CLEMSON — When Dabo Swinney brought Tom Allen in to be his new defensive coordinator, he was not expecting the former Indiana head coach and Penn State defensive coordinator to be a miracle worker.
The Tigers (3-5, 2-4 ACC) were not very good in 2024 under former DC Wes Goodwin. They ranked ninth in the ACC in total defense (374.1 ypg) and 16th in rushing defense (160.6 ypg), while allowing 23.4 points per game.
And though Swinney did not expect miracles, he did expect to see some improvement. But right now, that is not the case.
Through eight games, Clemson ranks eighth in the league in total defense (350.3), fourth in rushing defense (105.6), 11th in passing defense (244.5) and 10th in points allowed (24.0).
“It just has not worked, and we have not come together like we hoped,” Swinney said during Sunday’s conference call. “That is nobody’s fault but mine.”
No matter whose fault it is. Something has to give. Unfortunately, especially in home games, it has been Clemson’s defense.
In their last three games, the Tigers have allowed 34, 35 and 46 points to Syracuse, SMU and Duke. — not exactly LSU, Georgia and Florida State. Besides giving up all of those points, the defense yielded 433 yards to Syracuse, 429 yards to SMU and 439 yards to Duke. The Tigers had no answer for Duke quarterback Darrin Mensah on Saturday, as he completed 27 of 41 passes for 361 yards and four TDs.
Duke beat Clemson, 46-45. The Tigers have lost all four games to Power Conference opponents at home and six straight overall, tying the 1970 and ’71 teams for the last time that has happened.
In its three losses to Syracuse, SMU and Duke, Clemson’s defense allowed 433.7 yards and 38.3 points per game. That is not exactly Clemson defense, but Swinney says that is not Tom Allen’s fault either.
“I think Tom has done a great job. I really do. I think he is a winner, and he is a really good football coach,” Swinney said.
The Tigers will need Allen to be a winner on Saturday when they host Florida State, who is coming off a 42-7 win over Wake Forest on Saturday.