Goodwin Challenges Clemson Defense to be Physical

CLEMSON – When Clemson and Georgia get together on the football field, things usually get pretty physical.

That was the case the last time the Tigers and Bulldogs met at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The two defenses dominated the game.

So much so, the game’s lone touchdown came via a pick-six in the second quarter by Georgia’s Christopher Smith, as the Bulldogs edged the Tigers, 10-3.

Georgia, who enters Saturday’s game ranked No. 1 in the country, held Clemson to 180 total yards, including just two yards rushing. The Bulldogs sacked, then Clemson-quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei seven times.

“Lot of guys that are playing (Saturday), played big roles in that game,” Clemson defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin said. “They understand the physicality. This game is going to come down to the lines of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. It is going to be a tremendous matchup.”

Clemson’s defense held its own in that 2021 contest. The Tigers held the eventual national champions to 256 total yards and forced two turnovers.

The game seemed like more of a 1980s Clemson-Georgia matchup than one played in the 2020s. Goodwin’s message to his defense this week is to bring that same kind of intensity they played with in 2021.

“I challenged our guys. We want to be the most physical unit on the field. That is the number one key,” he said.

The Tigers return six starters on a defense that ended the season leading the ACC in total yards allowed, while ranking eighth nationally. However, Clemson also returns several players—like defensive end T.J. Parker, defensive lineman Peter Woods, linebacker Wade Woodaz and cornerback Avieon Terrell—that played starter-like snaps for much of the season.

“We have gotten healthy during the course of the past two weeks, and our guys have been locked in and focused,” Goodwin said. “They have gotten their mindset right for the matchup Georgia presents up front.”

Clemson and Georgia will kick off at noon from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be televised by ABC.