Though Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ name might be on the Frank Broyles Award as the nation’s best assistant coach, he says the award belongs to the whole team.
“It makes you real proud for our players and assistant coaches first and foremost. I recognize they just don’t give out those things on every other street corner,” Venables said after practice on Tuesday. “I’m honored and it is very humbling to be a nominee, let alone a finalist or a winner.
“There is a lot of value to that. But, again, it makes it more special because it’s a direct reflection of all the hard work the players and the coaches have put in really on both sides of the ball.”
Though he will not take it, Venables deserves credit for orchestrating a defense that for the second straight year lost at least seven starters from the year before, but finished the regular season ranked inside the top 10 in total defense.
Despite having to replace six of those starters from last year who are on 2016 NFL roster, the Tigers are ranked in the top 25 in the nation in 14 difference defensive categories this year. That incudes, being third in the nation in sacks and tackles for loss, fifth in third-down defense and pass efficiency defense, sixth in yards per play allowed, seventh in interceptions, ninth in total defense and 12th in scoring defense.
The reasons why Clemson has been so good on defense for so long, says Venables, is because of the offense. Because of having players like Heisman Trophy runner-up Deshaun Watson, running back Wayne Gallman, tight end Jordan Leggett and wide receivers Mike Williams, Artavis Scott, Deon Cain, Ray Ray McCloud and Hunter Renfrow the Clemson offense is again, one of the best in the country.
Clemson ranks 13th in total offense (505.7) and 15th in scoring offense (40.2).
“To be honest with you, I would not have been a finalist if we do not have the kind of offense that we do,” Venable said. “We are able to attack people on offense and that gives us a lot of flexibility on what we want to do on defense. It is really a direct reflection of everyone else in the program putting in the hard work and having the success that we have had.”
Clemson will play Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve.