In Saturday’s 24-22 win over Notre Dame, the most impactful force in the game changed—almost by the minute.
However, there was one force that seemed constant throughout the contest, one element that remained present even when it was not showing up, one facet of the game that factored into every single snap: the Clemson pass rush.
Specifically, the biggest impact belonged to Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson on the Clemson side. Together, the pair of ends held their own in a difficult arena, tallying 13 tackles. Seven of those tackles went for lost yardage, including a pair of sacks credited to Dodd.
Watching the game, it might not have seemed like Dodd and Lawson made such a sizable contribution. After all, Clemson did not exactly pressure the pocket very well throughout the measure of the game. In fact, at times, Deshone Kizer had more time than a quarterback typically needs to survey the field and find seams in the coverage.
Given that, it seems reasonable to suggest Clemson’s pass rush was an issue that tipped the scales against the Tigers in the game. That assertion could not be any further from the truth.
Notre Dame’s offensive front is one of the best, if not the best, in the country. They have talented players at every position, but especially at tackle. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley will likely be taken in the first half of the first round of next year’s NFL Draft. The Fighting Irish had only allowed five sacks coming into the game, tied for 37th in the country, but the number is more impressive when considering the caliber of opposition they have faced relative to the rest of the country.
Make no mistake: No team wants a piece of Notre Dame’s offensive front. Clemson probably did not either, other than to test its mettle against the best line it will see all season long.
Brent Venables’ defensive scheme had a pick-your-poison approach. He decided primarily to utilize his line to attack the quarterback, meaning there was less likelihood of a sack or pressure while more bodies were devoted downfield. It also allowed his linebackers to stay home against the run.
That created an uphill battle for the entire defensive front, and the whole unit—especially Dodd and Lawson—passed with flying colors. The latter abused Stanley on several occasions, which led to more than one commenter on Twitter vaulting Lawson into the conversation of elite pass rush prospects. Dodd made the Irish pay for double-teaming Lawson, as he sacked Kizer twice and forced a fumble on one of them.
Both defensive ends showcased their talents on a grand stage against the highest level of competition they could find. In a game decided by the defense, the combination of Dodd and Lawson set the tone. Even when they were stonewalled by the nation’s elite, they were there, and they had to be accounted for on every play.