“Run it Back” is a column by Lauren Merola about college football.
One Clemson coach in particular has his work cut out for him Saturday against No. 4 Notre Dame.
Dabo Swinney? Guess again.
Brent Venables? Close, but no cigar.
The coach most needed to do his job, and do it well, is Adam Smotherman. If not, Clemson could give up dozens of unnecessary yards to Notre Dame.
Smotherman is the Tigers' assistant strength and conditioning coach, but on Saturdays, he’s defensive coordinator Venables' “get-back” coach. Smotherman is responsible for keeping Venables – perhaps the most animated coach in college football – on the sideline at all costs.
In 2014, as Todd Gurley and the Georgia offense terrorized Venables' defense, officials warned Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney that Venables was straying too far from the sideline. One more misstep and he’d be flagged.
Swinney scanned the sideline, saw Smotherman and appointed him Venables' personal get-back coach right then and there.
Coming off a disappointing defensive performance against Boston College in Week 9, the pressure is on Venables to beat No. 4 Notre Dame with an undermanned defense.
Clemson linebacker James Skalski and defensive tackle Tyler Davis haven’t suited up since Week 7 against Georgia Tech. Skalski will miss multiple games after undergoing a groin procedure. Davis has been out with an ankle injury, and his status for Notre Dame is unknown.
Linebacker Mike Jones Jr. missed the Boston College matchup with a hamstring injury and is day-to-day leading up to the Notre Dame game, while defensive end Justin Foster has yet to play a game this season.
Against Boston College, Venables was playing with a depleted defense.
And it looked like it, too.
In Clemson’s last two games, the Tigers have given up a combined 49 points. In their first five games, they only let up 60.
Clemson barely skidded by Boston College with a 34-28 victory, overcoming an 18-point first-half deficit.
The absence of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 29, was felt. But Clemson proved it had a solid replacement in true freshman D.J. Uiagalelei.
The California native put up the numbers needed, throwing for 342 yards, two touchdowns and sporting a 73.2% completion rate. Uiagalelei’s inexperience did show through his numerous overthrown balls, but that’s nothing Swinney can’t fix leading up to Notre Dame.
The Tigers' trusty steed Travis Etienne showed he can do it all. Against the Eagles, the running back added two touchdowns and 224 total yards. Deep in the third quarter, Etienne cemented himself in greatness as the ACC’s all-time leading rusher.
So, the offense wasn’t the main problem against Boston College. It shouldn’t be why Tigers fans are nervous heading into Notre Dame Stadium.
It was the defense, and very well why Smotherman better keep his coach behind those white lines.
There’s a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct ready to be called on coaches who come too far on the field, and Venables is one coach ref’s always have their eye on.
The pressure Venables is under right now to win this football game — against a top team and with a shattered lineup — is unmatched. Venables will be lively, slithering up and down the sidelines, arguing with refs and shooing Smotherman away whenever he can.
Luckily, Smotherman’s been attached to Venables' hip, holding on for dear life for about five years now, so he’s had some practice. But Smotherman — like the rest of the Clemson squad — has to be on his A-game if the Tigers want their best chance at staying undefeated.
This game will come down to inches, even those between Venables and the sideline.
“Run it Back” runs every other Wednesday.