Clemson Football: Short spring gives veterans advantage on depth chart
The Clemson football team had its spring practice cut short and that will create an advantage for veterans moving forward on the depth chart.
The Clemson football team was able to get nine spring practice sessions in over the course of the last couple of weeks before all athletics came to a halt due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.
With the Tigers finishing up the spring early, Rubbing the Rock will be taking a look back at takeaways, things learned and position battles during those few practices.
When looking at the depth chart, though, one thing is for sure: The Clemson football coaching staff will rely on the veterans in terms of who won spots on the depth chart heading into the summer.
Dabo Swinney has always maintained the position that ‘ties go to the veteran’ as he has built the Clemson football program.
The Tigers have always given advantages to upperclassmen and players that have been in the system longer. That’s one of the reasons Clemson has been so successful.
But a short spring certainly didn’t help some of those true-freshmen and redshirt freshmen vault themselves onto the depth chart.
The shortened spring practice sessions will likely lead to us seeing several other veterans or experienced Tigers get the nod over some of the talented youth.
A perfect example is this: Perhaps a guy like Bryan Bresee would’ve earned a starting spot with a full body of work in the spring and then continued success in fall camp. However, since the coaching staff didn’t get to see Bresee through a full spring camp, they may be more inclined to stick with veterans and allow him a chance to earn more playing time as the season progresses.
It’s not a bad thing, by any means, it’s just something we’ve noticed.
Next. 5 things we learned at spring practice 2020. dark
You probably don’t see Tyler Davis start the first game last season if he hadn’t performed at such a high level during the spring. Though spring practice means very little to the average Clemson football fan, it does set the pecking order for things moving forward.