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CLEMSON, S.C. -- When Clemson came back from its national championship loss to Alabama, coach Dabo Swinney showed his Tigers a handful of plays that could have changed the result.And none of them, Swinney said, were in special teams.Most remember that Clemsons fortunes in the 45-40 loss to the Crimson Tide turned on two special team plays -- a dramatic onside kick in a tie game and Kenyan Drakes kickoff return touchdown soon after that gave Alabama an 11-point lead the Tigers could not overcome.Swinney says his team will shore up special teams areas. More troubling were the mental busts that led Alabama tight end O.J. Howard to two, long touchdowns -- little mistakes, Swinney said, with big consequences.Swinney wants his team prepared should that national championship chance come around again.I think for the past several years weve been good enough and I think were good enough again this year, Swinney said. But every year is a grind. There are no free passes.The Tigers have an offense, led by top Heisman Trophy hopeful Deshaun Watson, that could render any defensive questions -- Clemson lost eight starters from last year -- moot. Watson became the first Bowl Subdivision player to throw for more than 4,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000. More so than his ability is the juniors poise and knack for making the right decision.Watson has added about 16 pounds (hes 218) since January and says he is just as fast and nimble. I think it makes me better, Watson said.Watsons hardest choices this fall might be wondering where to go with the football. Also back are tailback Wayne Gallman, who set Clemsons single-season rushing mark last year; tight end Jordan Leggett, who had 40 catches and eight touchdowns; and Mike Williams, the 1,000-yard receiver who missed most of last season with a neck injury.For Watson, its about achieving the goal the team fell short of last season.We want to do everything we can and as top-notch as we can, Watson said. We want to finish the drill.Other things to watch this season:DEFENSIVE ISSUESClemson lost two starting defensive ends, two starting safeties and a starting cornerback as early entrants to the NFL draft. Sound hard to replace? Perhaps not. Sophomore defensive linemen Christian Wilkins and Austin Bryant are primed to fill roles left by Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd. Cordrea Tankersley is the lone holdover in a secondary where the Tigers have stockpiled talented prospects the past three seasons. Ben Boulware should take over the linebacker role left by last years top tackler, B.J. Goodson.And there are few better in the game at drawing out the best than defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who reshaped last years defense after losing all four defensive linemen from 2014.KEY GAMESThe Tigers will get a test right out of the blocks when they open at Auburn on Sept. 3. The ACC Atlantic and probably the league title should get decided at Florida State on Oct. 29. It seems unlikely Clemson will be pushed by anyone else on its schedule.SEASON OPENERClemson starts at Auburn, where it last played in 2010 and dropped an overtime game to the eventual national champions and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. This time, its Clemson that is loaded.PREDICTIONIts hard to envision, after a close win in Tallahassee, Florida, not going 12-0 and rolling back into the College Football Playoff.Alan Trammell Jersey . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Billy Rogell Jersey . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Harvey Kuenn Jersey . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. Mickey Lolich Jersey . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda.Aberdeens move for Greg Tansey has collapsed despite the Dons meeting the Inverness midfielders release clause.The 27-year-old was part of the Inverness side that won the clubs first ever trophy when they lifted the Scottish Cup last season but talks over the proposed move to Pittodrie broke down on Monday night.Tansey started his career at Stockport before moving to Inverness for his first spell in the Highlands in 2011 but only spent a year at the club before a move to Stevenage. However, he returned to the Caledonian Stadium in 2014 and scored a semi-final penalty against Celtic on their way to a maiden Scottish Cup win.Aberdeen added Rotherham goalkeeper Adam Collin on loan until the end of the season earlier in the window affter Liverpool recalled Danny Ward.dddddddddddd Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes However, Derek McInnes had been hoping to bolster his squad after Paul Quinn returned to Ross County last week.Watch Aberdeen v Celtic live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm on Wednesday, February 3, or watch without a contract on NOW TVAlso See:Transfer CentreLatest transfer newsTransfer bettingPaper Talk