CLEMSON — Clemson’s new defense under Tom Allen is still a work in progress.

The Tigers are nowhere close to being a Top 25 unit at this point, ranking No. 77 in total defense (362 YPG), No. 67 in scoring defense (22.75), No. 41 in sacks (2.5 per game) and No. 40 in tackles for loss (6.0 per game).

In last Saturday’s 34-21 loss to Syracuse, Clemson allowed scores on each of the first four possessions, as the Orange racked up more than 300 yards of offense in the first half alone.

“Obviously, it is frustrating and it sucks,” junior safety Khalil Barnes said. “We got all these guys that came back, and we wanted to make the most of it, and we just kind of messed it up ourselves.”

With Allen installing a new scheme over the offseason, the defense was always going to be a bit of a work in progress early on. However, Barnes isn’t buying into the fact that the newness is having any impact.

“I don’t think it is that,” Barnes said. “We had all of spring ball to learn it. Had the whole fall camp. Most of the summer, learning it my favorite way, going out there messing around without coaches. All players correcting players. So I think we know it good enough to where it’s not a knowledge thing. It’s about executing it.”

In fact, Barnes believes the fault for the ineffectiveness seen through the first four games should be placed squarely on the backs of the players.

“You really sit back and reflect on these last four games, it hasn’t been things where we were out-schemed or out-coached or we weren’t in position to win,” Barnes said. “We just simply got to execute.”

“We are not trusting the scheme and playing within the scheme. We all got to trust the scheme. When we trust the scheme, it works, and we’ve seen it work.”

With the team now in the middle of a bye week, Barnes believes now is a good time for the Tigers to have a reset. While many of the preseason goals are off the table at this point, it’s pride he will be playing for moving forward.

“I am personally playing so my parents don’t feel like they got to put a hood on and cover their back when they walk out of the stadium,” Barnes said. “That they don’t have to be ashamed of me and what I do on that field.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright