LSU's Offense vs. Clemson's Defense: Part 1 of 2

 LSU's Offense vs. Clemson's Defense: Part 1 of 2

I asked Gemini’s Deep Dive two questions: “How does Tom Allen’s Defensive philosophy mesh with projected defensive starters for Clemson this year?” and “How can LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and LSU’s Offense succeed against a Tom Allen coached Clemson this year?”

Question 1: “How does Tom Allen’s Defensive philosophy mesh with projected defensive starters for Clemson this year?”

Gemini’s Response:

Tom Allen's defensive philosophy, characterized by simplicity, aggression, and emphasis on fundamentals like takeaways, tackling, and effort, seems to be a strong fit for the projected defensive starters at Clemson in 2025.

Here's how Allen's philosophy aligns with the strengths of Clemson's likely starters:

• Defensive Line Powerhouse: Clemson's defensive line, projected as the nation's best in 2025, fits perfectly with Allen's focus on a dominant four-man front. Players like T.J. Parker and Peter Woods are described as "NFL talents" who excel at disrupting the run and generating pressure, aligning with Allen's aggressive approach. Allen's scheme, including a standing edge rusher, can be used to maximize the talent of these players, potentially elevating Parker to a top 5 draft prospect.

• Emphasis on Tackling: Allen's prioritization of tackling addresses a key area of concern for Clemson's defense from the previous season. He emphasized this fundamental aspect from day one, aiming to improve finishing plays correctly, which is crucial for a successful defense.

• Secondary Play: The projected Clemson secondary, featuring players like Avieon Terrell and Ashton Hampton, aligns with Allen's scheme designed to be versatile against modern spread offenses and prevent deep passes. Terrell is expected to be a leader in this area, while Hampton's frame and range make him a good fit for Allen's defensive backfield. The flexibility of the scheme also allows for the utilization of hybrid players like Khalil Barnes in the nickel role.

• Linebacker Potential: Linebackers like Wade Woodaz and Sammy Brown are expected to flourish under Allen's passionate and fiery coaching style. Their ability to "clean up the mess on the second level" behind the powerful defensive line is essential for Allen's scheme. The addition of transfer Jeremiah Alexander further strengthens this unit and offers versatility for Allen to deploy as a SAM linebacker in his 4-2-5 scheme.

• Simple and Adaptable Scheme: Allen's preference for simplicity and adaptability allows the players to focus on fundamentals and play fast, while the coaching staff handles the strategic adjustments. This approach should foster player confidence and enable the team to quickly adapt to opponent game plans. 

In summary, Tom Allen's defensive philosophy, centered on toughness, accountability, and execution of simple, aggressive concepts, appears to mesh well with the projected strengths and personnel of Clemson's defense in 2025. The Tigers' talented defensive line, promising secondary, and developing linebacker corps are well-suited to thrive under Allen's leadership, potentially returning Clemson to defensive dominance. 

My thoughts: TJ Parker and Peter Woods are all stars that Clemson will rely on making the rest of the Clemson defense look good.  I am thinking  that if these two guys can be blocked, Trey’Dez Green and Bauer Sharp might be able to surprise Clemson early and often. I pray that Nuss has and currently is gathering all of the many talented pass catchers that LSU now has and practicing throwing to them morning, noon, and night as his predecessor Joe Burrow did with his group. Need I remind LSU faithful and a few NFL teams that what Joe did back then has worked out really really well for all involved. 

Another thing that articles do not seem to be accounting for is the quality of LSU linemen. Brian Kelly has been attracting really good offensive linemen since his arrival. The questions that remain are:  “Can LSU’s offensive line work well as a unit?”, “Can LSU get everyone manning the offensive trenches on the same page?” “Can LSU’s O-line make in-play adjustments as a single cohesive unit?”      

Clemson has always (in this century) had a fundamentally sound team both on offense and defense.  I think Dabo Swinney’s picture is on the front cover of the made up book “Historically Fundamental Football Coaches”.  My point is I do not believe that Tom Allen coaching fundamentals like “tackling” and “effort” are going to be something new that he has introduced to Clemson’s defensive players.  If I’m wrong, good!, they are not likely to have fixed those problems in his first year as DC.  On the other hand, LSU DC Blake Baker is in his second year and he most definitely had a hand in bringing in the multiple LSU defensive transfers. It is possible that Baker may have seen players that work well with his philosophy.

Notice/disclaimer:  Google’s Gemini can only sort through and pick out highlights from what others (very biased humans) have written.  In short, Gemini’s conclusions are based mostly on who has offered a written opinion and the trend of opinions on the questions that I asked.  My opinion:  there is a defiant magic to LSU football.  For the record: I attended LSU (bachelors), Texas A&M (masters), and Mizzou(2nd masters). My parents met at LSU and are both graduates. My younger brother is an LSU grad and I live in Louisiana. So, my gut tells me that LSU is going to beat Clemson. Don’t let me down, Tigahs!

The articles that Gemini cited for both questions includes:  Althon Sports “Tom Allen’s Defensive Revival”, Clemson Sports News “Clemson’s 2025 Defensive Line”, 247Sports “Update 2025 depth chart projection for Clemson football”, 247Sports “VIP Notebook: A ‘way-too-early’ prediction of Clemson’s . . .”, 247Sports “LSU, Clemson taking opposite approaches in preparation for. . .”, NFL Draft Buzz “Garrett Nussmeier Quarterback LSU”, Daft on Draft “Just how high is Garrett Nussmeier’s ceiling?”, Last Word on Sports “Garrett Nussmeier 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report”, Clemson Sports News “Clemson’s 2025 Defensive Line: Poised to Dominate”, 247Sports “Five biggest questions for Clemson’s defense entering. . .”, Greenville Online “What to know about Tom Allen, new defensive coordinator”, Althon Sports “Column: How Tom Allen is Fixing Last Year’s Problems”, and SportsGrid “Ranking the Top 40 Offenses for the 2025 College Football Season”.