Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware described Saturday’s scrimmage as a bad day for the defense. And it was. However, at least part of it can be explained.

This year, the Tigers’ defense has perhaps the most difficult practices of any in the country. It’s not because head coach Dabo Swinney is working them too hard. He’s going to do that anyway. That’s expected.

It’s not because of the heat. Most of the players on this year’s defense grew up in the South and they know what the weather is like at this time of the year in Western South Carolina.

The reason practice is so difficult, and why Clemson’s defense has had a lot of bad days in preseason camp thus far is simple – it’s the offense.

“I love getting to play against our offense,” Boulware said. “Playing against Deshaun (Watson), Wayne (Gallman), (Jordan) Leggett, Jay (Guillermo), I know every week there is no one that is going to be as good as them. Our offense, all eleven guys, we have one of the best offenses in the country and I know every week its practice that is going to be hard. Come game time, it is going to be easy for us because we have been stressing our bodies the whole week.”

Strong safety Jadar Johnson says when they are going up against Watson and he is throwing the football to Mike Williams, Leggett, Artavis Scott and Deon Cain, they can’t expect not to keep them out of the end zone, all they can do is try and challenge those guys the way they challenge them each and every day in practice.

“We are definitely going against the best receiving group in college football, every day,” the senior said. “Those are good receivers. Practice is way harder than the games. Just the matchups and in particular going against guys like Mike Williams, Deon Cain and Artavis Scott. When we go out there and go up against other guys, it is really a drop off compared to those guys so it is easier.”

But just because practice isn’t easy, doesn’t mean the defense isn’t trying to stop them. Boulware said they want to grow every day, even when they are not playing perfect.

“You want to strive for perfection, but you are really not going to achieve it, but you can definitely strive and work for that and work to play for that standard we set in (2014),” the senior linebacker said. “I think as a competitor, a lot of guys on our defense strive to play perfect and win every snap.

“If we don’t do that, then we are pissed at ourselves. We are pissed at the defense. We are pissed at the leaders for not demanding (perfection).”

Boulware says that is when defensive coordinator Brent Venables steps in and says they want to win and (the offense) doesn’t get a yard on any snap.

“If they do that, then we will get our tails chewed,” Boulware said.

Despite what has been going on in camp, Boulware is confident Clemson will be a top 10 defense again this year. The Tigers have ranked in the top 10 nationally in each of the last three seasons in total defense, including a No. 1 ranking in 2014.

“It’s the same confidence I had last year when we got doubted after we lost eight guys to the NFL,” the linebacker said. “I knew we had a lot of depth and we were able to reload and we were top ten, again, last year. I get asked that question all the time and I have the same mentality.

“We lost eight guys to the NFL last year and I know we have the talent to reload. We have mature guys and guys that are willing to go to work every day. There is no doubt in my mind that we will be a top ten defense, again.”

The better news is they only have to play agianst the best offense in the country in practice.