
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.
Venables: "At the end of the day, I think our guys came in with a great mindset in the second half and it was just one of those days where things happened."#ClemsonSportsNews
— ClemsonSportsNews (@ClemSportNews) October 24, 2020
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.
Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables: "We gave them a little bit of hope in the first half. We didn't respond to the block punt. I could have put us on a better call on the 85 yarder."#ClemsonSportsNews
— ClemsonSportsNews (@ClemSportNews) October 24, 2020
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.
Venables: "Bryan (Bresee) is always very disruptive. Booth came back and made some really big plays and Sheridan (Jones) made some big plays as well."#ClemsonSportsNews
— ClemsonSportsNews (@ClemSportNews) October 24, 2020
Venables: "So proud of 25. That's why you play to the whistle."
— ClemsonSportsNews (@ClemSportNews) October 24, 2020
Speaking on Jayln Phillips touchdown saving tackle, then the interception on the next play.#ClemsonSportsNews
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.
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