Clemson Football: Tiger Defense stepped up in Syracuse

Both defenses had a good day in Syracuse, New York Saturday when Clemson Football defeated the Orange 31-14.

Neither offense was completely shut down. Syracuse mounted a solid drive of eight plays and 75 yards behind the arm of Garrett Shrader and the hands of Dan Villari (who converted to tight end from quarterback) that finished with a touchdown.

The Orange’s other touchdown came off a Clemson fumble, which gave them a short field. It was for 42 yards total.

This is the results of the rest of Syracuse’s offensive possessions:

• 4 plays, 11 yards, fumble
• 3 plays, -6 yards, punt
• 1 play, 0 yards, fumble
• 3 plays, 5 yards, punt
• 9 plays, 49 yards, missed field goal
• 3 plays, 5 yards, punt
• 6 plays, 14 yards, punt
• 3 plays, 4 yards. Punt
• 6 plays, 8 yards, punt
• 3 plays, 12 yards, interception
• 7 plays, 25 yards, turnover on downs
• 5 plays, 27 yards, end of the game

On the day, Clemson’s defense allowed only one drive of over 50 yards, and only three over 30 yards.

Syracuse’s defense wasn’t shabby. Clemson had five drives over fifty yards and scored on all but one of them. One was a missed field goal, and the other was a turnover on downs when the Orange sacked Cade Klubnik on 4th down.

Clemson Football played great defense Saturday, and Syracuse’s was good too

This is the results of the rest of Clemson’s offensive possessions:

• 3 plays, 5 yards, punt
• 2 plays, 3 yards, touchdown (this was after Xavier Thomas’s fumble return, short field)
• 8 plays, 16 yards, punt
• 3 plays, 3 yards, punt
• 5 plays, 35 yards, fumble
• 7 plays, 32 yards, punt
• 1 play, 32 yards, touchdown (Phil Mafah’s run following the Jeremiah Trotter interception, short field)
• 3 plays, 4 yards, turnover on downs

Clemson’s offense clearly had more success than Syracuse’s offense, but there were still six possessions by the Tigers that were stalled by the Orange’s defense.

The Orange did a particularly good job on run defense. Like many opponents, Syracuse keyed in on the run game and dared Klubnik to beat them with his arm, which he was able to do Saturday. If we see more performances like that, then defenses will be less likely to approach Clemson as a one-dimensional attack.