2019 Clemson Football Positional Grades: Defensive Backs
Today we continue our final grades on each position for Clemson football in 2018. Let’s take a look at the defensive backfield for the Tigers.
Throughout this week, we’ve taken a look at each Clemson football position and given you our final grades for that position.
The Tigers finished the 2018 season with a perfect 15-0 record that included a win over Alabama in the National Championship game, as well as Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff. Clemson also picked up its fourth-straight ACC Championship earlier in December with a win over Pittsburgh in Charlotte.
Today, we take a look at the Clemson football defensive backfield as we continue our series on grades for 2018.
Defensive Backs Report Card:
Let’s start off with the bad first.
The defensive backfield was about as inconsistent as it has been in a long time throughout the 2018 season.
The Tigers were carved up in the secondary by Kellen Mond of Texas A&M and Jake Bentley of South Carolina- two average quarterbacks at best.
At times, the secondary just didn’t defend well especially over the middle. Because of Clemson’s system, the safeties- Tanner Muse, K’Von Wallace- were placed in one-on-one coverage at times and just got burned.
While the middle of the defense in pass-coverage was a bit weak at times, the corners were very solid all season. Trayvon Mullen and AJ Terrell played well, in my opinion. At times, teams would test Terrell and he may would give up a quick slant or moderate post pattern, but for the most part they both held their ground.
Typically, teams stayed away from throwing the ball to Mullen’s side of the field.
The good in this defensive backfield, though, is the way they stepped up in the postseason. After the first quarter of the Notre Dame game, this unit locked in and covered really well. The same can be said in their performance against Alabama where there was one major bust in coverage early, but they also forced two interceptions- one a pick-six.
Next. 2019 schedule sets up chance for title defense. dark
Overall, I think we all can agree that this group wasn’t the best it’s ever been, but I also think we can agree that they stepped up when it mattered and were a major part of that National Championship run.
They probably deserve a C, but in school big exams count more. So, in College Football, the playoff counts more.
Defensive Backs Grade: B-