By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Defense has been a big part of Dabo Swinney’s modern-day dynasty. This latest unit is one of Brent Venables’ best.

With a quarterback yet to lose a single game, the ACC’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns at running back and multiple 1,000-yard receivers, it’s easy for the national spotlight to shine on Clemson’s offense, especially after four Tiger defenders were taken in the top 40 of the most recent NFL Draft. The likes of Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne and Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross are true college football stars. Collectively, Clemson’s defense is leaving its own legacy.

Coordinator Brent Venables’ defensive unit, somehow relatively quietly this year, has helped key another undefeated run.

The Tigers currently lead the nation in both total defense and scoring defense, allowing just 244.7 yards and 10.6 points per game; those averages stand as the lowest in the entire country since Alabama in 2011.

Clemson’s consistency has simply been remarkable. In addition to the aforementioned dominance, the Tigers lead the nation in pass defense, rank 9th in rush defense, 13th in third down defense, 10th in fourth down defense, 11th in redzone defense, 15th in sacks, 8th in tackles for loss, 3rd in turnovers forced and 4th in plays of ten yards or more allowed. Remarkably, Clemson has given up 16 touchdowns this fall and, as a team, has 17 interceptions.

This season’s signature moment was one where Clemson’s defense played with a championship conviction. With North Carolina having pulled within one point of the Tigers on a late touchdown score with 1:14 remaining, Mack Brown’s Tar Heels opted for a game-winning two-point conversion, shifting all of the pressure to the other side of the line. Clemson’s defense proved ready. On a multi-faceted run out wide, the Tigers swarmed North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell, and all of his pitch options, recognizing and reading the play and promptly slamming the door on the Tar Heels’ upset bid.

No team has scored more than 17 points on Clemson since.

Led by all-everything linebacker Isaiah Simmons, the Tigers have a defense for the ages. His versatility, with 91 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, seven sacks, six pass break ups and two interceptions, has set the tone for all that Clemson does. Beyond Simmons, there are difference-makers at every level. Senior safety Tanner Muse has four interceptions. Freshman tackle Tyler Davis has 5.5 sacks. Without the fanfare of some other units, the Tigers have incredible talent and big game experience and play remarkably well, excelling as a sum of their parts, together.

Any discussion of the best coaches in the country simply must include Venables. The defensive coordinator for the Tigers since 2012, his efforts have been historic. Clemson has ranked in the top 25 in scoring defense in every season under Venables after year one, slotting in the top four each of the last four seasons and in 2014. The Tigers finished second in scoring defense three years ago, first two seasons ago and, as mentioned, are again number one in the game right now. Staggeringly, Venables’ Clemson’s defenses led the nation in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.

Defense has been a big part of Dabo Swinney’s modern-day dynasty. This latest unit is one of Venables’ best.

The upcoming College Football Playoff is one with a number of headline talking points. Clemson’s defense deserves to be one of them. In a tournament with four similarly high-powered offenses, the Tigers’ defense could prove to be an upcoming x-factor. Clemson’s defensive prowess deserves more attention that it is getting; the Tigers, entering the postseason, allowed 279 total yards and six total points in their final two regular season games combined.

Entering the final four, this Clemson defense has quite the program standard to meet. The Tigers, a year ago, held Notre Dame and Alabama to a combined 19 points in resounding playoff wins, a big reason why Clemson is now called the defending national champions. As the Tigers head out west to Arizona for a Fiesta Bowl showdown with Ohio State, and beyond, the script to follow is in the rear-view.

On a historic 28-game winning streak, Clemson continues to wow. The defense, though sometimes, somehow, underappreciated, is working for more of the same.