Clemson Football: What specialized packages could the defense run?
Last week against Syracuse, we saw Clemson football run an interesting 3-man down set at the end of the game. What other packages could the Tigers run?
It’s not very often that a defense has enough talent to mix-and-match personnel just for the fun of doing so, but Clemson football can.
You see offenses a lot of times be able to get several play-makers on the field in various ways, but there aren’t many specialized packages with defenses.
The Tigers have that luxury in the front-seven, though, with the talent that they have accumulated in both the defensive line and linebacker positions.
Here are a couple of packages the Tigers could run to create havoc in the backfield of opposing offenses.
Clemson Football Defense Packages:
Indy Package…
Look, the first package is one that we saw Brent Venables dial up at the end of the Syracuse game. I absolutely loved the package with Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins and Austin Bryant on the line with Xavier Thomas lining up in a two-point stance.
This is something that should absolutely terrify opposing offenses. When you have that many pass-rushers on the field, it’s nearly impossible to keep them from getting to the quarterback.
5-2 package?
What about a big, jumbo set in perhaps a goal line situation?
I’d love to see a package with Bryant and Ferrell on the ends and Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence and Albert Huggins in the trenches. That would be a nightmare for the interior linemen and would force the offense to go outside with the football.
Thomas as a linebacker…
What if you stuck with the same four-down basic package and put Xavier Thomas in as a linebacker? You’d switch Kendall Joseph to middle linebacker and keep Isaiah Simmons in at the other slot. Thomas would be a threat to be an extra pass-rusher, but could also drop back in pass-coverage and, in my opinion, do a decent job.
We probably see those two this season, but it’s certainly fun to dream about all the different looks Clemson football could force an offense to have to prepare for.