What Dowell Loggains and Clayton White said previewing Clemson

On Wednesday, South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and defensive coordinator Clayton White met with the media to preview this weekend’s matchup with Clemson. Here’s what they had to say.

Dowell Loggains

— Group has gotten better week to week. They’ve learned how to practice with a bunch of young players ascending. The reason they’ve improved is because they’ve learned how to practice.

— The thing that sticks out with Clemson is their effort and how hard they play. It all starts up front with those guys. They do a greta job of coaching fundamentals and technique.

— Expects Sellers to be the focal point like he has been all year. It’s a heavy burden to wear the crown. This game is no different in how he’s getting prepared to play.

— They’re starting to “vibe” now with the way they practice. Dalevon Campbell’s size and speed, ability to show up at practice, practice execution has become game day reality now. Sellers has built more trust with Campbell. He doesn’t get those opportunities if he doesn’t practice the right way and he has done so. Going to need him to play really well this weekend.

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— They believe in the tight position here. you’ve got to be able to trust a Payton Mangrum or Luke Doty to go out there and play, especially in a four WR look with the tight ends being banged up. The kids deserve all the credit. They were able to step up and help the offense function the way they needed to against Wofford.

— Before you can find ways to win, you have to find ways not to lose. Once the negative plays started to disappear, the offense got a lot better. You feel like you can control the game when you’re not playing behind the sticks. It gives them more confidence. The credit goes up front to the offensive line and Lonnie Teasley. They knew it was a group that needed to play better together. The starting five up front are better as a group than they are individually. If you have good coaching like they do with Teasley, they get better.

— Competition makes you better. This is a man on man race. Feels like they’ve recruited the right type of kids. If you have good coaching, you will get better. There are no off games in the SEC. Every week feels that way. You just don’t get an off week in this conference. Clemson has an SEC-type defense. Iron sharpens iron. The better competition you face, the better you will get.

Clayton White

— Glad they took care of business and won the football game last week. Excited about Clemson game.

— The defense is a bunch of guys who decided to come back and play for each other. Things could’ve changed after last year. But the older guys decided to come back. He can see how much fun they are having. They’re finding ways to keep this thing fun, which is important to him.

— Cade Klubnik has been a much improved quarterback this year. He comes from a very quarterback centric high school out in Texas. LaNorris Sellers is a good comparison. Klubnik is playing some good football with great guys around him.

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— This will be his 12th time going against Clemson. They’ve never lacked offensive production. The things they see on tape, they have really good tight ends. Their running backs are productive. They do a great job of spreading the ball around to the receivers. They have weapons all over the field. That’s how it’s always been.

— It’s been one of those things where they may talk about what it would be like for Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart to potentially break two of Jadeveon Clowney’s sack records. But they understand what they’re facing this weekend. They want to keep the production they have going. Understanding who they’re facing is how they’ll get things done.

— They love their defensive ends against any teams in the country. Clemson has a pretty good offensive line. But the guys are looking forward to all those matchups. Clemson should be ready to go even with being banged up. You have to understand the type of quarterback you’re facing, which is more important than winning a one-on-one up front.

— They’ve had NFL coaches/pass rush specialists come in here to talk about pass rush and how to work together. Thinks that’s the best thing they’ve improved in up front. Gives credit to Travian Robertson and Sterling Lucas for helping the defensive line improve in that way. 

— Has a lot of respect for all the opponents they play. May have hated Clemson when he was a player going against them back in the day. But now that he’s a grown man, it’s all business facing them.

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