Clemson Media Kickoff - OC Garrett Riley

of this offense what do you expect to see out of it this year are you expecting a little bit faster start from you guys yeah absolutely you know I mean we've got a lot of returners um continuity with the staff the staff understanding what we're about what we're trying to accomplish so you know I think we've got uh some core leadership too um that we've already identified that I don't know if I could have said a year ago just being fresh into it so just all those things um you know so yeah I would expect us to to get off to a faster start and and I know our players certainly expect that too how much more comfortable are you in this setting now after you know you here in your second year year and a half here in Tiger Town how much more comfortable are you with the experience yeah more comfortable for sure um and I think mainly from a standpoint of just getting integrated with the people here with the coaches with the staff um kind of our process how we practice uh going against that defense every single day in practice just all those things kind of mixed together kind of adds up to that hey coach how are you and how was summer what was new what stayed the same summer was great it always goes fast um kind of probably like every coach's response you you love it you enjoy it you look forward to it for a long time and about that last week of vacation you're kind of ready to get back and get ready to go um but we had camps had unbelievable camps SE season for us um and a lot of the athletes that we had here um as well as our youth camp was always a blast but you know the Camp season the the work that our guys have put in on their own kind of all summer and and the plan that we put out for them and and them executing that plan I feel really good about that I think we've made a lot of strides this summer um and again that kind of goes back to some of the leadership that I feel like we have on our side of the ball this year so you know feel feel good about it I think it was a a good two months for us for sure last year was a little bit of a roller coaster but you were right there when it all ended does that bring a piece of comfort to know that it was the little things and maybe was a flukish a little bit but like you guys were right there now you compounding erate a lot of those yeah I think um you got to learn from all those things right I mean there was a lot of you know the close games uh that we came up a little bit short on you know some of the mishaps I mean they're all things that us as coaches and our players certainly got to learn from and that's where you kind of saw us grow as the season went on and that's just going to carry some momentum as we all know into this season for us what was it like just going back and watching laston processing well it was a it was a roller coaster going back watching it too you know I mean there's a lot of really really good things a lot of promising things a lot of flashes here and there and also obviously some things that we just got to get corrected we just got to be better um so you know it's always good as a coach once the season ends to decompress for a minute go back really evaluate what went on and and you got to kind of look at it with a fine tooth cone but you also got to look at it kind of macro as well so um it's always a great time for us and I think we found a lot of things that that we tried to address this spring specifically when you look at turnovers maybe the is there anything yall do differently is there identify Reon such issue yeah I mean you always want to look is it is it some sort of technique thing is it is it Personnel um you know you're always emphasizing and trying to work on this stuff in practice at nauseum so you know I think just a lot of unfortunate things honestly um but it's something that we're certainly going to emphasize moving forward um just as we did last year uh but obviously you got to you got to take care of the ball there's no question about it you brought up PO leadership who have really step up and in what ways well I think you know Phil mafa obviously is a is a guy that's kind of The Quiet leader um he's going to do it by his actions and his play and just always doing the right thing you know so he's he's certainly a guy that our guys look look to uh Jake brinning sto uh comes to mind as someone that's really improved and kind of emerged in that role I'm really proud of him and his maturity and what he's done and um you know kind of taking that thing by the horns a little bit uh through the spring and this summer you know I know kad's certainly improved that as well now that he's played and kind of has some credibility that that he's been the guy for a year um up front you know Tristan Lee Blake Miller certainly guys that uh that bring a lot to the table from a leadership standpoint did you have a conversation with Kate about how important that is that maybe he kind of take the ranks that yeah I mean that's something we always talk about I mean that whole quarterback room I mean that's something you're always trying to evolve and get better with and and it's it's one of those things that there's a little bit of a fine line you you can't be a fraud you can't try and overdo it he can't do too little like there's a in my mind there's kind of a balance and a happy happy medium to it and and he's certainly finding his own way right now with it what are you expecting out of Kade on the field of this this point I just expect sharp you know I mean just a guy that's not going to panic a guy that's going to understand what we're trying to do um you know minimizing some of the the bad plays I mean those are certain things that off top my head that that we should be able to see this fall as ases yeah yeah I mean just with with all the things that kind of went on in our season uh um it's a good problem to have with with a guy like Kade is at times he's he's one of those that really believes in himself which is awesome um but at times you can try to do a little bit too much and you know when when when certain guys were missing and maybe a little thin in certain spots you know maybe the added pressure of he felt like he had to do a little bit too much uh probably crept in at times but as the season went on I think he learned that I think he understood that a little bit better and really uh I think the game just kind of slowed down for him each and every week and that that's really what I saw as you look through it you know chronologically mentioned a couple of times where he maybe tried to do too much I know Florida State game is probably one that stands out for a lot of people's mind when you guys have an added uh issue of of helmet Tech this year do do you think that communication right up until potentially the ball is sna can be a benefit in terms of his decision making and and in situations like that yeah I think I think it's certainly going to be a helpful tool there's no question about it I I think the whole key you know with with Kade with all of our quarterbacks and probably across the board and and college football is just what's going to be too much for some of those guys right I mean they're not professionals they're not an NFL quarterback that's sitting in a meeting room every hour of the day and so I just think that's where as coaches we got to do a good job of of not really putting too much on this plate but I think it's certainly going to be a a helpful tool did you talk to him about how to use that like best for him or did you talk to like other NFL coaches quarterbacks who kind of used it the tech for a long time how did you prepare for that yeah I I I tried to I tried to ask uh several NFL guys that have just more experience with it you know with that sort of technology and so um was able to kind of Bounce some ideas off of you know their their trial and errors and uh hopefully we will'll speed up ours as we go through it is there a balance with that because obviously you got to win every play right so if you can give him information that helps but how does that does it impede his development in seeing the game and trying to react to what's outen there I mean just with our style of offense and what we do and what we believe in um you know we feel like whatever whatever we're putting out there on on the script or in the game plan we feel like he's going to be able to execute no matter what happens and so that's that's kind of the core philosophy now if we can give them a little added tip and help him out great but um again don't want to give up too much either regarding the area on the field what's something that you'd like to obviously moving the ball was not a problem between the 20s but what's a stat maybe halfway through the year where you'll be really impressed to know that you guys are attacking a long ball Lev Crossing's something that you go we're doing this well probably very successful um I mean look at the first half of our season obviously the Red Zone Red Zone scoring is is the big one and you look at the second half of our season season and we were we were really good um in terms of red Red Zone scoring so obviously that's always going to be a big one um and certainly explosive plays I mean those two things are kind of the biggest deals um aside from turnover so those would be probably the two think ad was also mentioning just receiver injuries was hard to get Award with the guys in practice and like that how much do you feel like that affect him in terms well it's tough I mean that just comes back to chemistry you know you did all this stuff and spring and summer a year ago for for him and and all those quarterbacks and and you get through you get into fall and all of a sudden it's a lot of different guys that are practicing and um you know I I know with Tyler Brown specifically like a guy that played really well and emerged for us obviously last season and the second half of the season I mean the dude barely practiced and so all of a sudden maybe the first time that kad's actually throwing it to Tyler is on Saturday and um so that's tough I mean it's just that's part of football though um but that does come back to chemistry and you hope that that's improved as we move forward for sure what's it been like working with Coach Luke in terms of matching his skills as an offensive line coach with what your scheme is and how that all works together yeah he's been great he's um he's very adaptive I mean he's been around he's been in different systems he's worked for other people so he's an Adaptive person U certainly has brought some stuff to the table for us in terms of a little bit of scheme here and there um for sure sure but I think just ways to attack different different things that we see different defenses and uh you know that freshness is always good as a coach like I love that and um and obviously his passion and his fire and all those things kind of speak for itself so he he's been a he's been a great guy to work with so far you talked about Phil being a quiet leader how ready is he for him being the guy out there coming up this season I think he's I think he's chomping at the bit I really do um you know he's a guy that whatever you put on his plate he's going to be able to handle it like he's a confident mature person that believes in himself so I think whatever you throw at Phil he's going to be ready do you expect him to be um not necessarily the same role as will because I'm not sure how many guys can do that but a little more active as a receiver out of the back field and that kind of stuff this year yeah I mean Phil's a guy that can catch the ball and and I know he's a big guy but he's he's really good at making a first guy miss you know and so just another way to get him in some space and and where you don't have six seven guys trying to tackle him right in the Box is always probably a good thing for us so yeah I look forward to him you know certainly doing some things out of the back field and and getting in some space no doubt I mean there C certainly going to help and listen that room that room's got some depth right now for us going into spring and summer and approaching fall Camp I mean that's a that's a room from a depth perspective that's that's kind of looks totally different than a year ago I mean it really does and in terms of who you have in there and and experience and the amount of returners um you know that's that's going to be a really competitive room this fall camp and uh certainly Wesco and and TJ we're excited about saw some great flashes from Wesco in in the spring and and uh some of the things we've heard this summer on them have been great and as well TJ's just starting to get going uh but his skill set is certainly going to be a be a competitive um addition to that room for sure you backup situation Christi's your number two they code number two how how y going into that yeah they're still going to have to battle here in Fall Camp um you know those those two guys guys flashed in Spring um Trent had a few less practices due to a little injury there at the beginning of Spring so uh those guys are going to have to battle through it and fall Camp no question what did you see out of in the spring that allowed him to move up that ladder well he's just a guy that can that can function and execute at at a pretty high level and um you know that's that's due to his his intelligence and his decisiveness and he's just got a little bit of the the game G to him and kind of has some of that Moxy but um you know certainly excited about him as well as CV what kind of growth you practice practice uh I mean I would say the biggest thing is I just feel like you can put a little bit more on his plate he really understands he's not just saying yes sir I understand he he actually gets it and uh you know I I I just think it's continuing to slow down for a and you see him even in his movements he's such a Twitchy kind of hyperactive guy I mean even in some of just those uh mannerisms and demeanor on the field Within the play you just start to see him calm down like going through some failure having to take some criticism and all that I think that's kind of part of him in a way him maybe I mean going through some tough things is always the best teacher of of how to get better you know I mean for us as coaches and certainly as players so um he's he's someone that's mindful um of when he's got to be better and he's certainly not going to shy away from it so yeah I'm I'm I'm proud of him that way for sure think can yeah um you know Keith Adams flashed quite a bit for us this spring and um you know he's he's he's the Hammerhead and uh he's he's a tough guy to tackle you got to make a business decision if you're coming downhill to tackle him so he's got a skill set that's certainly going to help us um you know Jarvis Green was also someone that flashed I thought quite a bit in our second half of spring so I was proud of the way he finished and uh really kind of emerged there late then Jay Haynes I mean Jay Haynes is the Wild Card he's he's a he's he's um a guy that has a lot of burst and a lot of change of pace to him so you know just looking to to see him this as well G you talk about K growing from some of the struggles early on the season was last the first couple months was that also instructive to you you know you're still a young guy in this business in just knowing okay you know these are the buttons I I can now push and you've got this in your toolbox going forward into this season yeah I mean every season's different every you know this is year whatever 13 I think for me already and every every season has been totally different so yeah you're always going to have some different things that happen and and uh yeah hopefully some of that experience from last year will pay off for all of us how comfortable are say it again it's right yeah I mean those guys are battling and graded out well for us in the spring um was dependable so I I like that competition quite a bit as we go into fall Camp I think that's certainly going to be one to watch but I'm excited to watch those guys and and really see how they came out of Summer um you know I'm really really uh anticipating seeing those guys y specific white outs in the offense this year that if you seen take a big step and grow a lot in the off seon um I mean just through what we've heard I like I think Antonio I mean I've seen him just around the building I mean just physically looks different to me um I think he's done a a really really good job this summer just trying to transform his body more so than maybe he has and um obviously I thought he had a a tremendous spring I really did and U so obviously excited about him but um Cole Turner you have another one you you almost forget about but the guy can he's probably the fastest guy on our team um one of them and uh you know certainly excited to get him back and know he's healthy and physically looks good and all those things so you know just off top of my head just kind of transforming their body like those are two that stick out between Wesco and TJ Moore how quickly can those guys push for playing time obviously both very highly rated appr got in here pretty early could you see them get time in year one oh yeah yeah no question I mean like I said that's going to be a a very competitive room and um you know look for those guys to to have certain roles and see what they can handle and and actually playing in real games and seeing how they handle that but uh yeah I certainly know and think that they can um help us this fall for sure coach with the new college football game coming out did you play when it used to be out and what do you think about it coming back yeah I'm excited it's back um I certainly played when I was younger um something was wrong with you if you didn't play college football EA Sports back then I think um but yeah I think uh I think all of our guys are obviously excited yep you think about the opportunity now back when was the old game no names just the numbers you have to figure out who Timbo was and stuff like that what do you think about the opportunity the guys have now to actually get paid with the nil and be the game yeah I think it's fantastic I I really do I think to to to be able to number one just see your name on The Jersey and all those things is really cool as a as a player and as a fan and uh and just being able to to kind of capitalize on it on it financially I think it's a great thing for him does to I mean I don't know about all that I just think he needs to to be the best he can be and all that stuff kind of take care of itself if if kade's the best that he can be then we're going to be in great shape you've already been asked this back and forth how have you seen Kate grow in your two in your offense yeah just everything's slowing down and what he can handle uh mentally and just kind of the calmness the the demeanor that he has that's probably the thing that sticks out the uh last time you coached against Georgia didn't go great the last time Clemson played against Georgia didn't go great how much do you guys use that as a motivational tool through camp or is it you not trying to worry about who's number one on the calendar I mean they're they're first on our schedule I mean we obviously they've been on a incredible run um great team and um you know we we know we got a huge challenge in front of us but looking forward to it but yeah in terms of past past stuff for me for Clemson I'm not looking at that too much but I know I know our guys will be motivated I know coach Sweeny will will get him fired up for sure anything Chang in the preparations going into game one from yeah I mean there there will probably be some tweaks here and there but in terms of something major drastically different probably not um just trying to take a great approach and and have our best players ready and available and fresh and fast and and uh you know from a game plan standpoint just something that we're really confident in and from there we got to go do it we got to go executed guess in terms of the offensive line when you go back and watch last year the offensive line I guess were there any particular areas you felt like if we can improve here we can take a big step what would that be yeah I think same thing um you know really is the quarterback position is is the things that we can truly control we've got to minimize some of the bad plays collectively up front and um you know whether that's pass protection and the Run game whatever it may be um so I think if we can do that if we can minimize those up front just some of the mental mental things that happened or just just uh just a bu here and there whatever it may be if we do that I think we'll really improve because we got a core group of guys that have played now I know we're going to be um you know stronger and more physical and those things as we're more mature we're older um you know so those things are going to come for us and that's what we expect but I think if we can handle those things uh especially early on in the season I think we'll we'll be able to take a pretty big step forward Workforce style running back back in Phil mafa I'm sure that's someone other defenses are going to try to Circle is how does that help open up the offense specifically for a tight end like Jake rest of the tight end yeah it absolutely does I mean you're you're going to create some one-on-one matchups and if you feel like you've got an advantage then you feel like you got the upper hand a little bit with some of those things but yeah I mean th those that tight end group is is is going to be exciting to watch and um you know Jake's a guy that obviously we expect big things from thought he had a really good season last year and and it's got a lot of moment momentum coming into this season he's confident um you know but really the rest of the guys too Josh saf was someone that kind of emerged and made some big plays for us um especially in the second half of the Season you know so look for him to to certainly help us as well as uh Olsen and um you know we got Marcus Dixon we've got Banks Pope kind of helped us a lot in the back half of the season so that's a group that's going to be important for us um you know with our versatility with what we do in the Run game and the passing game how much more subtle do you just yourself feel having been here for a year and a half now kind of do you feel like more like home put yeah I mean like I was telling someone ARA here just just the amount of time you've been here to to kind of really integrate yourself with with the staff and the amount of staff we have as we know we've got a big one and so I think just really connecting with a lot of those people and and just understand what our process is and and how we practice how we recruit um just all those things I mean certainly more comfortable with as I've been here now over a year you favorite places CER favorite places um well I mean definitely the lake I mean you got to go to the lake um you know what I've I've been uh I'm a roller mills guy I mean foodwise I'm kind of a roller M guy um so yeah I mean we we've love bouncing around love getting down Town kids love it um so yeah we've had a great time here Tyler Brown emerged out of the wide receiver room last year how have you seen him grow the season yeah so Tyler Tyler is a guy what what's incredible about him is obviously he's skilled but mentally he can just handle things you know and and that's what I've been impressed with uh with him since day one and I certainly think now he's going to take that to another step now that he's played and and same thing for him now that he's been in this offense for a year so really look for him to to certainly improve um from year one to year two even though he had a good year one he's got a he's got to take another big step here in year two you talking about Antonio Williams earlier more of an outside guy now having Tyler I think Troy like where do you see him yeah we've got we've got some versatility you know we feel like and and got got several guys that we feel like can play inside or outside and ultimately you're just trying to get your best four out there and that's including a tight end so whoever our best four are um you know those guys are going to play quite a bit and then the way we play and you just look at last season the amount of plays we have in one game is quite a bit and so you're going to need six to eight guys that play a lot that rotate at those receiver and tight end positions in order for you to stay fresh during the game and for the longevity of the season so you know we're going to need a lot of those guys to play quite a bit but yeah Antonio Troy um several of those guys are going to be able to kind of do both for us you're a intro pressor you talked about wanted to become a head coach someday I guess how was working with de the last year and a half what have you learned along that specific track just a lot of organizational things and and obviously the program and just the the way he carries himself and and you know how consistent he is every single day you know those are things that certainly stick out but it's been uh it's definitely been a joy to to just be a sponge you know and and be around him as well as a lot of the other staff that have been in in a long time it's been great in terms of your career trajectory I mean do you feel settled here like you're here and in the next thing might be the head coaching gig or how do you think about your future personally I know when you came here that was part of your yeah you have long-term goals and and try to set out some things for yourself and and your professional career and in life but I I'm definitely one of those that man wherever I'm at I'm there and if something happens you know we'll see but I'm certainly happy with where I'm at all right all right guys appreciate it