“Always room to improve”: Kylon Griffin on LSU, Team Mindset, and Ronan Hanafin's Play
Clemson safety Kylon Griffin met with the media this week to discuss the Tigers’ defensive performance against LSU, the team’s mindset moving forward, and the impressive play of former wide receiver turned safety Ronan Hanafin.
The following is an edited transcript from Griffin’s time with the media.
Q: After watching the tape, how did you feel the defense performed against LSU?
Griffin: “I feel like we performed great, man. I really feel like we rose to the occasion. There’s always more room to improve, always room to improve. But I feel like overall, we did what we expected to do throughout the season, not just for that game.”
Q: What was the vibe in the locker room after the game?
Griffin: “I mean, there’s some disappointment because nobody ever wants to lose. But I think we all did have confirmation on what we were capable of. So I think that’s an uplifting thing for the team, that we shouldn’t be down about this. We should just get better and go to the next game.”
Q: What was it like having Coach Allen coaching from the box?
Griffin: “No, it’s not really different. I don’t really… I mean, I’m looking at the sync and the formation of the play and trying to communicate with teammates. It’s not really that big of a difference, honestly.”
Q: How did the defense do in communicating with one another during the game?
Griffin: “I mean, it was a challenge. You know, it does get loud on the field. But I think, for the most part, we did well, because we worked communication, hand signals on the field, just in case teammates can’t hear you. I think we did really good, though. But there were some challenges.”
Q: When you look back at the film, what were some things you noticed that the defense can build on?
Griffin: “I think there are a bunch of areas that we got better at from last year. I think tackling is the main thing — from the spring all the way to now. I think that is continuing to improve. Communication, that’s another thing. Effort. I think we’ve grown in a bunch of areas.”
Q: How do you go about flushing a result like that and preparing for the next game?
Griffin: “Well, you focus on this week. This week is game week as well. So the same preparation that went into last week, you put that same preparation into this week. And just don’t worry about it. You learn from the mistakes that you made, but don’t worry about it. You focus on that. You’re not going to complete what you’ve got to complete this week.”
Q: Does having a new opponent help the mindset?
Griffin: “No, it’s not easy to do at all. You have to have a real strong mindset, honestly. And that’s what Coach Swinney trains our minds to think, preps us up to have a strong mind. So it’s not easy by any means, but it’s capable. And a lot of us are able to do it.”
Q: Were you surprised by Ronan Hanafin’s performance?
Griffin: “I didn’t see anything that I thought I wouldn’t see. He played really good, and there was never any doubt in my mind that he wouldn’t play good. I think he’s a really good player, strong tackler, knows what to do. He can really fly around. It’s good to see that. It’s good to get confirmation from him as well. He knows what he’s doing.”
Q: How rare is it for someone like Ronan to switch positions and find success so quickly?
Griffin: “Pretty rare, man. Honestly, I don’t know his background, how he was in high school. So I don’t know if this is his first time at a new position at safety. But honestly, you wouldn’t know if he did or didn’t play in high school. He did really good, and I’m really proud of him. I told him that. I’m really proud of him. I don’t see nothing but improvement from here.”
