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FRIDAY SPRING PRACTICE INSIDER & Freshmen Nuggets
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
One freshman we haven't written about this week is safety Khalil Barnes.
It's no disservice to Barnes, who simply didn't grab our attention like the other two midyear enrollees at defensive back for different reasons -- fellow safety Kylen Webb for his long limbs, cornerback Shelton Lewis for his physical and mental makeup.
We often say it takes two ingredients to play as a freshman: talent and opportunity. The more that exists of one, naturally, the less that's required for the other.
Injuries can change things in a hurry in college football.
But right now, the plan for Barnes has been for him to focus on learning the nickel safety spot within the defense.
And in the short term, Clemson has a lot of guys there.
Clemson true freshman defensive back Khalil Barnes. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Andrew Mukuba, R.J. Mickens and Tyler Venables have ample experience at the position and figure to share duties based on the responsibilities desired from the role on a given play.
The good news for Barnes is that we'd bet the Tigers employed a third safety last season as essentially a base part of their package when personnel percentages are added up.
Mickens and/or Venables technically both have extra COVID years available, but both have to be presumed as coming off the scholarship books after this season. Plus the Tigers, of course, are hoping Mukuba has the caliber of drastic turnaround this season that makes you at least ask the question about NFL Draft consideration.
Barnes looks like he fits right in physically and is probably even a bit broader across the shoulders than we'd given him credit for.
His value, though, tends to surface more in competitive action. And so the process begins of getting the reps to reliably know where to be and how quickly he now needs to get there. -- PAUL STRELOW
Staying on the secondary topic here, we thought Wes Goodwin offered some poignant answers a few days ago when we asked him specifically about the point-of-attack presence last season -- or lack thereof.
For years under Brent Venables, the defensive backs set a standard of physical superiority on the perimeter, in run support, etc.
But that took a pronounced dip in 2020, was a strength again in 2021, and then regressed again last year.
Part of this is just the natural churn of a roster. Some years you're more experienced than others, and after 2021 they lost a lot of players including Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich.
Yet there was something missing in the overall mentality of the back end last year, and that was exemplified in Goodwin's forceful answer to our question.
"We need to get more confident back there and freaking challenge receivers, and play more press-man and tight coverage, and deny releases, get our hands on guys, freaking be violent."
Goodwin pointed out that he's looking for this at all three levels of the defense, so it goes deeper than just the secondary.
He wants more violence everywhere, but defensive back is where that nature should experience an uptick in 2023.
"Especially in today's world where receivers can't cut you on the perimeter, we should win that matchup nine out of 10 times. I want us to be more physical at all three levels, just getting off blocks, sense of urgency -- you should never block us one-for-one is what I say."
Andrew Mukuba is being counted on to lead that charge after a disappointing sophomore season that began with him entering camp at 180 pounds. Dabo Swinney said Mukuba has gained 8-9 pounds since the end of the season, and Goodwin echoed those favorable returns.
"He's changed his body. I've continued to challenge him to keep that weight on and get bigger and stronger. It helps with durability issues as well." -- LARRY WILLIAMS
Check out EVERY officially-licensed CLEMSON hat in The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
FRIDAY SPRING PRACTICE INSIDER & Freshmen Nuggets
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
One freshman we haven't written about this week is safety Khalil Barnes.
It's no disservice to Barnes, who simply didn't grab our attention like the other two midyear enrollees at defensive back for different reasons -- fellow safety Kylen Webb for his long limbs, cornerback Shelton Lewis for his physical and mental makeup.
We often say it takes two ingredients to play as a freshman: talent and opportunity. The more that exists of one, naturally, the less that's required for the other.
Injuries can change things in a hurry in college football.
But right now, the plan for Barnes has been for him to focus on learning the nickel safety spot within the defense.
And in the short term, Clemson has a lot of guys there.
Clemson true freshman defensive back Khalil Barnes. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Andrew Mukuba, R.J. Mickens and Tyler Venables have ample experience at the position and figure to share duties based on the responsibilities desired from the role on a given play.
The good news for Barnes is that we'd bet the Tigers employed a third safety last season as essentially a base part of their package when personnel percentages are added up.
Mickens and/or Venables technically both have extra COVID years available, but both have to be presumed as coming off the scholarship books after this season. Plus the Tigers, of course, are hoping Mukuba has the caliber of drastic turnaround this season that makes you at least ask the question about NFL Draft consideration.
Barnes looks like he fits right in physically and is probably even a bit broader across the shoulders than we'd given him credit for.
His value, though, tends to surface more in competitive action. And so the process begins of getting the reps to reliably know where to be and how quickly he now needs to get there. -- PAUL STRELOW
Staying on the secondary topic here, we thought Wes Goodwin offered some poignant answers a few days ago when we asked him specifically about the point-of-attack presence last season -- or lack thereof.
For years under Brent Venables, the defensive backs set a standard of physical superiority on the perimeter, in run support, etc.
But that took a pronounced dip in 2020, was a strength again in 2021, and then regressed again last year.
Part of this is just the natural churn of a roster. Some years you're more experienced than others, and after 2021 they lost a lot of players including Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich.
Yet there was something missing in the overall mentality of the back end last year, and that was exemplified in Goodwin's forceful answer to our question.
"We need to get more confident back there and freaking challenge receivers, and play more press-man and tight coverage, and deny releases, get our hands on guys, freaking be violent."
Goodwin pointed out that he's looking for this at all three levels of the defense, so it goes deeper than just the secondary.
He wants more violence everywhere, but defensive back is where that nature should experience an uptick in 2023.
"Especially in today's world where receivers can't cut you on the perimeter, we should win that matchup nine out of 10 times. I want us to be more physical at all three levels, just getting off blocks, sense of urgency -- you should never block us one-for-one is what I say."
Andrew Mukuba is being counted on to lead that charge after a disappointing sophomore season that began with him entering camp at 180 pounds. Dabo Swinney said Mukuba has gained 8-9 pounds since the end of the season, and Goodwin echoed those favorable returns.
"He's changed his body. I've continued to challenge him to keep that weight on and get bigger and stronger. It helps with durability issues as well." -- LARRY WILLIAMS
Check out EVERY officially-licensed CLEMSON hat in The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
