Clemson D will Once Again have to be Disciplined

CLEMSON — Normally, Clemson is very good at stopping the run.

Since 2017, the Tigers have finished first, second or third in rushing defense in the ACC, while holding opponents under 100 rushing yards per game in 2017 and 2021. However, if there is a weak link to the Tigers defense this season it is their inability to slow the run down.

Clemson, who travels to Winston-Salem, N.C., on Saturday (noon, ESPN) to take on Wake Forest, ranks 12 ^th in the ACC in rushing defense, yielding 151.0 yards per game. And do not blame it just on the second and third team defenses either.

The Tigers’ first defense has had its issues, as well. Check the Stanford game for evidence.

Clemson (4-1, 3-0 ACC) allowed the Cardinal to run for 168 yards in the first half, giving up seven yards per carry. Running back Micah Ford had105 yards in the first half, while quarterback Ashton Daniels ran for 57 yards on six carries.

The Tigers, who are ranked No. 10 in the latest Associated Press Poll, got things corrected in their win over Florida State last week. The Seminoles rushed for just 22 yards on 23 carries.

The question is can Clemson play that way against Wake Forest, whose running game is unique like Stanford’s was?

“They are pretty different and unique in their style just like Stanford was pretty unique, as well,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “The quarterback is a good runner. (Daniels) was probably a little faster. This guy is probably a little bit more aggressive, as far as his physicality in the run game.”

Wake (2-3, 1-1 ACC) is averaging just 151.8 yards per game on the ground, which is not great. However, they do not let up on the run game and by using its slow mesh, quarterback Hank Bachmeier can become a problem, though his rushing numbers do not indicate such.

He does just enough to keep the defense honest.

“Their slow mesh creates a lot of conflict on your safeties and your linebackers, especially in the pass game,” Swinney said. “The biggest thing is we have to do a great job of leveraging the ball. We did a much better job last week and that was great to see.

“They rushed for 22 yards, and they tried to get on the edges with us a few times, so we have to continue to do that.”

Clemson is allowing opponents to rush for 4.75 yards per carry this season, which ranks 16 ^th in the ACC. The defense will have to do better against the Demon Deacon’s slow mesh if they want to have the upper hand.

“It is not just your D-Line. It is your corners, it is your safeties fitting into the run game, it’s tackles coming around on twists. It is your backers and everybody leveraging the ball properly,” Swinney said. “Everybody has to have good gap integrity. That is how you stop the run.

“Everybody has to do their job and have their eyes on the right things and be disciplined in that.”