Venables: Game experience ‘critical’ for young defense
As the Clemson Tigers’ home opener against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets became a runaway early, coaches were able to give more inexperienced members of the team some additional minutes of in-game competition, an opportunity defensive coordinator Brent Venables said was important to the development of his players.
“It’s critical,” he said after the Tigers’ 52-14 win against Georgia Tech on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. "We're a young group, and we're going to need to play a lot of guys. The more they play — football is a developmental game so you've got to play. Whether it's good or not, you've got to play. You get in a game, and that's how you really can strain yourself, and that's where guys can see, 'Oh, now I see what you're saying in practice.' But they have to be willing to hear and listen to the truth and be willing to accept it, and that's how you improve.”
“A lot of times with young guys they don't like to be critiqued, and they don't like to take responsibility, and they want to push it on someone else,” he added. “We haven't shown a lack of maturity from that standpoint. I've been really pleased and tonight was no different. I think our guys' attitude was great. I really expect them to continue to make incremental improvements from week to week."
Clemson’s defense held Georgia Tech to less than 300 total yards and came up with two fumble recoveries courtesy of linebacker Baylon Spector and defensive tackle Xavier Kelly and two interceptions by safeties Denzel Johnson and Tanner Muse. The four turnovers were the most Clemson has forced in a game since the team’s 2015 matchup against Notre Dame.
Venables said he was pleased with the way the defense played against Tech, noting that he saw “tremendous effort” on the field.
“(I) thought we were physical,” he said. “Our positioning was pretty good. (It was) the first game for a lot of guys as (starters), and I thought they performed well, particularly in the first half. We had a lot of situational football where our guys really responded (and) came through. We had a couple of forced turnovers and some fourth-down stops. We saw a lot tonight.”
Venables said he saw a lot of potential for future growth from players along the defensive line.
“With a little bit of improvement and correction, (we) could have had a shutout,” he said. “It’s that close. (Georgia Tech) has done a nice job. They’re doing the right stuff and using their personnel the right way. But absolutely, there’s a ton that you saw our guys grow up from.”
Junior linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who led the way in tackles with 10, said that after a lengthy offseason of practices and fall camp, the players were eager to get on the field and make contact in a real-game environment.
“As long as camp is, all the guys can’t wait to hit somebody new because we just hit each other every day,” Simmons said. “It was nice to hit somebody you don’t know.”
He said he thought the new players on the team, many of whom got a chance to show what they could do in the game, exceeded pregame expectations.
“I think we did very well,” Simmons said. “I think the expectation was that we weren’t going to be good at the linebacker and defensive line positions because of all of the experience that left, but I was really proud of the guys. I think we executed well, but, of course, there is a lot to learn from.”
Johnson, who accounted for one of his team’s two interceptions, said he was elated about Clemson’s performance in the dominating win.
“It’s a great feeling, obviously,” Johnson said. “The first game of the season — to be able to come out and play like that, it’s an awesome feeling.”
He said preparing for the Georgia Tech’s revamped offense was a challenge, but the Tigers were in the able hands of Venables.
“It was difficult at first, but Coach does such a good job of getting us prepared,” Johnson said. “He made it a lot easier for us.”
