🏈 From the pregame analysis I've seen

[musso]

It seems like Clemson's best CB is expected to neutralize Ridley, their impressive secondary as a whole will be more challenging than Mich St's, and their D front will limit Henry's impact similar to Mich St's D front.

Does anyone expect Kiffin to resort to more passes to O.J., speed sweeps with Drake and the WRs, and maybe Coker runs?

 

[BamaFan334]

Well Jalen Tabor and Vernon Hargreaves III couldn't stop him, so I don't expect Clemson's boy to be able to. Notre Dame and Florida State both had their receivers go for some good yardage against Clemson, so I expect the best freshman in the country, Top 5 receiver in college football to find a way to get the ball.

 

[rammerjammer]

Of note, MSU secondary was pretty sucky according to national pundits. Their strength was the front 7. We attacked their weaknesses and exposed them pretty well. I'm sure we will do some of what you mentioned in order to loosen them up, but I expect us to be able to run on Clemson a little better. Enough to the point of Henry busting 100 yds.

 

[94 Grad]

Clemson didn't do much to stop Cook in the FSU game... he had 194 yards on 21 carries aver 9.2 yards per carry... I watched that game as my wife is an FSU alumni and Clemson stacked the bock and still couldn't stop the run. FSU lost the game because of turnovers and giving up some quick play TD's.

I would expect a heavy dose of Henry in this game and as long as the game stays close, you'll see a pound first option from Bama until the damn burst open. I don't think Clemnson has the tools to stop our run game.

Really, looking at this game it's pretty simple... Bama needs to not turn the ball over and not give up quick strick TD's. I don't feel that Clemson can move the ball 80 yards and score on our Defesne so as long as we don't give them the sort field or some jump ball bombs... I don't think we lose this game. It may be closer than we'd like through 3 quarters, but as long as we can pound through-out the 3 quarters first and not have to play catch up... by the 4th quarter I see their Defense completely breaking.

 

[BigCrimson]

I'll reserve conceding how great Clemson's secondary is until I see them hold down our WR's. If they plan on stopping Henry they will more than likely have to put eight men in the box which will leave somebody one on one.

 

[OldPlayer]

Kiffin will look to see where Clemson has gaps when they line up. This is why you see Coker looking to the sideline after the huddle breaks. They can check out of plays into plays that work.

 

[planomateo]

Too many close games is the Clemson team I see... That OU game "might" have been different too without the injuries.

                                              
                                               
Rk         Date              Opponent    Result
1    2015-09-05               Wofford W (49-10)
2    2015-09-12     Appalachian State W (41-10)
3    2015-09-17            Louisville W (20-17)
4    2015-10-03            Notre Dame W (24-22)
5    2015-10-10          Georgia Tech W (43-24)
6    2015-10-17        Boston College W (34-17)
7    2015-10-24            Miami (FL)  W (58-0)
8    2015-10-31  North Carolina State W (56-41)
9    2015-11-07         Florida State W (23-13)
10   2015-11-14              Syracuse W (37-27)
11   2015-11-21           Wake Forest W (33-13)
12   2015-11-28        South Carolina W (37-32)
13   2015-12-05        North Carolina W (45-37)
14   2015-12-31              Oklahoma W (37-17)
       14 Games                                

 

[UAgrad93]

2015 Clemson reminds me of 2012 Notre Dame. Yes, they were undefeated coming in but seemed to dodge a few bullets that led to the misleading record.

 

[rammerjammer]

2015 Clemson reminds me of 2012 Notre Dame. Yes, they were undefeated coming in but seemed to dodge a few bullets that led to the misleading record.

I sooooo hope this is the case. Good analogy.

 

[OriginalBamachris]

I don't think MSU did anything to limit Henry. He was still averaging 3+ yards per carry. He just wasn't the focus of the game plan. I think if Bama had pounded MSU late into the 3rd and throughout the 4th quarter, Henry would have dominated in stats, but that wasn't the plan. Even without Henry pounding MSU, remember, he threw that 260 pound defensive player like a ragdoll.

As far as corners, Hargraves from FL is the best in college football. Ridley and Coker abused him.

I believe Bama wins big. Couple of slow drives of no note to start as the team gets a feel for Clemson, then the pounding begins.

 

[TerryP]

I don't think MSU did anything to limit Henry.

You'd be right.

 

[wiregrass_bamaguy]

I just can not get a feel for this game. Im confident that we have better talent but I just can not decide if this is going to be a high scoring affair or if it will be dominated by the defenses. Maybe Im giving their offense too much credit or not giving our offense enough credit to be able to hang 30 plus on them. Historically, we have owned them and when is the last time Alabama lost a national championship game?

 

[PhillyGirl]

Too many close games is the Clemson team I see... That OU game "might" have been different too without the injuries.

                                             
                                              
Rk         Date              Opponent    Result
1    2015-09-05               Wofford W (49-10)
2    2015-09-12     Appalachian State W (41-10)
3    2015-09-17            Louisville W (20-17)
4    2015-10-03            Notre Dame W (24-22)
5    2015-10-10          Georgia Tech W (43-24)
6    2015-10-17        Boston College W (34-17)
7    2015-10-24            Miami (FL)  W (58-0)
8    2015-10-31  North Carolina State W (56-41)
9    2015-11-07         Florida State W (23-13)
10   2015-11-14              Syracuse W (37-27)
11   2015-11-21           Wake Forest W (33-13)
12   2015-11-28        South Carolina W (37-32)
13   2015-12-05        North Carolina W (45-37)
14   2015-12-31              Oklahoma W (37-17)
       14 Games                               

They struggled against Syracuse. SYRACUSE. How on earth ..

 

[ComeOnSon]

I'll reserve conceding how great Clemson's secondary is until I see them hold down our WR's. If they plan on stopping Henry they will more than likely have to put eight men in the box which will leave somebody one on one.

Kiffin talked about the fact that Clemson plays more man-to-man than Mich. St. in his presser on Wednesday. I like Ridley and/or Stewart in any match up like that.

 

[XXL TideFan]

You'd be right.

We were successful with our game plan and kept Henry from getting banged up. Once it was determined that we were going to be successful, I believe the decision was made to save him because of the short time between games.

 

[Trob]

Too many close games is the Clemson team I see... That OU game "might" have been different too without the injuries.



Rk Date Opponent Result
1 2015-09-05 Wofford W (49-10)
2 2015-09-12 Appalachian State W (41-10)
3 2015-09-17 Louisville W (20-17)
4 2015-10-03 Notre Dame W (24-22)
5 2015-10-10 Georgia Tech W (43-24)
6 2015-10-17 Boston College W (34-17)
7 2015-10-24 Miami (FL) W (58-0)
8 2015-10-31 North Carolina State W (56-41)
9 2015-11-07 Florida State W (23-13)
10 2015-11-14 Syracuse W (37-27)
11 2015-11-21 Wake Forest W (33-13)
12 2015-11-28 South Carolina W (37-32)
13 2015-12-05 North Carolina W (45-37)
14 2015-12-31 Oklahoma W (37-17)
14 Games

I only see two games on that schedule that are close and that on paper shouldn't have been(Louisville and South Carolina), the rest they were either playing a top 15 team or won comfortably by double digits. I wouldn't say they struggled with Syracuse, from the box score it just looks like they let them hang around a bit. The score was 31-17 at the half. In comparison, we probably had a couple of games that on paper, probably shouldn't have been as close in Tennessee and auburn. Sure, UT looks to be on the upswing and rivalry games can be tough but neither of those teams are as loaded with talent like Bama. Then you have the SECCG which everyone thought was going to be huge shutout/blowout but the Gators made the score look relatively respectable(while Bama was never really in danger of losing it wasn't exactly the dominance everyone was predicting).

I just say this to say don't underestimate this Clemson squad just because of a few scores on their schedule. Don't underestimate them at all; they probably have more talent on both sides of the ball than anyone Bama has played this year. They are battle-tested too.