Syracuse center Macky MacPherson said he’s watched the Clemson-North Carolina State game four times in preparation for the Orange hosting the third-ranked Tigers on Saturday.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however, may not be as familiar with the Syracuse offense.

When asked which Syracuse skilled player stuck out to Swinney on film during Wednesday’s Atlantic Coast Conference coaches’ teleconference, he knew the number, but not the name.

“That running back,” Swinney said. “No. 45, he’s a load.”

“Jerome?” the reporter responded.

“Yeah,” Swinney said. “Smith, I believe, is his last name.”

Swinney answered a handful of questions about the Orange’s personnel. He touched on Smith’s role as a wear-and-tear type back with Prince-Tyson Gulley (“No. 23”) serving as “the change-up guy,” before moving on to SU’s “emerging” quarterback situation.

“The quarterback situation is still, I think, emerging for them,” Swinney said, “but No. 10, who’s kind of taken over the reins now, looks like he’s brought a confidence and a spark to them.”

Swinney said he was aware of the success the Orange defense has had with blitzing in the last two games. SU logged five total sacks against Wagner and Tulane after struggling in that area against Northwestern in Week 2.

“If you can handle that well, then it puts the secondary in a bind because they have to win matchups,” Swinney said, “but that’s easier said than done. They do a great job with their blitz package.”

Published on October 2, 2013 at 8:35 pm

Contact Stephen: [email protected] | @Stephen_Bailey1