more competitive under new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley.
That competitiveness apparently led to a fight on Thursday during the “W drill,” according to sophomore receiver Antonio Williams.
“I know y’all weren’t there the whole practice. Y’all left before the ‘W drill,’ if y’all know what that is. Where we get physical and stuff,” Williams said. “We had people fighting out there. Dabo [Swinney] had to kick some guys out. But you know, we’re competing.”
Williams added that he feels like the offense got the better of the defense during Thursday’s practice.
“Today I think we won,” he said.
Riley has clearly instilled much-needed confidence in Clemson’s offensive players after the Tigers struggled each of the past two years. Clemson took a major step back, particularly in the passing game in 2020 and 2021, after previously reaching six straight College Football Playoffs.
“We definitely have more confidence and we’re competing every day,” Williams said. “One day the defense might win but, you know, the next day we’re coming back with an edge and we’re trying to win the next day, as well. So it’s a back and forth. Last year I feel like they got more days than we did. But you know, it’s even right now.”
Barrett Carter sees a different vibe from Clemson offense
Antonio Williams isn’t the only Clemson player who sees a major difference in this year’s offense.
Tigers linebacker Barrett Carter provided media members with a vibe check of the Tigers’ new offense as fall camp is underway. Newly hired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik will lead the charge this year as the Tigers look to defend their ACC Championship from a season ago.
Carter has had a front-row seat to Clemson’s new-look offense from facing them during spring practice and now at fall camp. He recently spoke about what separates that unit from last year’s.
“Yeah I just really feel like the camaraderie within the offense has just been second to none,” Carter said. “Especially coming in with a new OC, new quarterback I think the vibe over there has just been different and Cade has taken that role and he’s ran with it.”