Defense's Message: Dominate

The Clemson defense has lived up to their reputation of previous years through the first six games. However, after the defense gave a three-play touchdown on the first series of the North Carolina game, and a two-minute touchdown to draw within one-point in the same game, the Tiger defense has had two weeks to stew about their last performance.

CLEMSON—The Clemson defense has lived up to their reputation of previous years through the first six games. However, after the defense gave a three-play touchdown on the first series of the North Carolina game, and a two-minute touchdown to draw within one-point in the same game, the Tiger defense has had two weeks to stew about their last performance.

"We just all had a completely different focus, just with a bye week and this week to prepare," safety Isaiah Simmons said. "Everybody was really just... I guess we got a wake-up call that it's time to...We really need to straighten up, because it seemed like Florida State, they had more than enough time to beat us. We knew we wouldn't be able to make those mistakes we made last game and come out with the win in this situation."

That stewing led to a singular focus in the Tigers' 44-14 win over Florida State Saturday: Dominate.

"Dominate. Even it out today," safety Isaiah Simmons said. "We're trying to open up our stride now, really just progress into the season. We felt like we took a step back last game. From here on out, we just want to build upon each week and get better and better as the season goes."

Even after their dominant performance Saturday, the Tigers fell for a second straight week in the AP Poll to No. 3.

But Simmons and the rest of the Tigers are not worried about the rankings because the only ranking that matters is the one at the end of the season.

"I don't really think it matter. That preseason ranking means absolutely nothing," Simmons said. "We got that based on last year's team. A lot of those people are gone. This is a whole completely new team now, so what ranking we get will be earned throughout this season."

While the Tigers have sent their first message to the college football world that they are fine and will be fine moving forward, the lessons learned from their near-loss to the Tar Heels has ensured they will not take another week, day or game off this season.

"Since I've been here, we've always had games like that where it's kind of eye-opening for us rather than if we lost, like to Pitt and Syracuse, or if it's a close game, like North Carolina and Syracuse last year," Simmons said. "It kind of helps us, I feel like, because it brings to reality that we're not perfect. Every team, you can't just go out there and slap them around, because they'll capitalize on your mistakes."