Takeaways, Not Turnovers: Tom Allen’s Mindset Shift for Clemson
Clemson's defense has a new leader, and if early impressions are any indication, Tom Allen is bringing an intensity that demands attention. Senior linebacker Wade Woodaz got his first real taste of Allen’s coaching style this offseason, and it didn’t take long for him to buy in.
“I love it,” Woodaz said when asked about the new dynamic with Allen and the other defensive voices, including linebackers coach Ben Boulware and defensive analyst Thomas Allen. “The intensity is, like, what I've dreamed of, I would say. It’s kind of weird. I love the barking, because it helps me get fired up, too. I want to go punch a wall. Just listening to Coach Allen come into a room, it just fires me up.”
That presence is unmistakable. The former Penn State defensive coordinator and Indiana head coach, now in charge of Clemson’s defense, has a way of commanding a room. And according to Woodaz, it’s impossible to ignore.
“Crickets,” he said, describing the effect Allen has when he enters. “Everybody in the room is paying attention. He gets your attention for sure. A lot of pacing, too. He paces a lot. So everybody's like this, watching the ping-pong match. But, yeah, he commands the room for sure.”
For those familiar with Clemson’s defensive past, the comparison was inevitable. Brent Venables left a lasting mark as a hoarse, fiery, high-energy coordinator before taking the head coaching job at Oklahoma. Woodaz never played for Venables but was recruited by him, and he sees similarities.
“Stories of what I've heard of Coach V,” Woodaz said. “Coach Venables recruited me, so I never, like, got to experience him as a coach. But, yeah, Coach V.”
Allen’s intensity isn’t just about words or even pacing the room. He’s not afraid to get involved physically. Woodaz recalled a moment in practice that had players looking around in disbelief.
“Yeah, I think he tackled Corian Gipson today,” Woodaz said, referring to the freshman defensive back. “He had, like, a big PBU, and [Allen] ran up and tackled Corian. Corian was like, ‘What just happened? Who did I get hit by?’”
Beyond the fire, Woodaz appreciates Allen’s authenticity. “He’s just a real genuine dude. I'm excited to play for him, for sure.”
One of Allen’s first messages to the defense was about changing how they think about turnovers—or rather, takeaways. As Coach Allen says, he doesn't like the term: turnover.
“Did I say turnover? If I did, sorry, Coach,” Woodaz laughed. “But, yeah, takeaways. I like it for sure because they're not trying to give us the ball. That’s what a turnover is—they turned the ball over. Like, no, they didn’t. We made a play. It’s a takeaway.”
If Allen’s intensity is what gets players’ blood pumping, his emphasis on fundamentals is what will determine success. Stopping the run was a point of frustration late last season, and it’s clear that Allen is making it a top priority.
“Attention to detail,” Woodaz said when asked how Clemson’s run defense can improve. “That's something that's preached in winter workouts. I mean, at the end of the day, football's a simple game. Get the ball carrier on the ground and by any means necessary. So it comes down to gap discipline and tackling. We got to tackle better and stay in our gaps, and that comes down to paying attention and knowing what to do.”
And that message from Allen? It was delivered from day one.
“Yeah. I think that was the first thing he said,” Woodaz said. “He said, ‘We're going to give great effort, and we're going to stop the run.’”
If Clemson’s defense adopts Allen’s mindset the way Woodaz has, the Tigers might just be on their way to reclaiming their reputation as one of the nation’s toughest defenses.