Woodaz: Clemson defense 'frustrated' after being 'ripped' about Red Zone
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Cornerback, Toriano Pride, and linebacker, Wade Woodaz, caught up with the media last Monday. Watch the full videos or take in a few notes on what was discussed in Tiger Town.
Toriano Pride
On hearing he was going to start: “The bus ride, I was already prepared really, I was just waiting for my moment. I didn’t hear that I was gonna be starting until I was in the locker room, when Coach Reed came up. I kinda got the idea though because Sheridan was dealing with some head issues at the Tiger Walk.”
On his personal growth: “I've seen myself grow a lot from last year, specifically that game. The main thing I would probably say is confidence. Just throughout the whole season last year– my confidence is on another level right now. I am more confident when I step up, when I play press, when I play off. I think that really comes from just practicing, working out, doing what I do over the summer and the off-season and just staying consistent.”
On his performance Saturday: “It felt good. It felt like I wasn’t really surprised with my performance because I know what I can do and I know what type of athlete I am, just after that game, I was just really happy. I just got to be me and just play and do what I do and do what I can do to help the team win.”
Wade Woodaz
On the Wake Forest game: “I just think it was a mentality. The defense, we have kinda been getting frustrated with Coach Swinney, always ripping us for letting up red zone touchdowns. So we knew when they got in the red zone that it was time to bow up and we’re not letting them score. And when we turned the ball over, and they started like first and goal, we knew that we had to stop them right here. And that just carried on for the entire game.”
On personal growth: “I feel like I have made pretty good strides. Me and Tristan Leigh, over the summer, we would go in and work on stuff. He would give me pointers, I would give him pointers. But one reason I think I have gotten better is because I have gotten a lot bigger and stronger. I can use my hands now effectively and maneuver around. I just like being in the backfield and making stuff happen in the backfield.”
On defensive growth: “I think it goes all the way back to spring ball. We have been in before meetings, just the players, watching tape and talking through things so that we are all on the same page and so it carries over to the field. We are communicating a lot more in practice and that is one of Coach Wes’ big ideas, to communicate, talk on the field and we’ve ramped it up. We talk a lot more and we are all on the same page and if you are all wrong, you are right so if we’re all on the same page, then we’re good.”