Clemson Defenders Upset About Not Getting Shutout
What is one way to show how dominant your defense can be?
A shutout.
This Clemson defense has displayed its dominance by pitching a shutout a couple of times in recent memory.
Three times last year Clemson was able to hold its opponent to zero points. South Carolina State, Syracuse and who could forget the playoff semifinal game against Ohio State?
The 2017 defense wants to live up to that dominant standard that past Clemson defenses have set. So far, they look the part, but the players will tell you that when they have a chance for a shutout, they want to get the job done.
After the third quarter, Clemson was beating Wake Forest 28-0, and the Tigers were sniffing that shutout.
Clemson put in their second and third-string defenders in the game the rest of the way. Granted, Clemson’s depth makes their reserves seem like natural starters, but there is still a little bit of a drop-off.
With 8:32 seconds left, Wake Forest ended Clemson’s hope for a shutout with a 16-yard touchdown.
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables didn’t mind Wake Forest scoring. He just wanted his defense to play well, which he thought that they did.
“I never really think that way,” Venables said when asked if he was frustrated that his defense couldn’t get the shutout. “I’m just looking if we are playing well. Sometimes, you play well, and they still score anyway. I was proud of our guys.”
Venables said that it was good for his younger guys to get more experience because that will matter down the stretch. There were only a couple plays that he would have liked to have back.
“The wheel route and the fourth-and-goal touchdown was another bust. Those are the plays that you get a little disgruntled about.”
Some members of Clemson’s starting defense were a little salty that the other units weren’t able to keep Wake Forest out of the end zone.
Austin Bryant said he was a little mad about the touchdowns Clemson gave up. Dorian O’Daniel addressed the media with a smile on his face and spoke highly of his team’s performance. When asked if he was disappointed that the reserves couldn’t get the shutout like Bryant was, he said the same thing.
“I was mad too. We haven’t had a shutout this year, and we had an opportunity. To see it slip away over something dumb or just a bonehead play by some coverage, it’s disappointing. If a team scores on a competitive play, then so be it. To give charity away, we don’t like that on defense.”
Christian Wilkins echoed O’Daniel’s comments.
“We play to a standard. It doesn’t matter who gets in. You got a job to get done,” Wilkins said. “As we go through the season and they want more playing time, we need to preach to those younger guys that they have to play like they are the starters. We are counting on everybody. We have to do a better job as leaders.”
Clemson’s defense again is one of the top 5 units in the country. They allow an average of just less than 100 yards rushing and only allow 11 points per game.
With all their accomplishments so far, a shutout is still something that has escaped them, and you can tell they want it.
It’s fun to watch this defense continue to play with a chip on its shoulder even with how dominant they have been. They unquestionably believe they can get better.
After all, it's their standard.
What was Venables’ reaction to hearing that his players were mad about not getting the shutout?
“Good.”