Venables Deserves a Ton of Credit, But Not All of It

Is there a better coach in America than Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables? While there are a ton of very worthy contenders the stats say no.

CLEMSON — Is there a better coach in America than Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables? While there are a ton of very worthy contenders the stats say no.

"The statistics say they are better, but we have a long way to go," head coach Dabo Swinney saidl. "We're giving up about 12 points a game, so we're a little ahead of where we were this time last year. On paper we're better. That bunch last year ... they were pretty special and they got better and better. Are we going to improve like last year's team? We won by a lot last Saturday, but we also made a lot of mistakes, so there is a lot of work to do. Our effort has overcome some things, but make no mistake we have to get better."

Clemson has held seven straight opponents below 300 yards of total offense and will attempt to hold an opponent below that mark in an eighth straight game for the first time since 1956.

By holding Louisville to 107 passing yards, Clemson held a fifth consecutive opponent below 200 passing yards for the first time since the final four games of the 2017 season and the 2018 season opener. During Clemson's current run of four consecutive College Football Playoff berths since 2015, Clemson has held opponents below 200 passing yards 40 times, second-most in the country, with a 39-1 record in those contests.

But according to Swinney, while Venables deserves a lot of the credit for the success of the defense, it is a whole team effort.

"Yeah, he's done an awesome job. Brent always does a good job, but it's the whole staff. I mean (Lemanski Hall) and Todd (Bates)," Swinney said. "Brent would be the first one to say man, what a great job those guys do. I mean, they do an awesome job. Brent, nobody works harder. Just an amazing preparer every week and he's just so passionate about it. 

"But man, our staff, it just is awesome. Mickey (Conn) and Ski and Todd and Brent, they work real ... And then our support group around them, their GA's, those guys do an awesome job in our game prep every single week to put a good plan together."

The college football world became well-acquainted and familiar with the faces that populated Clemson's 2018 defensive line. In addition to producing four picks in the first four rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft,

Clemson's 2018 defensive line featured some of the most gregarious names and faces in the sport in Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Austin Bryant. The average observer may not know the names and faces of Clemson's 2019 unit as well, but the unit has served notice of its arrival with an impressive start to the season.

While many in the college football world was concerned about whether the Tigers would maintain their dominant form, Venables has seen his defense not just hold their own this season but thrive.

Clemson has held seven straight opponents below 300 yards of total offense and will attempt to hold an opponent below that mark in an eighth straight game for the first time since 1956.

By holding Louisville to 107 passing yards, Clemson held a fifth consecutive opponent below 200 passing yards for the first time since the final four games of the 2017 season and the 2018 season opener. During Clemson's current run of four consecutive College Football Playoff berths since 2015, Clemson has held opponents below 200 passing yards 40 times, second-most in the country, with a 39-1 record in those contests.

In addition to a staff that is working hard to put the Tigers in a position to make play, none of that hard work would pay off if they had not had the success on the recruiting trail and developing talent.

"We've recruited well and guys step up. And again, that's one of those reasons too that we try to play guys as much as we can," Swinney said. "I mean Justin Foster got a lot of experience last year. Nobody really knew much about Justin Foster, but he's starting to kind of hit his stride a little bit. Xavier (Thomas) got a lot of experience. He's had some really good moments.

"I think KJ benefited from the fact that he was able to play four games last year and then get his butt in the weight room, and you just see him emerging. Same thing with Logan (Rudolph), those backers. So it's just been good. But our back seven, everything starts with our back seven. That group, (Derion Kendrick) got a little turf toe. So he came out and Mario (Goodrich) stepped up. Mario went in there and made some really nice plays but our back seven has been tremendous and very consistent all year."