Clemson University has hired former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables to fill the same position in Tigertown … news which we referenced in this preview of Clemson’s recruiting class.
Known in Norman, Oklahoma as “The Neck Vein,” Venables appears to have been pushed out of his coordinator’s role when the Sooners welcomed back former co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, who was fired from his head coaching job in Arizona. Stoops is the younger brother of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops.
Venables and Stoops were originally slated to be “co-coordinators” (as they were from 1999-2003 at Oklahoma, when the Sooner “D” was one of the nation’s toughest) although after eight years running the defense himself, that arrangement clearly rubbed Venables the wrong way.
So … is Venables up to the task of rebuilding a Clemson defense that was eviscerated by West Virginia in the 2012 Orange Bowl?
We shall see … but given that blowout (and the tremendous success that Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris had in his first year running the Tigers’ offense), the pressure to produce immediate results will be intense.
Venables has a reputation as a solid recruiter, but the general consensus is that Oklahoma’s defense took a step back during his tenure as sole coordinator in Norman. Obviously a big part of that is the fact that the Big XII has emerged as the nation’s preeminent conference for “big offense,” with up-tempo spread formations putting constant pressure on defensive coordinators to adapt.
In 2011, the Sooners gave up 22.1 points per game – including 40-plus points in losses to Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma State. Of course in Venables’ “defense” (pardon the pun), Oklahoma State and Baylor boasted the nation’s No. 2 and No. 4 passing offensives, respectively. And Baylor was led by Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
By contrast, Clemson gave up nearly 30 points per game under since-departed (fired?) defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.
For a comprehensive review of Venables tenure in Norman (as both a coach and a recruiter), be sure to check out the Clemson blog Shakin’ The Southland. The website has numerous in-depth features devoted to Venables, including an interview with one of Oklahoma’s most widely-read football blogs.
It’s a great source of information for those looking to size up Clemson’s new hire …
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By B-L TIGER January 27, 2012 at 10:13 am
Valid concerns about the Sooner defense are raised, but damn it all, he’s got to be better the K. Steele.
By Clemson Fan January 27, 2012 at 10:36 am
You’re missing the point.
1.) The ACC offenses are much worse than the Big 12
2.) IF our defense had only given up 22.1 points per game last year, they probably wouldve been playing for a national championship. Auburn proved a point. You don’t have to have a dominant defense. They were some where in the 50′s and 60′s. You just have to have a decent defense and an amazing offense. Clemson’s offense was amazing until the terrible defense finally caught up to them. That and Sammy Watkins got hurt.
By GoTigers712 January 27, 2012 at 10:39 am
i was at that game and saw that injury happen, he was outa bounds and the wake player grabbed him by the wrist, cocked, and tried to pull his arm outa the socket. it was one of the dirtiest things i saw all season in any game
By Rick Pitiono January 27, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Cam Newton ain’t walkin’ through that door!
By Mike Traynor January 30, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Let’s see . . . 17 at Georgia Tech (one TD was a late 4th qtr fumble recovery in the end zone), 13 at NCSU (one TD was with a minute to play and scrubbs were on the field), 13 against SC (one of which was after a fumble which the refs missed).
Yeah, that is a national championship offense. NOT!
By GoTigers712 January 27, 2012 at 10:37 am
a lot has been said about how “poorly” venables defense was ranked in recent years, but those rankings are based off of per game averages. OU and CU both run a very fast paced, score at will offense that puts the defense on the field way more than the average team. No defense is going to have negative plays every down, and the longer the your d is on the field, the more yards are going to be gained against it and thats just a simple fact of football, so the way that some people have started ranking defenses is by a per play average, and when you look at that venables defense is in the top 5 in the nation.
the concern i have is that from what im reading, venables, like steele, are not good at making in game adjustments, and thats what killed us during WVU more than anything else. i think WVU ran a total of 11 different plays during the entire OB…their game plan was written on a napkin.
also an article was written by shakin the southland about our S&C coach, whos been there since tommy west. He is using a strength training program that is the equivilent to the power-i or tripple option…tried and true, but archaic and not as effective as it once was. its said that baston’s program doesnt do a good job of developing the hips, which has a direct corelation to run blocking and tackling…guess where clemson was weak last year.
By CarpetMuncher January 27, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Bottom line, you’re getting beat Brad Scott-style. If you go for sexy Februaries with neat skill players, but forget about the big uglies.
It ends like your season did. Ugly.
By BigT January 27, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Brent VULNERABLE…just another Scape Goat for Dabo…
By Mike Traynor January 30, 2012 at 3:00 pm
SO TRUE
By CarpetMuncher January 27, 2012 at 1:20 pm
He’s probably an upgrade over Kevin Steele. Congrats.
It’s tantamount to trading in a guy who has a 1″ cock for one who’s sporting 1.5″. yay.
By Skidmarks January 27, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Daboohoo said Steele was fired because of lack of chemistry. Does that mean ass-kissing needed?
By Truth January 28, 2012 at 7:56 am
Where did Dabo say Steele was fired “because of a lack of chemistry”? What an idiot you are.
By Skidmarks January 30, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Google: Dabo Steele chemistry.
Lots of references.
By BigT January 29, 2012 at 2:39 pm
This is the FUNNEST Clemson has EVER been…
After the way 2011 ended…I cannot wait to see what Dabo will do in 2012…I’m stocking up on popcorn for what is sure to be a great spectacle…
PS: FITS, make sure you employ Jordan Dominick to tell us how GREAT Clemson will be (again)….
I love how all the Kool-Aid drinkers, like FITS, get their National Champioship tickets, only to end up selling them in Decemebr, to SEC fans, when those Orange wheels fall off….
Will yall ever learn…HaHaHa…
By GoTigers712 January 30, 2012 at 9:44 am
hey t, you know whats funny. yall might have gotten off the hook fo the whitney nonsense, even though you probably wont…but i just heard that the NCAA is looking at that poster for the NYE party that used clowney’s image in football gear as a REPEAT OFFENSE…good luck with that
By Steve V January 30, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Really? You got people that work in the NCAA office?(can’t believe I just used CNSYD’s argument). Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see. The only “repeat” you should be worried about is the ass whooping in November. Print that, tweet that.
By Mike Traynor January 30, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Clemson in the national championship game?
WERE WE WATCHING THE SAME SEASON???
Clemson will never have a contender as long as Dabo is there. He will not stop talking.
Oops, I think West Virginia just scored again.