After watching Clemson allow 519 yards of offense in Saturday’s 47-40 double-overtime loss to Notre Dame, including 209 rushing and 310 passing, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes right now, the Tigers’ defense is missing the kind of game-changing playmakers it has consistently had in recent years – especially on the defensive line.
Herbstreit recognizes Clemson is banged up on that side of the ball and played against the Fighting Irish without starting defensive tackle Tyler Davis (lower leg) and starting linebackers James Skalski (groin) and Mike Jones (hamstring), while safeties Nolan Turner and Lannden Zanders, cornerbacks Sheridan Jones and Andrew Booth, and defensive linemen Bryan Bresee and Justin Mascoll were all banged up or injured during Saturday’s game.