Clemson 'D' ranks top-10 in seven stats despite facing ACC's best

Austin Bryant maintained his place in the top-10 nationally in tackles for loss.

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Sun Oct 29 10:34:50 GMT-04:00 2017

Clemson’s defense got back on track under the Death Valley lights against one of the more efficient offenses in the country.

The Tigers now rank in the top-10 nationally in eight categories – seven on defense, including sacks per game (No. 1; 4), scoring defense (No. 6; 13.1 PPG), total defense (No. 7; 282 YPG), red zone touchdown percentage (No. 7; 41.18) and passing defense (7; 162.9 YPG).

What’s impressive about those numbers is the kind of competition Clemson has played.

Brent Venables’ defense rates No. 1 in the ACC in total defense despite playing the league’s No. 1 in total offense (Louisville), passing offense (Louisville), rushing offense (Georgia Tech), third down offense (Georgia Tech) and the next-best to Clemson in red zone TD percentage (Georgia Tech).

Out of conference, week two foe Auburn is averaging 511.7 per game when not facing Clemson, which would place them in the top-10 nationally over the season (Instead, the 117 yards versus the ACC Tigers drops them to 27th in the nation).

Another multi-tackle for loss night (2) kept Austin Bryant in the top-10 nationally in the stat (No. 8), and another sack kept him in the top-20 in the nation there (No. 16).

Clemson QB Kelly Bryant moved into the top-10 in completion percentage (9), connecting on 22-of-33 throws for a 67.5 completion rate through eight games.

Clemson top 25 national rankings

Sacks per game – 1 (4), fourth down offense – 5 (.778), scoring defense – 6 (13.1 PPG), team tackles for loss – 6 (8.4), total defense – 7 (282 YPG), red zone defense TD percentage – 7 (41.18), passing defense – 7 (162.9), first downs defense – 10 (122), third down defense – 12 (.290), rushing defense – 18 (119.1), red zone TD percentage – 20 (73.08), third down offense – 24 (.451), pass efficiency defense – 24 (109.80), rushing offense – 25 (219.8).

Other key stats

Red zone defense – 31 (.765), total offense – 33 (446.4), red zone offense – 39 (.885), scoring offense – 41 (32.3), turnover margin – 64 (0.00).

Top individual national ranks

DE Austin Bryant – Tackles for loss per game 8 (1.7), sacks per game 16 (0.81).

QB Kelly Bryant – Completion percentage 9 (67.5).

RB Travis Etienne – Yards per carry 10 (8.43).

PR Ray Ray McCloud – Punt return average 23 (9.6).

ACC team stat rankings

Total offense: 5 (Leader: Louisville, 549.3).

Total defense: 1.

Passing offense: 8, 229.4 (Leader: Louisville, 333.3).

Passing defense: 1.