Steele Puts Pepper In Clemson's Grits

Clemson was ranked 13th in the nation in scoring defense in 2008 under Vic Koenning, but the defense tended to struggle in the 2nd half after limiting the opposing team's offense in the 1st half.

Insert Kevin Steele.



The biggest difference between Koenning's defense and Steele's defense is that Steele makes superb halftime adjustments and develops a scheme that produces a lot of big plays even though their stats in terms of Scoring Defense and Total Defense are virtually the same.

Below is a breakdown of offensive points allowed versus Division I teams in 2008 versus 2009 broken down by quarter.





Koenning's defense actually outperformed Steele's defense by 26 points in the 1st half, but Steele's defense outperformed Koenning's defense by 22 points in the 2nd half. Steele's defense makes adjustments while Koenning's defense had adjustments made against it.

The next most important defensive stat to pure "Scoring Defense" is "Turnover Forced" and Steele's defense is forcing 2.45 per game compared to 2.15 per game under Koenning last year.

I am not knocking Vic Koenning because Koenning didn't have the advantage of working under a competent offensive coordinator or have as good of assistant coaches or quite as much talent defensively, but Steele is on another level in terms of making adjustments and developing a scheme that results in momentum changing plays like turnovers and sacks.

Simple put Steele puts pepper in his player's grits.

Hats off to all the coaches and players for winning the Atlantic!