I’ve been really down on the defense, especially since the GT game. I said this about last year’s defense and I’ll say it about this year’s: they’re good, but they’re not good enough.
In the GT game, the defense allowed 4 touchdowns, “forced” 4 field goals, and produced only one real stop. Not a great performance by the defense. Clemson lost by 5 pts.
However, on the other side of the ball, look at the missed opportunities. One field goal was missed and there were two interceptions. It was a one possession game and Clemson threw away three possessions.
I was even upset with the defense after the USCe game. Looking back at the stats, especially after the ACCCG, the D’s play looked great by comparison. Yes they gave up 4 touchdowns and 2 field goals. But they also made an interception, recovered a fumble, and forced 3 punts.
It was the offense that blew that game. Jamie Harper fumbled on the first drive, foreshadowing that this game was going to turn out about like the ’08 ‘Bama game. What followed was this sequence: interception, punt, punt, fumble, punt, punt, punt, punt, field goal, turnover-on-downs, turnover-on-downs. Say that list out loud and you force yourself to realize how bad it was.
- interception
- punt
- punt
- fumble
- punt
- punt
- punt
- punt
- field goal
- turnover on downs
- turnover on downs
To further emphasize how pathetically the offense performed, note that 4 of those punts were on 3-and-outs. The 2nd fumble was on a 3-play drive. In total, the offense produced 260 yards, only 48 of which were on the ground.
The defense wasn’t good enough. And they got gashed for a lot of a yards. But there are few defenses anywhere who will look good when the offense can’t stay on the field.