Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney recently praised Tom Allen for his impactful first year as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. During a radio show, he highlighted the statistical improvements seen in the team’s defense compared to last season.
Swinney’s Assessment of Defensive Performance
According to Swinney, Clemson’s defense has made significant strides, showing growth across almost every statistical category. He remarked, “We’re better in [almost] every category statistically than we were last year at this time.” While acknowledging that the defense is not yet at its desired level, he noted that the team has improved. “It’s about points, and they’ve gotten better, for sure,” he stated.
Points Allowed and Recent Games
The Tigers currently rank 34th nationally in points allowed, conceding an average of 21.0 points per game. Their recent performances have been particularly strong during a three-game winning streak, where they allowed:
- 10 points to Florida State
- 19 points to Louisville
- 10 points to Furman
Swinney expressed confidence in the improvements made, stating, “We’re not where we want to be, but we’ve improved.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining this momentum, noting their efficiency of holding opponents to 20 points or less in consecutive games.
Communication and Changes Under Allen
Swinney credits some of this success to Allen’s changes in meeting structures and communication strategies. He remarked that the new system and terminology have facilitated better dialogue among players. “I think the communication – there obviously was a change in system and terminology,” Swinney explained. “Tom changed some things regarding how we’re meeting, which has helped a lot.”
He concluded by affirming that while significant progress has been made, there is still work to do. “These last three games, they definitely have stepped up,” he said. “But much more to go.”
