Protecting Trevor: Clemson coaches balance playing time, rest for Lawrence

Lawrence isn't afraid to run the football.CLEMSON – The injury to Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a cautionary tale.

Alabama was up big on Mississippi State as the first half came to a close last Saturday and no one would have blamed Nick Saban if he had taken his star quarterback out of the game. However, Saban wanted Tagovailoa to run the two-minute offense, and it was then that Tagovailoa suffered his season-ending injury.

Clemson has raced out to huge leads over the last six weeks, and the coaches have to balance their desire to get quarterback Trevor Lawrence needed work against the need to protect the franchise from a needless injury.

Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said once…