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Gauging whether this will be Venables’ best Clemson defense is an exercise that could be debated on plenty of statistical or subjective levels.
For example, on what metric(s) do we put the most weight? Do we value dominance … or consistency … or the eyeball test for faith that the unit will actually produce the needed or necessary stop in pressure-packed situations?
His 2014 defense led the nation in total defense, third-down conversion percentage and first downs allowed. That’s a pretty high bar.
And yet we could argue that last year’s group felt superior and might not have fared as well statistically because, well, it played more quality opponents.
There’s also the variable that one’s offense changes the perception of the defense, and vice versa.
