Why Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney is OK opener wasn't 'perfect'

ATLANTA – The way it unfolded wasn’t aesthetically pleasing, but that’s how season-opening football games are more often than not.

There were mistakes, miscommunications and a fumble, but by night’s end in the remarkably modernistic confines of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Clemson football had done enough right to emerge with a 41-10 victory against Georgia Tech.

That represented a vast improvement over last year’s 14-8 nail-biter in Death Valley but still left something to be desired.

“I thought for the most part, outside of a few spots here or there, we played pretty clean for the opener,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “It this was midseason, it would be a little disappointing.

“The run game is definitely an area we can improve. There are a lot of things we can clean up.”

With Furman and Louisiana Tech next up on Clemson’s schedule, there may be ample opportunity for some fine-tuning and “cleaning up” before Wake Forest and NC State reappear on the schedule.

Given the Tigers' weird Labor Day opener, Swinney said he’s watched a lot of football since last week and contends the extended viewing served him well. He gleaned plenty of reminders on what to do and what not to do as well as the importance of special teams while watching games such as NC State vs. East Carolina, Appalachian State vs. North Carolina and Florida State vs. LSU.

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“It was like Coaching 101 the last five days,” Swinney said. “Saw a lot of special teams stuff and sloppy play. I don’t know if I’ve ever watched so much football.”

Special teams came into play in a big way Monday. The Tigers blocked two Georgia Tech punts, both of which resulted in short touchdown runs by Will Shipley.

The offense, which struggled mightily in the first half, came to life in the second, almost as if the unit was waiting to be pushed into a tight spot. Perhaps quarterback DJ Uiagalelei just needed a little pressure cooking to get warmed up; he responded with a solid second half, and the offense posted 27 points.

“When it was 14-10, you could feel a little tension,” Swinney said. “I’m really proud of how we responded, and I thought we wore them down in the fourth quarter.

“I just love how DJ responded and did some things tonight we needed to see. It was probably best-case scenario that it all didn’t go perfect.”

No matter how you slice it, 1-0 is a perfect start, and that had KJ Henry flashing his moves late into the Labor Day night.

“Every win, I’m dancing my tail off,” said Henry, who prompted his celebration by making six tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss including a sack, and forcing a fumble. “That’s what I was doing. I was going crazy in there. You should have seen it.”

Swinney certainly did. He was probably dancing, too.

For weeks he’s been goading his team to “win the opener,” which is step one for where he wants this team to end up.

“Every championship team I’ve had, we’ve won the opener,” Swinney said. “It was a good start for us, but good teams keep getting better. That’s what we have to do.”