Yesterday, at his weekly sit-down with reporters, Kevin Steele came prepared with a vigorous defense of his defense's showing in Saturday's 30-21 loss to Miami.
Clemson fans were disgusted with the alarming ease with which the Hurricanes scored four touchdowns in the first half. Dabo Swinney was disgusted during the game and after the game, when he vowed to get the problems fixed and resolve the "confusion" that contributed to the monumental defensive busts.
Steele had a different take. First of all, he took exception to the notion that confusion was the culprit.
"You'll have to ask him," Steele said in response to a question about Swinney's confusion theory.
But mostly, Steele based his defense on the notion that, actually, when you look at the details of Saturday's game, his defense was pretty good overall -- and much better than in last year's overtime win at Miami.
Steele's central point was that, as frustrated as the defensive coaches are after this game, they were just as frustrated and determined to fix the problems after last year's game despite all the back-patting and congratulations that followed the exhilarating victory.
"People panic when the scoreboard doesn't please them," he said.
Last year's Miami game didn't occur to me until Steele brought it up. It's not hard to recall some of the big plays the Hurricanes had in that game, but I wasn't aware they actually had more last year than this year.
Let's take a look at the numbers:
This year, Clemson allowed Miami to total six "explosive" plays (Steele defines explosive plays as a running play of 15 yards or more and a passing play of 20 yards or more).
The details behind those plays:
33-yard run by Damien Berry
17-yard run by Jacory Harris
15-yard run by Mike James
22-yard pass to Leonard Hankerson
65-yard pass to Hankerson
22-yard pass to Hankerson
It should be noted that Miami had a number of plays that fell just shy of the "explosive" criteria. I counted five runs between 11-14 yards, and three passes between 15-19 yards. So the "explosive" plays didn't tell the whole story.
But sticking to Steele's criteria, let's compare that to last year's meeting with Miami.
In that game, the Hurricanes totaled eight explosive plays.
The details:
23-yard run
25-yard run
44-yard run
20-yard pass
20-yard pass
26-yard pass
22-yard pass
69-yard pass
Also, as Steele correctly noted, the Tigers gave up fewer total yards this year against the Hurricanes (376 to 433), fewer completions (13 to 17), fewer rushing yards (171 to 177), fewer yards per carry (4.2 to 5.9), and fewer missed assignments (14 to 24, by his count).
And Steele did not mention that his offense did not help him much Saturday. All of Clemson's six turnovers were committed in Clemson territory, four of them inside the 30-yard line. Three came in the second quarter, allowing the Hurricanes to score two quick touchdowns.
That's an untenable situation for a defensive coordinator.
Steele is also dealing with some major talent and numbers deficiencies at linebacker. A large portion of these deficiencies occurred before his arrival.
So Kevin ... I feel your pain, brother.
But sometimes it's not about the percentage of good plays, the overall yards or yards per rush or whatever. Sometimes it is about the scoreboard, and last Saturday the scoreboard was heavily influenced by inexcusable gaffes on defense.
Three of Miami's four touchdown passes in the first half were sinfully easy. Those are the gaffes that most people are focused on.
But just as glaring, to me, was the ease with which Miami ran the ball on its second possession, and also on the drive that led to the late field goal to make it 30-21.
Also, Miami ran the ball on two third-and-10s and picked up 24 yards. That should not happen.
On Miami's late drive for a field goal, a penalty forced the Hurricanes into a first-and-20 from their own 25. Spencer Shuey blitzed up the middle, flushing Harris. Da'Quan Bowers lost containment on the left side. Harris picked up 17 yards. That should not happen.
You can build a really nice-looking house with a great foundation, solid structure and all that. But if the roof leaks, it's hard to make the case that you did the job mostly well.
Moving on to some Wednesday linkage...
Goodness gracious: Now comes the revelation that John Blake allegedly tried to sway Ndamukong Suh to his agent buddy.
Wake Forest has suffered a decade's worth of quarterback injuries in a mere five games.
If Georgia fires Mark Richt and goes after alumnus Will Muschamp, would Texas be compelled to push Mack Brown into retirement?
This guy says yes.
I say no.
And by the way, the guess here is that Richt will get another year. He'll just have to do some serious house-cleaning.
North Carolina's lineup shuffling will continue against Clemson this week.
North Carolina will add one veteran defensive player this week when it returns to ACC play, but one defender is out for the season and another is still coming back from an injury.
Deunta Williams, a senior safety, will be able to play on Saturday against Clemson at Kenan Stadium after missing the first four games because of a suspension by the NCAA for receiving preferential treatment.
Greg Elleby, a senior lineman recently moved to defensive tackle from offensive guard, suffered a torn anterior-cruciate ligament and medial-collateral ligament in his left knee last Saturday in a 42-17 win against East Carolina and will need surgery that will end his season.
Quan Sturdivant, a senior linebacker, is recovering from a thigh injury that kept him from playing against East Carolina. Coach Butch Davis hopes that Sturdivant will play against Clemson.
The most significant move is the addition of Williams. UNC will have half of its starting secondary back with Williams’ return, after Da’Norris Searcy, the other safety, was cleared last week to play and returned against ECU.
Florida State is averaging more than 200 rushing yards a game, a stat that'll be put to the test Saturday at Your Ad Here Stadium.
Would you believe that Virginia drew more fans to its game against Richmond than to last week's visit from Florida State?
LW
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