Yellow Jackets have had 'No Option' to defeat Clemson

It’s no secret that Brent Venables has been successful defending the triple option. 

Clemson has won four of its last five against Georgia Tech since Venables stepped in as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2012.

Every time Venables’ defense has had to defend the option attack, they have looked more and more dominant against that particular scheme as each year passes.

The last two years have been the most impressive performances under Venables’ tenure. The Paul Johnson led offense was unable to get into a rhythm each of the past two meetings. 

The Yellow Jackets have averaged only 83 yards rushing per game against Clemson since 2015. In that 2015 matchup, Georgia Tech averaged 1.7 yards on 42 rushing attempts for 71 yards. 

And who could forget 2016? Last year Clemson ran the Yellow Jackets off the field in the first half. The Clemson defense only allowed total 22 yards on 21 plays faced in the first half.

When games not played against Clemson the last two years, Georgia Tech has averaged 272.5 yards per game on the ground. 

So what has been the secret to Venables’ success against this scheme? Not even he knew the answer to that question. 

“You just kind of go from one year to the next,” Venables said Tuesday afternoon.

“Some years we have had the advantages at certain positions from a matchup standpoint, and that always makes a big difference too. It’s not always your schemes. Schemes are a starting point, but ultimately the players got to go out and execute and finish for 60 minutes.”

Venables makes an excellent point. When you have talented athletes like Christian Wilkins and Clelin Ferrell on your defense and winning their matchups, life can be difficult for any coordinator trying to scheme them up. 

Even Paul Johnson.

All-American candidate Dorian O’Daniel has had his best performances against Georgia Tech. In his three career games against them, O’Daniel has 26 total tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks on 140 snaps. 

On Tuesday, Venables discussed what makes the Yellow Jackets' offense that is averaging 373 yards per game on the ground so good:

“They are able to manipulate a defense and create leverage and angles that are adventitious for them, and they do a really good job of getting their guys to play competitively really hard, and they are very patient in what they do.

“If they sense a weakness, whether it’s an alignment structurally or certainly a player, they are going to attack you until you bleed to death.”

You could probably say the same thing for how Venables’ defense has treated opponents in recent memory. Georgia Tech’s offense can make opponents bleed to death while Clemson’s defense can suffocate you.

Both teams are all too familiar with each other’s style.

In their loss to Syracuse, Clemson’s defense bled to death because of the Orange’s ability to convert a crucial third down after third down. Venables noted that Georgia Tech’s third-down offense is what can wear down opponents the most.

“I think they are their best when they get to third-and-one and we’re at our best when it is third-and-20. If they are able to stay on the field and keep the football, they are going to make you bleed to death. It doesn’t allow your offense to get into a rhythm. Getting stops against Georgia Tech to a certain degree is like getting a turnover.”

With the way Clemson’s offense has been stagnant the past few weeks, this matchup may come down to who bleeds out first: 

Paul Johnson’s offense or Brent Venables’ defense.