Taking inventory: Safety

Clemson ended its season less than a week ago, but it’s never too early to look ahead. The Clemson Insider is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this season and where the Tigers stand with each entering the …

Clemson ended its season less than a week ago, but it’s never too early to look ahead.

The Clemson Insider is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this season and where the Tigers stand with each entering the offseason. Quarterback, running back, tight end, receiver, center, guard, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker and cornerback have already been assessed.

Next up is safety.

A quick note first: This is where things currently stand with Clemson’s personnel at safety. With the one-time transfer rule and recruiting still in full effect, things are always subject to change. This story will be updated as needed to reflect any future modifications at the position.

2021 in review

The season got off to an inauspicious start at the position with both starting safeties on the mend. But with the help of the collective group, including a breakthrough freshmen, the back end of Clemson’s defense was solidified throughout the season.

Lannden Zanders underwent season-ending shoulder surgery after the opener against Georgia, a game veteran Nolan Turner missed because of an injury. Jalyn Phillips filled in as a starter in that game as did newcomer Andrew Mukuba, and the rest is history.

Mukuba played in all 13 games with 10 starts, becoming one of the ACC’s top freshmen over the course of the season. The league’s defensive rookie of the year finished fifth on the team in tackles and led Clemson with nine pass breakups. Turner eventually returned, starting all 10 games he played in his sixth and final season with the program. He finished fourth on the team in tackles.

The injuries gave Clemson a chance to develop some of their depth at the position beyond Phillips, who filled in for a hobbled Turner during the bowl game, too. Phillips tallied 39 tackles and three pass breakups on the season, but R.J. Mickens and Tyler Venables also saw their snap counts increase, especially after Joseph Charleston opted to transfer early in the season.

Mickens played in all 13 games while Venables, the son of former defensive coordinator Brent Venables, appeared in all but one. There were times Clemson even played three safeties at the same time depending on the matchup. As a result, the top five players in the rotation at the position each logged at least 245 snaps for a defense that finished second nationally in points allowed (14.8 per game) and 34th in passing yards allowed (209.2).

Zanders, a junior, is in line to return for another season while Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Venables doesn’t plan to follow his dad to Oklahoma, so the Tigers are keeping some key pieces intact here. But with a few safeties set to depart the program, Clemson could use some more depth at the position.

Who’s leaving?

Turner, Charleston, Ray Thornton (transfer)

Who’s staying?

Mukuba, Zanders, Phillips, Mickens, Venables

Who’s joining?

Clemson has signed a pair of safeties to its 2022 recruiting class in Oscar Smith High (Virginia) standout Sherrod Covil Jr. and Jesuit High (Florida) product Wade Woodaz, who could play safety or linebacker but projects in the secondary in college. And the Tigers might not be done here.

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Multiple starters unavailable for UConn game

Clemson has announced which players will be unavailable for today’s game against UConn, including two starters. Offensive lineman Will Putnam, cornerback Andrew Booth, Jr. and safety Jalyn Phillips are among players that began the week on the depth …

Clemson has announced which players will be unavailable for today’s game against UConn, including two starters.

Offensive lineman Will Putnam, cornerback Andrew Booth, Jr. and safety Jalyn Phillips are among players that began the week on the depth chart that will not be available because of injuries, COVID-19 protocols or other undisclosed reasons.

The absence of Putnam, who will miss his second straight game because of an ankle injury, isn’t a surprise. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said early in the week that Putnam likely would not play. It puts Mason Trotter in line for his second straight start at right guard.

Clemson is likely being cautious with Booth after he suffered a “stinger” in the team’s 30-24 win over Louisville last Saturday.

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Swinney couldn’t be happier with the play of Clemson’s young safeties

During Tuesday’s media availability, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had some high praise for a certain position group that’s flown under the radar this season. While Clemson’s safeties haven’t been a hot topic of discussion this season, they played …

During Tuesday’s media availability, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had some high praise for a certain position group that’s flown under the radar this season.

While Clemson’s safeties haven’t been a hot topic of discussion this season, they played arguably their best game this season at Louisville and stepped up with the game of the line.

With Saturday’s game coming down to the wire, it was the play of two freshman safeties — Andrew Mukuba and R.J. Mickens — which helped seal a 30-24 win for Clemson at Louisville.

Mukuba and Mickens combined for four tackles on Louisville’s final two offensive possessions.

It was Mukuba, who sacked Cardinals quarterback Malik Cunnigham on a critical fourth down and then Mickens, who stopped Cunnigham from finding the endzone on Clemson’s imperative goal-line stand.

It generally takes defensive players about a year or two, as far as a learning curve is concerned, but these two players aren’t your typical freshman. Just ask Swinney

“That’s why we recruited them,” Swinney said. “That’s a tough position, especially on defense, it does usually take a year. Last year, we were fortunate the year we didn’t count. So, Mickens is just a redshirt freshman, but he got some good experience last year and he was able to really learn. He’s a very smart player. He knows the game. He’s not your typical freshman walking in here from a football foundation standpoint. His dad [Ray Mickens] was a long-time pro. He was a great defensive back for a long time. He just came in here and physically needed to develop.”

Mickens has since come in and developed his body. He’s gotten stronger and worked hard to get to where is now, seeing a significant number of snaps during Saturday’s game.

“But, instincts and understanding of the game are very natural to Mickens,” Swinney added.

Swinney then talked about Jalyn Phillips, who’s also gotten into the mix at safety. While Phillips is a player that Clemson is excited about, his development hasn’t come as naturally as it has for both Mickens and Mukuba.

“Then you’ve got a guy like Jalyn Phillips, he’s a redshirt sophomore,” he explained. “He redshirted, got a little experience last year, and now…you’re starting to see that light really come on for him. That’s kind of the typical progression.”

It’s quite obvious the affinity that Swinney has for Mukuba. He contrasts from both Mickens and Phillips because he is, in fact, just a true freshman.

“Mukuba, he’s just a rare freshman,” Swinney said. He got a little overwhelmed. There’s a little stretch there where you start, he was awesome. When you’re in camp and really just seeing one team and its base stuff and then you get into heavy install, week-to-week game plan application, those types of things and he hits a little bit of a wall…he’s settled in. He’s learned everything, he knows it. But, he’s not your typical freshman. He covers up mistakes…Mukuba, he’s gonna be a good one.”

Swinney indicated that Mukuba is one of those rare guys, who’s fast enough to cover up some of the mistakes he may make as an 18-year-old.

He went on to praise the entire group and the job that safeties coach Mickey Conn has done with his particular unit.

“That whole group, I’m really pleased with the safeties. Nolan [Turner] has done a great job. He’s played banged up too. He’s been a great leader for us. Our safety group has been a real plus for us. Mickey has done a great job.”

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Swinney ‘really proud’ of Phillips’ development

Dabo Swinney is really encouraged by the development of this redshirt sophomore safety. Jalyn Phillips played 33 snaps in Clemson’s 10-3 season-opening loss to Georgia in Charlotte. In the next four games, he totaled just 69 snaps altogether. That …

Dabo Swinney is really encouraged by the development of this redshirt sophomore safety.

Jalyn Phillips played 33 snaps in Clemson’s 10-3 season-opening loss to Georgia in Charlotte. In the next four games, he totaled just 69 snaps altogether. That more so had to do with the emergence of true freshman Andrew Mukuba than the play of the Lawrenceville Ga. native.

Now, he’s back in the mix again and receiving significant playing time in Clemson’s backend.

“He’s a redshirt sophomore and just has really matured…He’s stayed the course,” Dabo Swinney said Tuesday. He’s very detailed in his preparation. He’s very detailed in his practice habits. He shows up every day and man, he shows up to compete. You have to compete here. You have to compete. And man, he’s just a great competitor, who takes a lot of pride in his performance, a lot of pride in his knowledge of the game. I’m really proud of him.”

As Mukuba has hit the proverbial “freshmen wall” and Brent Venables has utilized more three safety looks, it enabled Phillips to see an uptick in snaps. Especially in Clemson’s last two games, with Phillips seeing a total of 77 defensive snaps against Pitt and 55 against Florida State.

While he stumbled a bit in coverage in Clemson’s 30-20 win over FSU this past Saturday, earning a Pro Football Focus coverage garde of 44.7, he excelled from a run defense and tackling standpoint. He graded out 69.3 and 77.7 in those categories, respectively.

Against FSU, Phillips was targeted six times, allowing four receptions (66.7%) and 69 total receiving yards.

As the season goes on, Phillips will need to continue to progress in his coverage abilities, but if the last two games and his coach’s comments are any indications, he’s clearly gained the trust of the coaching staff.

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Why is Mukuba’s snap count decreasing?

Andrew Mukuba showed just how different of a true freshman he is when he was inserted into the starting lineup for his first career game. As an early enrollee, Clemson’s first-year safety used the spring to start getting caught up to the speed of …

Andrew Mukuba showed just how different of a true freshman he is when he was inserted into the starting lineup for his first career game.

As an early enrollee, Clemson’s first-year safety used the spring to start getting caught up to the speed of the college game. Mukuba then debuted as a starter against Georgia back on Sept. 4 in part because veteran Nolan Turner was nursing a shoulder injury at the time, but the four-star signee remained a starter alongside Turner when the latter returned three games into the season.

“He’s one of the best signees we’ve had around here in the secondary in a long time,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “He is really, truly a dynamic player.”

Yet after starting the first six games, Mukuba has come off the bench in the last two and seen his playing time decrease significantly, even with the Tigers putting more defensive backs on the field. Clemson has started the last three games in an odd-man front with three safeties on the back end. Turner has been the mainstay with some combination of Jalyn Phillips, Tyler Venables and R.J. Mickens joining him in the starting lineup against Pitt and, most recently, Florida State.

Mukuba’s most recent start came against Syracuse on Oct. 15. He had three tackles and a pass breakup in 45 snaps, his second-fewest at the time. The following week against a pass-happy Pitt team, Mukuba only saw the field for 12 defensive snaps. He got about 25 in Clemson’s win over FSU on Saturday, Swinney said.

Mukuba is tied for fifth on the team with 30 tackles, and only cornerback Mario Goodrich matches his five pass breakups. So why has Mukuba seen his playing time decrease?

Swinney said some of it comes down to the kind of offenses Clemson has seen over the last three weeks. But a lot of it is a result of the number of viable options that have been developed at that position over the course of the season.

“We’ve got good players,” Swinney said. “Jalyn Phillips is playing really well for us right now. Mickens has really come on. So we’ve just got good depth, but Mukuba is doing great.”

Phillips and Venables, who had an interception against Syracuse, joined Turner in the starting lineup against FSU. Phillips tied for second on the team with five tackles while Turner and Venables combined for four stops against the run-heavy Seminoles, but Mukuba shuffled in and out and was Johnny on the spot for the Tigers early in the fourth quarter with Clemson clinging to a 17-13 lead.

Treshaun Ward fumbled at the end of a run near midfield, and Mukuba pounced on the loose ball for the turnover. He also had two tackles and his latest pass breakup as part of a safety rotation that looks like it’s going to continue as long as the Tigers stay healthy there.

“He’s tough and athletic,” Swinney said. “Great tackler. Great ball skills. Still learning. Schematically, there’s a lot that you’ve got to process, but I’m proud of him. The biggest thing I think is just the development of our depth on the back end and a lot of guys earning playing time.”

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