ESPN analyst ranks Clemson defense No. 1 in nation |
One ESPN analyst has seen enough to tab Clemson as the nation’s best defense through four games.
“They have played quality offenses to prove it. That’s the thing,” ESPN’s David Pollack said on College Football Live Friday, live from Blacksburg, Virginia. “You play Auburn and that’s a quality offense. You play Louisville – and I don’t have to sit here and talk about Lamar Jackson.” Despite those early tests, Clemson’s defense enters the week ranked in the top-10 nationally in sacks per game (No. 2; 2.5), scoring defense (3; 9.3 PPG), total defense (3, 203.3 YPG) and passing defense (9; 134.5 YPG). Clemson is in the top-25 in rushing defense (12; 92.5 YPG), pass efficiency defense (12; 96.21 rating), first downs allowed (14; 51), tackles for loss per game (17; 8 per) and third down defense (21; 28.8 percent). Michigan currently leads the country in total defense (203.3 YPG) and yards allowed per play (3.52) with top-10 rankings in both rushing (No. 4: 69.25 YPG) and passing defense (8; 134 YPG). To Pollack's point, their four FBS opponents faced so far average a 99th total offense ranking, while Clemson’s three FBS foes average 68th in the same category (Louisville on the high end in 8th, Auburn 67th, Kent State 128th). Pollack says a group anchored by standout early performances by Austin Bryant (5 sacks/6 TFL), Dorian O’Daniel (28 tackles/4 TFL/1 pick-six) and Kendall Joseph (25 tackles) sets Clemson apart. “Easily I would say (Clemson has) the best front-seven in college football defensively,” Pollack said. “I do have some question marks about their secondary, but nobody’s been able to expose that yet. If you told me to pick one defense at this point in the season, I would pick Clemson.” ESPN analyst and former Michigan great Desmond Howard agreed with Pollack's assessment. "I would say because of their resume it's hard to go against Clemson's defense" Howard said. "I do agree with David about the secondary. I think there are some weaknesses in the secondary that haven't been exposed yet simply because their front-seven is so dominant. Quarterbacks don't have time to let those slow-developing routes take place down the field so they can't expose that secondary. "Right now that front-seven can put so much pressure on an offense that they can stop the run, they can blitz the quarterback and they can make the ball come out of his hand so quick that the secondary doesn't have to do much. They can keep everything in front of them and just react." Is @ClemsonFB the best in the nation?? @DesmondHoward @davidpollack47 discuss on CFB Live 5:30ET ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/c767ErkGBn
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