Clemson D-Line has Slowly Improved

CLEMSON — Prior to the season, some in college football felt Clemson had one of the best defensive lines in college football.

And though the ninth-ranked Tigers have had their moments this year, there have been times when they have not lived up to their lofty standard.

During the first four games this season, Clemson allowed an average of 183.3 yards per game on the ground. They weren’t getting behind the line of scrimmage and making plays or getting any pressure on the quarterback either.

However, they did not panic. They kept working.

Starting with the second half of the Stanford game, the defensive front was more explosive off the ball. Their technique has improved and subsequentially so has their performance.

“Just guys staying together and playing really hard. Their effort has been really great this year,” Clemson defensive tackles coach and run game coordinator Nick Eason said.

The Tigers’ effort started to show by limiting Stanford to 68 rushing yards in the second half. They then held Florida State to 22 rushing yards, Wake Forest to 87 and Virginia to 68.

In the last three games, Clemson’s opponents have averaged just 59.0 rushing yards per game.

“We just have to fine tune the minute details of our work, and I have to fine tune the minute details of my coaching to help our players be great on the field. That is my job to motivate them and get them better, so it starts with me on the defensive front,” Eason said.

Clemson has also improved at rushing the passer. After tallying just four sacks through the first three games of the season, they have 13 in the last four games, including four against Stanford and Virginia.

“Their energy and attitude have been top notch,” Eason said. “Our leadership has been really good… and not just leading our line, but our team. I am really proud of those guys in the way they have been working.”

And from the sounds of it, they will continue to keep working

“There is always room for improvement,” Eason said.