No Sammy Watkins, No Problem: Revamped Clemson Defense Holds Off Auburn

Clemson won 10 games a surprise ACC championship in 2011 thanks to the emergence of youngsters like Sammy Watkins. A 70-33 beat down in the Orange Bowl and Watkins’ suspension cast a pall over the 2012 season opener against Auburn. But new Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables devised a game plan that contained Auburn to just 19 points, with Vic Beasley stepping up to lead a resurgent side.

The Tiger offense also showed that there’s a lot more to it than just Watkins. The emergence of the run game — namely Andre Ellington. The sophomore erupted for 234 yards to lead Clemson’s output of 528 and Tajh Boyd had an efficient evening: 24-35, 214 yards, 47 yards rushing. Perhaps most impressive was DeAndre Hopkins’ 11-reception, 93-yard showing as the No. 1 target.

Hopkins was a solid complement to Watkins last season, but tonight he stepped out of the long shadow his cohort casts. Dabo Swinney has a versatile offense, and it’s looking like the defense is on its way to matching that. Don’t give the Tigers’ ACC crown away just yet.

Each of the last two winners of this non-conference clash went on to win their league title, and in 2010 Auburn won the BCS Championship. That’s a microscopic sample size to base any kind of analysis on, rather an interesting fact that casts a positive light on the burgeoning rivalry.

Auburn will leave Atlanta with some work to do if it’s to compete in the SEC. AU was in a position to win, which is always a positive. But the many yards the defense surrendered are reminiscent of the problems that plagued last season’s Tigers. Brian VanGorder replaced Ted Roof, but the AU core is still very young. Ellington’s output has to be particularly troubling for VanGorder considering the running back talent the Tigers will face in the SEC.