Clemson's Venables says defense is good, not great

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables knows what great defenses look like. He hasn't seen that yet from his latest group of Tigers.

"We are a good unit right now. We are not a great unit," Venables said. "We've had some great moments, but we are not a suffocating unit yet."

The fourth-ranked Tigers (7-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) will try and suffocate struggling Florida State (2-6, 1-6) on Saturday.

Venables has been in charge of Clemson's defense since 2012. He's also been an integral part of the Tigers' five straight ACC titles and two national championships.

On this team, Venables sees the cracks that have come from injuries and not enough playmaking. Clemson is 13th overall nationally, yielding 301 yards a game and ranks 24th in both passing yards and rushing yards allowed.

The Tigers gave up just 60 points total their first five games and 102 combined in their last three.

It's good, just not good enough, in Venables' view.

"We have to get better to make a run at this," he said. "We have to improve."

Clemson must also get healthy. Linebacker James Skalski will miss the Florida State game, but starting defensive tackle Tyler Davis should be back for the first time in more than a month.

Florida State has had difficulties finding consistency in coach Mike Norvell's first season. But the Seminoles know this is a chance for a signature victory in an otherwise disappointing year.

"We kind of expect everyone to look down upon us," Seminoles tailback Jashaun Corbin said. "But we love the challenge. Clemson is a great team, but I like where we are at and the guys that we have."

Clemson has some good guys, too, especially at quarterback where Heisman Trophy contender Trevor Lawrence returns after missing the past two games since testing positive for COVID-19. Lawrence said he feels healthy, strong and confident he can keep the Tigers in championship contention down the stretch.

Some other things to watch for when No. 4 Clemson plays at Florida State:

REVERSAL OF FORTUNE

Clemson is a on an ACC run of Florida State like proportions. When the Seminoles joined the league in 1992, they went on to win nine straight conference titles and two national championships. They also held a dominant 17-6 record over the Tigers from 1992-2014. But since then, it's been Clemson in control with five ACC crowns, two national titles and five straight wins over FSU.

JOB STATUS

It's that time of the season when Clemson coordinators get name checked for potential job openings. This time its offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, whose name has been connected to the South Carolina opening after it fired Will Muschamp last Sunday. Elliott, though, said he's got a job that demands his full attention. "I'm focused on these players and the staff right here," he said. Elliott's co-coordinator Jeff Scott left to become South Florida's head coach after last season.

POWELL'S TIME

Clemson receiver Cornell Powell is making the most of his final season. Powell, a fifth-year senior, has been one of the Tigers' go-to wideouts in a year when Tee Higgins left for the NFL and Justyn Ross missed the year with injury. Powell has had 17 catches for 266 yards and a touchdown in Clemson's past two games. He had 14 catches for 152 yards and two scores in the Tigers' first six games.

GAINING STEAM

Florida State could be finding itself offensively as this season goes on. The Seminoles averaged 230 yards rushing in its four games in October to rank fourth in the ACC. Florida State's 435-yard total offense average was seventh best in the league during that stretch. Those numbers, though, fell off in the past two losses to Pitt and North Carolina State, as Florida State ran for 146.5 yards and 318 yards overall.

QUARTERBACK SHUFFLE

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis was out the past game-and-half with a concussion. But Seminoles coach Mike Norvell said the team was "excited" to have Travis back on the field and working out. Travis is expected to play against Clemson. Freshman backup Chubba Purdy is out for the year after having a third surgery for a collarbone injury suffered in August.

NO. 4 CLEMSON @ FLORIDA STATE

No. 4 Clemson (7-1, 6-1 ACC) at Florida State (2-6, 1-6), Saturday at noon EST (ABC).

Line: Clemson by 35.

Series record: Florida State leads 20-13.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Clemson's chase of a sixth straight ACC title and sixth spot in the College Football Playoff. The Tigers lost at No. 2 Notre Dame last time out and another defeat would surely end that run. Florida State is seeking a signature win for the first-year program of Mike Norvell.

KEY MATCHUP

Clemson tailback Travis Etienne against Florida State's defensive front. Etienne, the two-time defending ACC player of the year, has slowed his production the past two games, managing just 112 rushing yards combined. He could find his footing against the Seminoles, which is 11th in the ACC in most yards given up on the ground.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Clemson: QB Trevor Lawrence has spent three weeks off the field, missing two straight games due to a COVID-19 positive and recovering his stamina and touch during the Tigers bye week. Lawrence is eager to get back to the game in what's expected to be his final season in college.

Florida State: CB Asante Samuel Jr. leads the Seminoles with three interceptions and six pass breakups. He'll be waiting for any wobbly or underthrown ball by Lawrence in this matchup of two players likely to be first-round NFL draft picks next spring.

FACTS & FIGURES

Florida State is the youngest team in the Football Bowl Subdivision with nearly three-quarters of their roster (73.6%) sophomores or freshman. ... Clemson lost 17 of its first 23 games against Florida State after the Seminoles joined the ACC. The Tigers have won five straight in the series since. ... Florida State blocked three kicks to tie a school record against Georgia Tech in September. Clemson had three kicks blocked in a win over Miami this past October. ... Clemson lost a regular-season game for just third time in the past six seasons. The two previous times, the Tigers went on to an ACC title and the College Football Playoff. ... Florida State has attempted 26 fourth downs this season, converting 14 of them. That's one shy of the program best set in 2004. ... Clemson WR Amari Rodgers has caught at least six passes in six consecutive games. One more will set a program record.