By Will Vandervort.
For Brent Venables there is nothing that compares to scoring a touchdown – on defense that is. And this year he has seen his Clemson defense do it three times, including two in the 22nd-ranked Tigers’ last two games.
“There is nothing better than scoring a defensive touchdown,” Venables said Tuesday from the WestZone in Memorial Stadium. “There are things that are close to it, but there is nothing better than scoring a defensive touchdown.”
Of Clemson’s 225 points this year, 22 have come from the defense. The Tigers’ got Tavaris Barnes two-yard fumble return for a touchdown in last week’s win over Louisville and the week before defensive end Vic Beasley forced a fumble and took it in from 16 yards out in the victory over NC State.
Clemson (4-2, 3-1 ACC) also got a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown in its win over S.C. State on Sept. 6.
“Scoring on defense is something we take a lot of pride in,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “To do it the way we have in the last few games has been wonderful and has really helped the whole team. We are playing with relentless effort and the scores have just ended up happening.
“We have been fortunate to score on defense.”
The defense has also recorded two safeties this year and has scored at least two points in four of the last five games. The 22 points are only two points off the 32 set by the 1990 defense, which led the nation in total yards allowed.
“We are having some success and guys are hungry for more,” Venables said.
They are also having a lot of fun. Guys are keeping up with who is doing what, who has caused a fumble and who has scored and who will do it in the next game.
“It is really fun. There are a lot of guys competing,” Jarrett said. “We are fighting each other for the ball, which at the end of the day means we have the ball. It has been good for our whole team so it has been great to get those turnovers and get those scores.”
It’s a competition they are having between themselves, just in the spirit of fun.
“The other night, they just kept playing and they had no clue about what was going on with the offense,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “They just kept playing. They are having fun. They are competing with each other to be honest with you, which is really, really fun to see.
“They are trying to figure out who is going to get the fumble and who is going to get the ball and have created a sense of urgency about the ball with this group.”
Clemson, who will visit Boston College on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ESPNU), ranks sixth nationally in total defense, allowing just 286 yards a game. It also ranks 11th in rushing defense and has held its last two opponents—NC State and Louisville—to 154 yards and 264 yards and to just 17 points combined.
“The fun is after a good solid performance,” Venables said. “You try to take in those things during the course of the game, but you have stay focused and locked in. But I love seeing the work they put in and then being rewarded for a strong performance.
“That is very gratifying for me and I know all of us coaches.”
It is also gratifying to the players, too.
“It is kind of something that has developed. If the play is there, it is about making the play and believing it can be done,” Jarrett said. “It all starts with belief and execution. If you play hard and with effort, those things come.”