Wallace: Run stop key going forward

Despite winning by 42 points and dominating in most areas of the game Saturday against the Charlotte 49ers, the Clemson Tigers, if they were vulnerable at all, seemed to allow running lanes in the defense for their opponents to scamper through the line for extra yards.

Senior safety K’Von Wallace, who had a standout day against the 49ers with three tackles, two pass breakups and a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown, said his team needed to get better at stopping the run. Charlotte finished the game with 153 yards on the ground.

“Once we execute the game plan with a young defense on the front end, once we understand what to do, or when to do it, when to fit gaps, when to reach and when not to reach, when to steal — once we get that gameplan down, we could be the best defense in the country,” Wallace said. “That’s something we need to improve on, run stop. As the games go on, we’ve been getting nothing but better. Just seeing those young guys get better … play better, have fun and play more as a unit instead of individuals, it’s good for the defense.”

"Sometimes it’s not always bad to get exposed here and there because sometimes you get complacent, so knowing that we need to improve in some areas is definitely encouraging,” he added.

Wallace said giving more inexperienced defensive players additional time on the field was also important for the long-term depth of the team.

"Knowing that as a leader, when you leave here you want the guys behind you to be better,” he said. “Seeing those guys get that experience, seeing those guys make those plays, it's special and needed. They need that experience. They need that moment where they can go out there and make plays and feel comfortable for years to come. As a leader that’s all you want.”

He and other leaders on the team had the desire to help younger players be as good as they can be before they move on from Clemson, Wallace said.

“If you aren’t leaving the guys behind you better than how you left, than what are you doing?” he said. ”I feel us, as a backend, me, Tanner Muse, Nolan Turner, we all want to leave those young safeties to be better than us, watch more film and make more plays. That’s all we encourage. Seeing those guys make a couple plays — like Lannden Zanders make a sack — it was special and big regardless of how much we are playing."

He said he didn’t think playing a limited amount of time in blowouts like the Charlotte game led to field rust because the additional time on the sidelines helps veteran players recover and allows young players to get added experience.

“You see how it benefits your body, your team and your depth,” Wallace said. “Going on through the season — it’s a long season — especially trying to play 15 games, a lot of nicks and bruises, the more possibilities that lead to injury."

One example of a younger player who has benefited from increased play is freshman defensive end K.J. Henry, who had a tackle and two pass breakups against Charlotte.

"He’s playing the run better,” Wallace said about Henry. “We feel comfortable with him playing first, second or third down. We can trust him to fit his gaps, to lead that D-line. Regardless of how young he is, he is a very vocal guy, accountable guy. (It’s) very encouraging to see him go out there, stop the run and make big plays and just get better as a player and as a leader."