Last week I said Clemson had become a bad football team, and at the time of the posting they were. Sitting at 4-4 (2-4), that is a mediocre team record. Clemson had #15 Notre Dame coming to town, and ravaged by injury they had a 4-5 record staring them right in the face.
The Tigers announced to the college football world Saturday, that the program still has some fight in it, and that winning at at Death Valley is still going to take a truly special effort.
Saturday in a game I attended, Clemson beat Notre Dame 31-23, and they did so with their best defensive performance since Brent Venables was DC. The running game behind Phil Mafah and his 186 rushing yards was as explosive and physical as anything we’ve seen in years. Sorry Will Shipley, if I’m Dabo Swinney Phil Mafah becomes my primary ball carrier. Mafah turned 2-yard gains into 5-yard gains, and had a 41-yard TD burst. Only a late fumble that gave Notre Dame a shot to tie the game blemished Mafah’s day.
I’ve questioned 2nd year DC Wes Godwin as not always only getting the most out of a talented defense. Godwin showed something Saturday too. While Clemson’s offense was solid through 2 1/2 quarters, it started to sputter mid-way through the 3rd quarter. The Tigers couldn’t sustain drives, had at least 2 near turnovers, and did turn it over with under 2 minutes left in the game.
That’s where Clemson’s defense was at its best Saturday.
Notre Dame’s last 6 possessions didn’t cross mid-field, and the Tigers held the Irish to 329 total yards.
Maybe Tyler from Spartanburg should call in every week to Dabo Swinney’s call-in show?
Ok maybe not, but there was a fire lit under Clemson we’ve rarely seen this year.
So what do we think about Clemson going forward?
Well, Clemson certainly can’t say they’ve arrived or cruise into the finish of the season.
A resurgent Georgia Tech team comes to Death Valley next, then UNC and a high-flying offense, and of course a road game at rival South Carolina is not a bargain even for a 3-6 Gamecock team. The offense still lacks the necessary playmakers at receiver to be a great unit.
What should help Clemson though is that all 3 teams have major issues defensively, and if Clemson can lean on their defense and a newfound power running game like against Notre Dame, then we could see a final regular season flourish from the Tigers.
Saturday was a vintage Clemson performance that said don’t forget about the Clemson Tigers just yet,
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