Clemson defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin discusses Clemson's win over Notre Dame
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 - Good.
00:00 - Being joined now by defense coordinator Wes Goonan.
00:02 Unless you've got any opening comments,
00:04 we can go straight to questions.
00:05 - Take any questions.
00:06 - No fire away.
00:07 - Chairman, Rodder, in your opinion,
00:11 playing as well as any linebacker in the country,
00:14 is he taking that game to another level lately?
00:17 - Yeah, for sure.
00:18 I don't know totality 'cause I only see our opponents
00:23 and our guys, but every week he's gotten better and better.
00:29 I think early on, just getting over the injury
00:32 during training camp and just getting more comfortable
00:35 and he's seeing things really well,
00:38 quarterbacking the defense at an elite level.
00:41 And obviously the production speaks for itself.
00:43 - You mentioned the injury.
00:47 How long did it take him to fully get past that?
00:51 That's kind of hamstrings on a match, nagging deal.
00:54 - Yeah, I mean, it definitely nagged earlier in the year,
00:56 but I mean, I can't give you a specific game
00:58 that I really noticed it, but I know every week
01:01 he's gotten better and better
01:03 and feel like he's playing at a different level right now.
01:07 - Syracuse, he maybe struggled some in coverage,
01:14 but then had the interception.
01:16 Do you feel like maybe that was kind of a turning point
01:18 for him?
01:19 - Yeah, I mean, I think the coverage was more,
01:21 you know, playing with some bad eyes
01:25 and that created separation on the one play
01:29 you're talking about, but it was cool to see him come back
01:32 and get the interception later in the game
01:33 and his own coverage.
01:35 And, you know, it's all about the little things.
01:38 You put your eyes in the wrong spot
01:40 and it just creates that separation.
01:43 Football is a game of inches at times.
01:45 - Some Saturday, he's able to make that break on Hartman
01:49 because he's watching where Hartman's going.
01:52 So is that also eyes right there?
01:54 - Yeah, most.
01:55 - He's able to get that interception?
01:56 - Yeah, definitely.
01:57 - I think Coach Sweeney was telling us
02:00 about his speech in the locker room
02:01 a couple weeks ago when he got to Miami.
02:04 How much has he changed and grown, would you say,
02:06 just as a leader, his voice over the last years?
02:09 - Yeah, I mean, you know, everybody sees him
02:13 as probably a reserve kid, personality-wise,
02:17 but when he's in the locker room around the guys,
02:19 you know, his personality comes out
02:22 and there's no one more respected on this team
02:25 than Jeremiah and just the work that he's put in
02:28 and he's earned that right.
02:30 And when he speaks, people listen, you know.
02:34 He's not a big rah-rah guy, that sort of thing,
02:38 but his words means stuff to people
02:42 and people pay attention.
02:44 - How much did last year in South Bend
02:49 fuel this defense last week in the run-up to that game?
02:54 - Yeah, I mean, I think some.
02:55 I think we're at a completely different spot defensively
03:01 than we were last year at times,
03:02 playing a ton with much better technique up front,
03:06 a lot more physicality, and just, you know,
03:09 guys are playing at an elite level.
03:13 You know, whether that's TD, Rook, Peter,
03:18 all those guys, TJ, you know, I feel like Maskell and XT
03:22 are doing much better in the run game as well.
03:25 And just a whole different mindset up front
03:27 of just controlling the line of scrimmage.
03:29 You know, at times we played three 3D tackles out there
03:33 Saturday and just wanted to get bigger
03:35 and, you know, really set edges in the run game
03:39 and not let 'em stretch us
03:42 and move us at the point of attack.
03:44 - Does it come down to that for you
03:47 as you talk about the difference
03:48 between last year and this year?
03:51 - I mean, I think mindset is one thing
03:54 and just, you know, technique-wise as well.
03:57 Techniques greatly improve from last year as well.
04:02 And just did some things different structurally,
04:05 you know, to help those guys
04:07 creating three-man surfaces, whatever it was
04:09 at the point of attack to help create single blocks
04:13 at the point of attack.
04:16 (typing)
04:18 - Just with Jeremiah,
04:21 just that, I guess,
04:23 he's made the Davos-McNair-Lillian linebacker
04:26 for three games with two sacks.
04:28 What makes him such a good pass rusher?
04:31 What is it about him as a pass rusher
04:32 that allows him to get home so?
04:34 - Yeah, I mean, I think the other day
04:36 he did a great job setting that running back up
04:39 and, you know, sidestepped and arm over at him.
04:42 And just, you know, the quick twitch
04:45 and just ability to change directions
04:47 and make a fast decision, you know,
04:51 work on that type stuff during training camp,
04:53 practice, you know, whatever.
04:55 And just, he's got that knack, you know,
04:58 he does a great job running all our twists.
05:01 You know, whether you have him up in the line last year,
05:04 like in Miami when he's in a bear presentation
05:07 and it's the wrapper or blitzing off the ball,
05:10 you know, he's just got that savviness
05:13 and understanding about him.
05:15 - You talked about the moves, I guess,
05:18 with linebackers a lot, do they just want to, like,
05:20 run straight through the running back?
05:22 That's kind of how it works.
05:23 Is it kind of unique that he has that wiggle?
05:25 - Yeah, some of them.
05:26 And, you know, they always got to have awareness
05:29 of the running back cutting them as well.
05:32 So, but he set that guy up, made a nice move on him.
05:40 - Any questions for Coach from Zoom?
05:41 - Hey Wes, this is Chappell with the State.
05:46 How much, if at all, do you monitor social media mid-season
05:49 and kind of larger question,
05:50 if you look at these last few weeks,
05:52 you've improved some stuff, maybe to people who doubted
05:55 your credentials as an offensive coordinator
05:57 since you've been hired with the way you just performed?
06:00 - Yeah, honestly, I've pretty much eliminated
06:02 all social media, so, I mean,
06:04 unless somebody tells me about it,
06:09 I'm obviously pretty oblivious to outside noise
06:13 and just, you know, focusing on the task at hand.
06:16 You know, people can write whatever they want to say
06:19 about me or whatever.
06:20 And, but I show up every day with a mindset
06:24 just to get better and help this defense get better
06:27 and improve on a daily basis.
06:29 And that's my main focus.
06:31 Every day I wake up, give Clemson my best.
06:38 - Anybody in the room?
06:40 - Kylan Griffin, 42 snaps, Terrell, 60 snaps,
06:44 Lawrence, 62.
06:45 Just how proud does that make you?
06:50 And what does it say that you guys can hold up so well
06:54 with that type of, you know, freshman presence?
06:57 - Yeah, you know, it's really cool to see guys
07:01 take advantage of their opportunities
07:03 and see their preparation and hard work come to fruition.
07:07 You know, guys in the, you know, those type of roles,
07:11 you know, kind of down the line guys,
07:13 when things started, you know,
07:15 just see them work daily, day in and day out,
07:19 you know, to prepare as if they are the starter,
07:22 you know, and, you know, some weeks maybe they get five snaps,
07:26 10 snaps, whatever it is.
07:28 And then they get the opportunity to go out there
07:30 and play 60 snaps and take full advantage of it.
07:33 You know, I think it just speaks to the type of young men
07:37 that we've recruited the past two, three years
07:40 and have brought in the right type of guys,
07:43 you know, athletic ability,
07:45 the ability to perform at a high level,
07:49 but also the type of character and young men
07:53 that we've brought in.
07:54 But really cool to see Colin take advantage
07:56 of the opportunity to shoot that third and 10
07:59 on the first drive.
08:00 He makes the tackle for the third down stop.
08:02 Really cool to see him get the interception there late
08:06 in that two-minute, the second to last two-minute drive
08:10 type situation, and really played well all day,
08:15 graded high, and Avion's just a competitor,
08:20 but all three of those kids got bright futures.
08:25 Was there any concern on your part,
08:29 you know, no one going in, "Hey, I don't have Mickens.
08:32 I don't have, you know, Jalen Phillips.
08:35 I don't have those guys.
08:37 Nate's not going to start.
08:38 Sheridan's out."
08:39 Were you concerned or, you know,
08:41 did this surprise you at all?
08:43 I mean, you're more concerned from a depth standpoint,
08:46 honestly, 'cause we emptied the clip
08:49 with our three safeties or whatever,
08:52 but, you know, I see it every day
08:56 what those guys do out on the practice fields.
08:59 And, you know, they work hard.
09:02 They're doing things the right way.
09:04 They're building trust every day.
09:06 They have a great understanding of what we're doing
09:09 defensively, and, you know, for whatever reason,
09:12 you know, snap-wise or whatever,
09:13 they may not get the opportunity in the game,
09:15 but cool to see them go out there
09:18 and take full advantage of it.
09:20 Is this a chance for Avion to see Phil
09:22 maybe a little bit more?
09:24 I mean, we'll see how this week works itself out
09:27 and things going forward or whatever,
09:30 but, you know, he's definitely getting better every week
09:34 and really cool to see him get out there
09:37 and compete Saturday.
09:39 Avion, as being a competitor,
09:41 can you break down sort of your evaluation of him
09:43 as a -- just as a player?
09:47 Yeah, I mean, he's really intelligent,
09:49 has really a high football IQ.
09:52 He plays nickel, can play corner, can move him around,
09:58 has really good technique for a young kid,
10:00 and extremely hard worker,
10:03 studies and prepares the right way,
10:06 you know, watches a ton of film,
10:09 has a great understanding of route concepts
10:11 that he's going to see, pre-snap alignments,
10:15 knows the system in and out, and, you know, knowledge is power
10:20 and allows you to play faster.
10:22 And, you know, he's got great press man technique.
10:25 He's a really good tackler.
10:27 He's physical.
10:28 He watches guys, gets his hands on guys,
10:31 and love the attitude that he shows up every day.
10:35 Always has a smile on his face and just loves it.
10:39 And he's a grinder.
10:41 Your defense currently sits sixth nationally
10:45 in total defense, a lot to be proud of,
10:48 but are you maybe even a little bit more proud of the fact
10:50 that you're eighth in past defense?
10:53 Yeah, I mean, I've --
10:54 Yeah, obviously, just all that experience
10:58 and some of the guys that we brought in
11:00 have helped with that as well tremendously.
11:03 And, you know, that was a huge,
11:07 huge challenge coming into the season.
11:11 You know, hopefully we can have a good stretch,
11:13 and most importantly, just want to find ways
11:15 to win games here going forward,
11:17 the stats to speak for themselves.
11:20 But, you know, Georgia Tech this week
11:22 could be a huge, huge challenge.
11:23 They're 14th or so in total offense,
11:26 putting up a lot of points, 33 points a game,
11:29 and a lot of yards, so this week --
11:32 There's no easy out the rest of the way,
11:33 I can tell you that.
11:36 Would you say this defense so far
11:38 has answered every question that you had of it
11:41 coming into the year,
11:43 that the head coach had of it coming into the year?
11:46 I mean, I think we've been playing well enough
11:51 to help our guys,
11:53 or been putting guys in position to win,
11:55 you know, some missed tackles, poor fits, whatever.
12:01 You know, wish we could have cleaned those things up
12:04 and really finished games, some games.
12:09 But I think our guys have been playing with great effort,
12:13 great physicality, doing all the intangible things,
12:16 and just got to continue to become more detailed,
12:22 tackle well, do a great job.
12:25 Situationally, last week,
12:27 situationally, we were greatly improved.
12:29 You know, red zone, third down, we were really good.
12:33 Two-minute drive, we were really good.
12:35 And just got to put a complete game together.
12:38 There's still things to be made play-wise,
12:43 and hopefully we can put a complete game together
12:46 here down the stretch.
12:48 How does he appear to hold better day-to-day field goals
12:51 in those first-half situations?
12:52 Is there something different about the red zone defense
12:54 you felt this past Saturday?
12:58 Not really.
13:00 I think it's just a testament, guys getting better every week
13:02 and just being detailed down there.
13:05 And, you know, that was the difference in the game
13:11 when it comes down to it, just, you know,
13:13 forcing field goals and takeaways in the red zone.
13:15 You preach that every week.
13:17 And, you know, the one that jumps out to me,
13:22 you know, we gave up the big third-down conversion there,
13:25 but XT and I think it was Nate ran the guy down
13:28 to give us a chance,
13:30 and we ended up getting a stop there.
13:33 That was big, big time.
13:37 Unfortunately, this ran until noon,
13:40 so I can now ask, and you didn't notice,
13:42 but Jeremiah Trotter's been named
13:43 one of the 12 semifinalists for the Butt Case Award.
13:45 Just how deserving is he of that honor?
13:48 Yeah, I mean, you know, his place speaks for himself,
13:52 but there's not a more deserving young man
13:55 than Jeremiah Trotter, and just the hard work,
13:59 the commitment to Clemson that he makes on a daily basis,
14:04 and just that's really cool to see.
14:07 And, you know, just he exemplifies everything
14:11 that this program's built upon,
14:13 you know, the foundation of the program,
14:16 effort, physicality, toughness,
14:19 you know, just a relentless player,
14:21 and he exemplifies that in all walks of his life,
14:24 type of young man he is, the type of student he is,
14:28 you know, he carries himself at a high standard,
14:35 and really cool and proud of him.
14:39 Got time for one or two more.
14:42 George Tech, Haynes King,
14:44 have watched several of their games,
14:46 and I just call him a football player,
14:49 just kind of a baller.
14:50 No doubt. Makes plays.
14:52 That's what he does.
14:54 What is the challenge in playing an offensive --
14:56 might be, you know, one of the best you've played all year.
14:58 Yeah, definitely, you know, tough kid,
15:01 coach's son, he's got good size,
15:04 but he'll be one of the fastest guys out there Saturday,
15:07 and he's a problem with his running ability,
15:10 and, you know, just a savvy football player,
15:14 like you said, really smart,
15:16 really understands what he's seeing defensively,
15:19 and from a passing game-wise,
15:22 he understands where to go with the football,
15:24 and be a great challenge,
15:26 and they got some good skill players.
15:29 Running back number 11, you know, he's a problem.
15:32 Moved to running back from receiver.
15:35 Got the ability to take it to the house
15:36 any time he touches the ball,
15:38 and then outside, 8 and 13, you know,
15:41 be a great challenge for our defensive backs.
15:44 You know, they're savvy route runners,
15:46 do a good job with the ball in their hands,
15:48 can break tackles,
15:51 so it'll be a great challenge.
15:52 O-line-wise, you know, they take on the personality
15:55 of the head coach, who's an ex-offensive lineman,
15:58 and tough, hard-nosed.
16:00 They're going to fight and claw
16:03 and give you everything they got for 60 minutes.
16:08 Anybody else?
16:10 All right, thank you, Coach.