re: Reasons for Optimism in 2015 (Not for the Faint of Heart)

#4b Kevin Steele
I would like to say first that surrendering 70 points in a non-OT game is a deserved black eye for any DC. With that out of the way, I would like to dissect his time as the DC at Clemson using the same statistics used above, as well as provide a glimpse into the personnel on the field at the time.

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Clemson Defenses against Power 5 Opponents
Yards/Play (Rank) Points/Play (Rank) 3rd % (Rank)
2009..... 4.5 (14)......... .30 (22)........ 40.3 (68)
2010..... 4.8 (17)......... .27 (13)........ 38.3 (44)
2011..... 5.4 (66)......... .41 (73)........ 41.2 (68)

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The 2009 Clemson Defense returned 8 starters from the previous year, and featured 6 current NFL players (4 DL). Likewise, the 2010 Clemson Defense returned 6 starters from the previous year, and featured 6 current NFL players (4 DL).

In what may not be regarded as a huge variance, the 2011 Clemson Defense returned only 5 starters from the previous year, and featured 5 current NFL players (3 DL).

Additionally, there does seem to be a mild gap in talent between the rosters as indicated by 247 Composite Rankings.

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2009
Returning Starters – 8
.9997 - DE – DaQuan Bowers
.8875 - NG – Jarvis Jenkins
.9704 – NG – Brandon Thompson
.9853 - BE – Ricky Sapp

.9215 - SLB – Scotty Cooper
.8146 - MLB – Brandon Mayes
.7556 - WLB – Kavell Conner

.8667 - CB – Chris Chancellor
.8875 - CB – Crezdon Butler
.8000 - FS – Sadat Chambers
.9127 - SS – DeAndre McDaniel

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2010
Returning Starters – 6
*.9997 - DE – DaQuan Bowers
*.9704 - NG – Brandon Thompson
*.8875 - DT – Jarvis Jenkins
.7899 - BE – Andre Branch

.8567 – SLB – Quandon Christian
.8567 – MLB – Corico Hawkins
*.8146 - WLB – Brandon Mayes

.9629 - CB – Marcus Gilchrist
.9281 - CB – Byron Maxwell
.8579 – FS - Rashard Hall
*.9127 - SS – DeAndre McDaniel

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2011
Returning Starters - 5
.9673 - DE – Mallicah Goodman
*.9704 - NT – Brandon Thompson
.8537 - DT – Rennie Moore
*.7899 - BE – Andre Branch

*.8567 - SLB – Quandon Christian
*.8567 - MLB – Corico Hawkins
WLB – Jonathan Willard

.7566 - CB – Coty Sensabaugh
.9322 - CB – Xavier Brewer
*.8579 - FS – Rashard Hall
.8875 - SS – Jonathan Meeks

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A side-by-side average of these composite rankings by year is as follows:
.......2009....... 2010....... 2011
DL .9607........ .9119....... .8953
LB .8305........ .8427....... .8567*
DB .8667....... .9154....... .8585
Total .8850..... .8900...... .8702

While this does not explain the DEGREE of the decline from 2010-11, it at least suggests a relationship.

Which brings me to....

#5 Talent

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Offense - Returning Starters - 9
.9645 - QB – Brandon Harris
*.9135 – QB – Anthony Jennings

*.9996 - RB – Leonard Fournette
.9027 – RB – Darrel Williams

*.8885 – WR – Travin Dural
*.9915 - WR – Malachi Dupre
*.9627 – WR – Trey Quinn
.9200 – WR – Avery Peterson
.9186 – WR – John Diarse

*.8770 – TE – Dillon Gordon
.9225 - TE – Jacory Washington
.9420 – TE – DeSean Smith

*.9728 - OT – Ethan Pocic
*.8897 – OT – Jerald Hawkins

*.9311 – OG – Vadal Alexander
.9316 – OG – Josh Boutte
.9517 - OG – Garrett Brumfield


.9054 – C – Will Clapp
.8886 - C – Andy Dodd

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Defense - Returning Starters – 8
.8848 - DE – Sione Teuhema
.9324 - DE – Deondre Clark
*.9004 - DT – Christian Lacouture
*.9328 - DT – Davon Godchaux
.9187 - DE – Tashawn Bower
.9589 - DE – Arden Key

*.9021 - OLB – Lamar Louis
*.9664 - MLB – Kendell Beckwith
*.8868 - OLB – Deion Jones

*.9732 - CB – Tre White
.9948 - CB – Kevin Tolliver
*.8532 - S – Jalen Mills
*.9847 - S – Jamal Adams

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The Talent acquired in the last several years, specifically the first Back-to-Back Top 5 Recruiting Finishes in Miles' tenure is matched only by a chosen few. What's more, the 2016 Class may be the best yet.

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.9760 - QB - Feleipe Franks (6-5/220)

.9533 - WR - Dee Anderson (6-4/177)
.9529 - WR - Stephen Sullivan (6-6/222)
.9236 - WR - Mykel Jones (6-0/180)
.9205 - TE - Jamal Pettigrew (6-6/218)

.9984 - OT - Gregory Little (6-5.5/305)
.9831 - OT - Willie Allen (6-7.5/300)
.9436 - OG - Donavaughn Campbell (6-5/340)
.8996 - OG - Darius Whitfield (6-3/265)

.9951 - DE - Shavar Manuel (6-4/290)
.9896 - DT - Rashard Lawrence (6-4/300)
.9893 - DT - Edwin Alexander (6-2/310)
.9022 - DT - Glen Logan (6-4/270)
.9000 - DT - Stephon Taylor (6-5/260)

.9756 - OLB - Keion Joyner (6-3/200)
.9664 - OLB - Michael Divinity (6-2/218)
.9547 - OLB - Eric Fowler (6-1/232)
.9469 - OLB - Jeffrey McCulloch (6-2/225)
.9308 - OLB - Devin White (6-0.5/235)
.8591 - OLB - Clifford Chattman (6-4/175)

.9909 - CB _ Savion Smith (6-1/ 1175)
.9795 - CB - Trayvon Mullen (6-2/175)
.9789 - CB - Kristian Fulton (6-0/165)
.9119 - CB - Andraez Williams (6-1/160)
.9816 - S - Eric Monroe (6-0/180)
.9767 - S - Deontay Anderson (6-1/192)
.8975 - S - Cameron Lewis (6-1/192)

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*Apologies to the recruitniks, I haven't followed the developments of these players since the OP.