By the numbers: Clemson defense dominating, offense missing opportunities

Clemson racked up six sacks in the 44-7 win on Saturday.

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Sun Nov 14 15:54:53 GMT-04:00 2021

The polar opposites of Clemson's offensive and defensive numbers largely continued on Saturday after entering as a heavy favorite against UConn.

The Tiger defense lived up to its billing by improving stats in red zone defense (No. 1 now overall and in red zone TD percentage), scoring defense (No. 3), tackles for loss (No. 7) pass efficiency defense (No. 11), total defense (No. 11), sacks (No. 14), rushing defense (No. 17) and third down defense (No. 21) among more. Clemson held the Huskies to 0-for-14 on third down.

The best yardage output of the season against an FBS opponent (476) didn't get Clemson out of the triple-digits in passing offense (198.9) and the passing efficiency dropped to 119th (108.21) with completion percentage slipping to 115th (.544). Coming up short in the red zone once (a fumble into the end zone) dropped the efficiency there to 96th nationally (.794).

On the plus end offensively, Clemson improved from dead-last on fourth down to 69th with a 5-for-6 day there.

The 99-yard kickoff return surrendered sent Clemson down to 129th nationally in coverage.

Clemson's stat profile through ten games

Team

Top-10 ranks: Red zone defense - 1 (.565; No. 1 in red zone TD percentage - .261), scoring defense - 3 (15.3), tackles for loss - 7 (7.3 PG).

Top-25 ranks: Pass efficiency defense - 11 (112.08), total defense - 11 (308.9), team sacks - 14 (3.2 PG), punt return defense - 16 (3.7), rushing defense - 17 (111), third down defense - 21 (.331), kickoff returns - 23 (25.1).

Top-50 ranks: Defensive TDs - 44 (1), fumbles lost - 44 (4), blocked kicks - 50 (1).

75th or worse: Rushing offense - 82 (145.8), scoring offense - 95 (24.4), red zone offense - 96 (.794), punt returns - 96 (5.7), passing offense - 100 (198.9), total offense - 106 (344.7), time of possession - 106 (28:27), third down offense - 106 (.345), passing yards per completion - 111 (10.7), completion percentage - 115 (.544), passing efficiency - 119 (108.21), kickoff return defense - 129 (31.3).

Individual

Top-25 ranks: Joseph Ngata - yards per reception (18th; 19.04).

Top-50 ranks: BT Potter - field goals per game (27th; 1.4); field goal percentage (43rd/.778); Myles Murphy - sacks per game (47th; 0.6).