Clemson football is salivating for another shot at Notre Dame.
This has been a funky year for the Clemson football defense – one that defensive coordinator Brent Venables is not accustomed to. Yet, the perception could all change by 7:00 pm Saturday evening in Charlotte.
Anyone that follows Clemson football knew that the defense was going to be very young in 2020 and that there was going to be some growing pains. Those same people also knew that the defense was going to be very talented at the same time.
People outside the program thought Venables had lost his mojo after the Tigers defense gave up almost 400 yards to UVA, more than 500 yards to Ohio State, and more than 600 yards to LSU. Hell, Venables may have thought that as well.
Those doubts crept back in after the Tigers defense gave up 518 yards in a double-overtime loss to Notre Dame back in November.
What no one wanted to talk about was injuries for Clemson football and Venables defense.
Not once in 2020 has the originally listed defense taken a snap together on the field – literally not once. Venables has had to run more than 25 different starters out on defense throughout the year. Prior to 2020, the most he had ever had was 21.
That is a lot of youth and inexperience trying to play football at the highest level in college while also playing for the team with a big bullseye on both sides of the jersey.
Yet, despite all of that, the Clemson football defense has responded in a big way. While they are ranked 15th in scoring defense, they are Top 3 in tackles for loss, Top 5 in sacks, and seventh in total defense. The Tigers are 12th in rushing defense and 25th in passing defense.
Coach Venables has a gleam in his eye for the first time in 2020.
Clemson football has been practicing or playing for the last 20 weeks – that is a long time for anyone. For most of this season, Coach Venables has looked tired. He has spent the entire season racking his brain trying to figure out how to make his defense better and by the look on his face Monday, he seems to have found it.
If you pay attention, you have seen that look before. Venables had it prior to beating Alabama for the national title in 2018 – he knew his game plan was perfect and was it ever.
We haven’t seen it much this year – the only game that comes to mind is Miami and that was the week that the Tigers held the Hurricanes to just over 200 yards of offense.
You are lying to yourself as a Clemson football fan if you aren’t worried about Saturday night – the Tigers’ entire postseason hope rests on the outcome of Saturday night. Simply put, win and we are in, lose and we are unable to have a chance to play for a national title for the first time since 2014.
The gleam in Venables’s eye Monday night provided a sense of peace and there is no doubt that the Irish offense will see things that they have not seen from Clemson football in 2020. Make no mistake, the Irish will not come close to the 500 yards and 40 points they put up a month ago.