Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables met with the media via Zoom from the Tigers locker room after Clemson scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to secure a 47-21 win over ACC opponent Syracuse.
Venables’ defense forced four turnovers on the afternoon, including picking off the Oranges Rex Culpepper three times, the third time this season that the secondary has had two or more interceptions in a game.
The defense let up a few large chunk plays, including another 80+ yard touchdown pass, the second one in as many weeks. Venables takes credit for the long play, saying that he could have had his defense in a better position in that spot of the game.
Venables also had some high praise for some of his young guns on the defense, boasting about defensive lineman Bryan Bresee and another young buck in the secondary, Jayln Phillips, who had a touchdown saving tackle, and then picked off the next pass in the endzone.
The ninth year defensive coordinator will have his hands full this coming weekend, as one of the top ACC passing offenses comes into Memorial Stadium for a battle for the Leather Helmet Trophy. Boston College is third in the ACC, averaging around 280 passing yards a game. Kick off is set for noon and will be broadcasted on ABC.
