Photo by Austin Silvey - The Evening Sports Page
This team has very high expectations for the 2018 season. Most of those begin with the defense, a group that returns eight starters from last season. In 2017, that unit finished No. 2 in scoring defense and No. 4 in total defense.
Those departed from the 2018 squad were primarily defensive backs. Cornerbacks Ryan Carter and Marcus Edmond are gone, along with safety Van Smith.
Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables will have to rely on Trayvon Mullen, K’Von Wallace, Brian Dawkins Jr, Leanthony Williams, and Mark Fields as the last line of defense in 2018. The arrivals of recruits Kyler McMichael and Mario Goodrich will give depth as well.
“Real pleased with our ability to go out and execute,” Venables said. “We’ve got a lot of bodies that have played a lot of football. We’re a little shorthanded at safety and corner, but we’ve got a bunch of guys who know what to do at all three levels, so that’s encouraging. It’s good.”
Mark Fields
A key piece to the Clemson secondary will be Mark Fields. With 36 games under his belt, Fields has amassed 36 tackles, 5 for a loss, a sack, an interception, and 7 pass breakups in three seasons with the Tigers. It looked like Fields was going to take the next step last season by starting 4 games, but then he tweaked his ankle and missed 6 straight games and the ACC Championship game against Miami.
“Yeah, he’s healed. He missed a lot of football, but Mark’s very talented and probably our best speed and transitional movement of anybody we got,” Venables said. “Got to learn the details and become a technician and play within the framework of the defense and that’s all in front of him. So hopefully he’ll come out and have a great senior year.”
Spring Game
We have heard Venables discuss his worry for the depth at cornerback and in the secondary for this upcoming season throughout the spring. Many thought Venables was simply not giving the last line of defense the credit they deserved in hopes of giving them motivation.
The truth however, was shown in the Orange and White spring game.
While the secondary was understandably facing off with plenty of talented receivers, such as Higgins, Rodgers, and others, they still gave up 473 passing yards between the two teams. The highlight of the day was the four interceptions, but three of those were from throws by Chase Brice. This should worry Tiger fans, because they will be matched up with talent all season long.
Comentarios