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Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com
How Clemson sees Alabama's offense entering the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl semifinal.
These two obviously know each other.
Clemson's starting defense includes eight players who either started or played significant time in January's 35-31 win over Alabama in the CFP national championship. That number is about seven for the Crimson Tide offense.
After playing each other to close the last two seasons, it's clear Alabama and Clemson are well acquainted. But what's different about how the Tigers view the Tide offense? A few starters helped explain it Thursday.
"Yeah, they do a lot as far as the ways they get the playmakers the ball in space especially," said Clemson cornerback Ryan Carter. "They do a good job of getting them in open field and getting those one-on-one situations where it's tough for a DB to come up and make a tackle in that open space so they're doing a lot better job of getting their playmakers the ball on the perimeter and I think we have to do our best job of rallying those type of tackles and rallying to that space and things like that."
Alabama is on its third different offensive coordinator in the three postseason meetings it has had with Clemson. Lane Kiffin was in charge for the 2015 championship before Steve Sarkisian took over a week before January's game. Now it's up to Brian Daboll to steer the Tide offense against the top-ranked Tigers on New Year's Day in the Superdome.
"They're doing things a little bit different but of course it's the same old Alabama," Carter added. "They're going to pound the ball. They're going to run it down your throat."
This is new territory for Daboll, who has been an NFL assistant since he was a GA for Nick Saban at Michigan State in the late 1990s. He's not used to having this full month off between the regular season and the playoff.
"There will definitely be some wrinkles," said Clemson linebacker Dorian O'Daniel. "But I don't think there will be too much because that's a program that believes in what they do. Look at how successful they've been in umpteen number of years. They believe in what they are and if you can stop their bread and butter then hats off to that team. So, I don't expect too much to be different but there will definitely be a few wrinkles to keep us honest."
This Clemson team also has something few Alabama opponents if any can claim before kickoff. Not only has it played the Tide, but it has a win in the last 12 months. O'Daniel counts that as an edge.
"I think guys are not going to be overwhelmed by playing Alabama," he said. "I think a lot of teams just automatically lose to Alabama because of the logo they have on their jerseys and I think that's never been the case in how Coach (Dabo) Swinney prepares us and things like that."
In terms of scheme, Carter sees a path for Clemson success. It involves Alabama's leading receiver Calvin Ridley. The junior has 55 catches -- considerably more than second-best Bo Scarbrough's 14 -- and 896 yards with three touchdowns.
"Yeah, he's their go-to, the answer for them," said Carter, the cornerback. "But I saw a couple of other guys make plays for them. No. 4 (Jerry) Jeudy, the freshman. When I watched him on tape, he's a very explosive. He looks very similar to Ridley as far as his shape, his frame and as far as him being able to make those explosive plays.
"But outside of Ridley ... you have to try to limit Ridley and if we do that, I think we have a great chance of winning the game. But their guys supporting him, they're really good too. We have to be locked in, period. But if we can take care of Calvin Ridley, I think we'll be fine."
That's not the case with Alabama's running backs.
Several Clemson players from O'Daniel to defensive end Clelin Ferrell noted the depth they see in the Tide backfield and how it's unique from other teams they've faced.
"That's the thing about Alabama," O'Daniel said. "They always have a big back -- a big power back -- and they always have a more stout back sort of, powerful speed scat back. But this year they have four or five running backs who can do it all. So, that's probably the biggest difference.
"They have a variety of running backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield. Run hard, make you miss or whatever the case may be so you have to keep yourself honest and you have to keep the defense honest in how you're pursuing and attacking the run game."
Ferrell took it a step further.
"They have four guys back there that could be starters anywhere in college football," the defensive end said. "This is the best all-around, well-shaped group of backs we've played all year. It's not just them that makes them look good. It's probably the best offensive line we've played all year as well. They helped them in that aspect too."
Damien Harris is the leading rusher with 906 yards on 110 carries followed by Jalen Hurts' 768 yards on 137 attempts and Bo Scarbrough's 549 yards on 108 attempts. Josh Jacobs has also emerged as a considerable threat on perimeter runs and catching passes out of the backfield with 276 rushing yards and 165 more receiving.
"They have a lot of guys that can hurt you in a lot of different ways," said Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. "Just talented. Can catch the ball, can run the ball, can pound you and do a lot of different things. And a good solid O-line. Really strong, got some dudes up front that are pretty impressive and the skill on the outside. Ridley is definitely leading that group. Just really skilled everywhere. Just fast receivers. They all look the same. If they didn't have different numbers on, they'd all look the exact same."
Continue reading...
These two obviously know each other.
Clemson's starting defense includes eight players who either started or played significant time in January's 35-31 win over Alabama in the CFP national championship. That number is about seven for the Crimson Tide offense.
After playing each other to close the last two seasons, it's clear Alabama and Clemson are well acquainted. But what's different about how the Tigers view the Tide offense? A few starters helped explain it Thursday.
"Yeah, they do a lot as far as the ways they get the playmakers the ball in space especially," said Clemson cornerback Ryan Carter. "They do a good job of getting them in open field and getting those one-on-one situations where it's tough for a DB to come up and make a tackle in that open space so they're doing a lot better job of getting their playmakers the ball on the perimeter and I think we have to do our best job of rallying those type of tackles and rallying to that space and things like that."
Alabama is on its third different offensive coordinator in the three postseason meetings it has had with Clemson. Lane Kiffin was in charge for the 2015 championship before Steve Sarkisian took over a week before January's game. Now it's up to Brian Daboll to steer the Tide offense against the top-ranked Tigers on New Year's Day in the Superdome.
"They're doing things a little bit different but of course it's the same old Alabama," Carter added. "They're going to pound the ball. They're going to run it down your throat."
This is new territory for Daboll, who has been an NFL assistant since he was a GA for Nick Saban at Michigan State in the late 1990s. He's not used to having this full month off between the regular season and the playoff.
"There will definitely be some wrinkles," said Clemson linebacker Dorian O'Daniel. "But I don't think there will be too much because that's a program that believes in what they do. Look at how successful they've been in umpteen number of years. They believe in what they are and if you can stop their bread and butter then hats off to that team. So, I don't expect too much to be different but there will definitely be a few wrinkles to keep us honest."
This Clemson team also has something few Alabama opponents if any can claim before kickoff. Not only has it played the Tide, but it has a win in the last 12 months. O'Daniel counts that as an edge.
"I think guys are not going to be overwhelmed by playing Alabama," he said. "I think a lot of teams just automatically lose to Alabama because of the logo they have on their jerseys and I think that's never been the case in how Coach (Dabo) Swinney prepares us and things like that."
In terms of scheme, Carter sees a path for Clemson success. It involves Alabama's leading receiver Calvin Ridley. The junior has 55 catches -- considerably more than second-best Bo Scarbrough's 14 -- and 896 yards with three touchdowns.
"Yeah, he's their go-to, the answer for them," said Carter, the cornerback. "But I saw a couple of other guys make plays for them. No. 4 (Jerry) Jeudy, the freshman. When I watched him on tape, he's a very explosive. He looks very similar to Ridley as far as his shape, his frame and as far as him being able to make those explosive plays.
"But outside of Ridley ... you have to try to limit Ridley and if we do that, I think we have a great chance of winning the game. But their guys supporting him, they're really good too. We have to be locked in, period. But if we can take care of Calvin Ridley, I think we'll be fine."
That's not the case with Alabama's running backs.
Several Clemson players from O'Daniel to defensive end Clelin Ferrell noted the depth they see in the Tide backfield and how it's unique from other teams they've faced.
"That's the thing about Alabama," O'Daniel said. "They always have a big back -- a big power back -- and they always have a more stout back sort of, powerful speed scat back. But this year they have four or five running backs who can do it all. So, that's probably the biggest difference.
"They have a variety of running backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield. Run hard, make you miss or whatever the case may be so you have to keep yourself honest and you have to keep the defense honest in how you're pursuing and attacking the run game."
Ferrell took it a step further.
"They have four guys back there that could be starters anywhere in college football," the defensive end said. "This is the best all-around, well-shaped group of backs we've played all year. It's not just them that makes them look good. It's probably the best offensive line we've played all year as well. They helped them in that aspect too."
Damien Harris is the leading rusher with 906 yards on 110 carries followed by Jalen Hurts' 768 yards on 137 attempts and Bo Scarbrough's 549 yards on 108 attempts. Josh Jacobs has also emerged as a considerable threat on perimeter runs and catching passes out of the backfield with 276 rushing yards and 165 more receiving.
"They have a lot of guys that can hurt you in a lot of different ways," said Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. "Just talented. Can catch the ball, can run the ball, can pound you and do a lot of different things. And a good solid O-line. Really strong, got some dudes up front that are pretty impressive and the skill on the outside. Ridley is definitely leading that group. Just really skilled everywhere. Just fast receivers. They all look the same. If they didn't have different numbers on, they'd all look the exact same."
Continue reading...
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