Dabo Swinney talks about preparing for uncertainty in the opener against Auburn
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Auburn fans aren’t the only ones waiting around to find out which quarterback will be starting in the Sept. 3 opener against Clemson. Whether head coach Gus Malzahn already has the answer or not, don’t expect him to spill the beans any time soon after hearing Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney discuss the challenges of preparing for the game.
Without a doubt, Clemson will enter the game as a heavy favorite. The ACC’s Tigers will also most assuredly have the best quarterback on the field in 2015 Heisman finalist Deshaun Watson. However Auburn’s uncertainty on offense, most notably under center, can be an advantage, too.
Swinney recently discussed the challenges of preparing for a team without knowing what to expect with Duane Rankin of the Montgomery Advertiser.
“I expect to see at least two play (quarterbacks) at that position,” Swinney said. “We’ll probably see two or three running backs. There are a lot of unknowns in preparing for them and there are some for them too because we’ve got some new players as well. It’s really difficult for us, but we just have to really focus on what we do.”
There’s always a chance Malzahn pulls a late rabbit out of his hat that completely throws Clemson’s preparations out the window. Considering that’s still on the table, Auburn would be wise to keep all its cards as close to the vest as possible before the 8 p.m. CT kickoff at Jordan-Hare come Sept. 3.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
