By Will Vandervort.
The 1972 Miami Dolphins defense was coined the nickname “No-Name Defense” because of just that – no one knew their names.
That year the Dolphins were known for their running game, which was led by running backs Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick. It is still considered to be the best assembled backfield in the history of the game. Csonka and Morris became the first running backs in the same backfield to rush for 1,000 yards each in the same season.
On a team that led the NFL in total defense that year and oh by the way it is the only team in the Super Bowl era to go undefeated, no one was named All-Pro. It was truly one of the more disrespected units in the game of football.
The Clemson defense can somewhat relate. Despite leading the nation in total defense and ranking in the top 10 in nine more defensive categories, the Tigers had only one player receive any national honors. Defensive end Vic Beasley, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, has been named to several First-Team All-American teams, including the Walter Camp and the Associated Press teams.
But that’s it. That means defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who recorded 69 tackles and had 6.5 tackles for loss and drew constant double teams, did not make any All-American squads. That means middle linebacker Stephone Anthony, who for a second year in a row led the Tigers in tackles, did not make an All-American team.
In addition to his 87 tackles, Anthony also had 2.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss and one incredible one-handed interception. He also broke up three other passes and had 11 quarterback pressures.
“I don’t understand all of that stuff and I don’t know how it happens, but I know this – there ain’t six or nine guys better than Graddy Jarrett and Stephone Anthony,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “These two guys are special and are off the charts.”
And though they did not receive any All-American status, Jarrett and Anthony did receive an honor that is as good as or better than anything else. They were both voted as permanent team captains by their teammates.
Tight end Sam Cooper and wide receiver Adam Humphries were voted as captains for the offense.
“That’s four good ones right there,” Swinney said. “They have sacrificed, have been team players, unselfish and have done anything and everything that asked been asked of them. And have done it with a great attitude.”
To play the disrespect card a little more. Florida State, whose defense ranked 52nd nationally in total defense and allowed 119 more yards as well as six more points per game (ranked 30th in scoring defense) than Clemson, had four players voted by the writers as All-ACC First-Team Defense performers, one more than the Tigers.
The Seminoles had seven defensive players earn All-ACC status on the first, second and third teams overall, while Clemson had just four.
Beasley says his All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors are as much the team’s awards as it is his.
“They were pushing me each and every day,” said the senior, who finished the regular season with an-ACC-high 11 sacks and a team-high 18.5 tackles for loss.
So Clemson’s defense may not totally be known as a no-name defense, but it can be known as Vic Beasley and the no-names.