CLEMSON — When looking at the numbers, Clemson’s defense does not look so bad.

When you turn on the tape, that is a different story.

The Tigers numbers are not great under new defensive coordinator Tom Allen, but they are not bad either. Clemson ranks fifth in the ACC in scoring defense (20.9 ppg). It ranks fifth in rushing defense (109.7 ypg). It ranks ninth in passing defense (227.9 ypg). And it ranks seventh in total defense (337.6 ypg).

“It is about preparing to, practicing to and what is the mindset to what is the standard,” Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen said. “I think we got a really good opportunity (on Monday) to talk about that as a unit. Some players mentioned after practice to the team and I think that is a great thing.

“We have a lot of character. We have a lot of leadership on this team, and they understand they are playing for a lot and who they represent and this program.”

That all sounds good and all but is the Clemson defense reaching that standard. It did not look that way against SMU. It did not look that way against Syracuse. At times, it did not look that way against LSU.

What can be done? How can it get better? Will it get better?

A lot can be done. Maybe a couple of staff changes could help.

 How can it get better? Recruiting or going to the transfer portal can fix a lot of things. And yes, it will get better.

Remember Brent Venables? Do you remember how much you loved him at Clemson? Remember how you loved his schemes?

Guess what, you did not like him at first. In 2012, Clemson’s defense was almost as bad as it was in 2011.

Venables’ defense yielded 48 points to NC State in regulation. And that was Week 11 of the 2012 season. However, Venables slowly started getting the players that fit his scheme and personality and by 2014 Clemson had the nation’s No. 1 defense and they stayed among the best until he left Clemson to become the new head coach at Oklahoma at the end of the 2021 season.

Allen has a plan. He knows what he needs. He does not have it at Clemson, but he is going to work tirelessly in the off-season to get it.

“I just want fast hungry guys that love the game,” Allen said. “That is what I am looking for, you have to be able to run. This game is played in space. It is what it is. This conference is coached in space. There are a lot of elite quarterbacks in this conference.

“This league is a very wide-open league and you have to have speed. You have to be able to play with those kinds of guys, so that is a priority. Tough guys that love football.”

Right now, that is what Clemson is missing, especially on defense, and that makes it hard to reach its standard.