Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables wasn’t interested in breaking down the nitty-gritty of his defense’s sloppy performance against South Carolina. The wounds were self-inflicted, he said, and the solution was simple: Play better.
“When you lose leverage and have sloppy tackling,” Venables said, “it’ll look bad.”
Still, for a defense that had been so sharp for most of the season, it’s fair to wonder if there’s something more going on behind the scenes. And for that, safety Jayron Kearse may have offered some insight.
Jayron Kearse: "Last year at this point, guys were still fresh and full speed.