Goodman trying to reach the next level

Goodman has the athletic ability and size to be a dynamic playmaker

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Mon Apr 04 22:06:11 GMT-04:00 2011

CLEMSON – Defensive end Malliciah Goodman Malliciah Goodman
Defensive End
6-4, 265
Florence, SC
View Full Profile says he looks down the line during spring practice, and he doesn’t see Nos. 99 or 98. He sees No. 93, but it isn’t Da’Quan Bowers, it’s freshman Corey Crawford.

And when he sees all of the new faces – and realizes the ones that aren’t there any longer – he realizes the role of leadership for the defensive line falls squarely on his broad shoulders, and the shoulders of defensive tackle Brandon Thompson Brandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle
6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
View Full Profile .

And he’s okay with that.

“I am just trying to step into a leadership role this spring,” Goodman said following Monday’s practice. I am not a Da’Quan, but I feel I can be just as good as Da’Quan. I am trying to work on all of those things.”

Goodman is a rising junior out of Florence who logged 343 snaps last season, tallying 32 tackles including a sack and three tackles this loss.

Goodman says his size (6-4, 265) causes people to tell him that he reminds them of former Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams, and that is a compliment he takes highly.

“I like it. It makes me feel like I can do anything,” he says. “If they believe in me, then why can’t I do what he did. I want to work on being that great player. He played with a lot of discipline, and that makes me want to study film even harder and do a lot of mental reps. I need to think about football when I’m not even here. This is 24-7 here.”

Goodman has to adjust a new position coach after Marion Hobby replaced the departed Chris Rumph, who is now at Alabama, and Goodman said the adjustment has been an easy one.

“He is a real good guy, and he has been putting us to work,” Goodman said. “He is getting everything he can out of us, and he’s teaching us a lot to help us get better. He pushes us to the limit, and he tries to push our buttons. I love him for that. He is just trying to make us better and there is nothing wrong with that.”

Hobby played in the NFL – and even coached Gaines Adams – all factors that Goodman says makes Hobby’s messages carry even more weight.

“That guy, he has been through pretty much everything,” he said. “Not to say anything against Chris Rumph, but the things Coach Hobby tells you makes you think, and you know he is right. You go back and you say ‘He’s right. That’s how I beat that guy.’ He helps with the technical stuff but also with the mental side.”

Goodman said he is trying to attain the balance that comes with being a great defensive end – when to attack, when to play the gap – something that it took Bowers until his own junior season to learn.

“Right now, I am trying to balance out my abilities,” he said. “Trying to be the technician or the guy that attacks to the guy with the mean streak - it’s all about attitude, if you can balance those out you will be a great player.”

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said Monday that Goodman reminds him of Bowers in many ways.

“He's one of those guys that we're challenging a little bit,” Swinney said. “There's a whole other level for him- kind of like Da’Quan. He's going to have to have a big summer and he's going to have to come back and have his mind ready and his body ready to take the next step as a player. If he will do that then he can be a great player. Right now he's just a good player.

“He's a good player that has a chance to be great. He's not doing the little things to be great. We’re not disappointed in him, we just need him to come on to another level- very similar to Da’Quan. Hopefully, he will buy into that. I'm anxious to sit down with these guys for exit interviews next week and challenge some of these guys, and he's one of them.”