🏈 Will somebody that played college football explain this

[Bamabww]

to me please? (I played, or was on the team, in high school and was the third string half-back on a team with only a first and second string. Yeah, I wasn't any good but loved the game and all it offered to a youngster growing up. But the one time I did get on the field I set a record that still stands today, 51 years later.)

We've heard over and over how our defense was on the field for 99 plays and were tired / worn out on that last drive. Probably long before that actually. But that also means the Clemson offense was on the field for 99 plays. I'm sure they were tired as well but you never hear it said the OL was tired / worn out. If we say it's because our offense spent so little time on the field our defense never got rested but that also means the Clemson offense was back on the field quicker as well.

Is it that much tiring / harder on you physically to attack on defense than to defend on offense?

@uagrad93, @OldPlayer or anyone else with an opinion please.

 

[UAgrad93]

Offense, you know where the ball is going on every snap and who you are to block, etc. Defense, you have assignments but no idea where the ball is going, which Olineman you are going to have to fight off to maintain control of your gap responsibility, etc. Saban teaches pattern matching with the DBs, but it is still hell to keep up with for that long.

 

[BamaFan334]

Defenses get double teamed, use more of their mental capacity, and are changing direction more hsrdcore trying to catch the ball carrier.

 

[OldPlayer]

Offense, you know where the ball is going on every snap and who you are to block, etc. Defense, you have assignments but no idea where the ball is going, which Olineman you are going to have to fight off to maintain control of your gap responsibility, etc. Saban teaches pattern matching with the DBs, but it is still hell to keep up with for that long.

This ^. Alabama's defense didn't have the depth of past years plus CNS likes to use certain players in specific situations. Put it all together and you have tired players. A "normal" game will see 70-80 plays. In the last few minutes of the game, the Defense was doing a lot of running (pass plays) on plays 71-99.

 

[alabama mike]

That about sums it up. Excellent points!

 

[rolltide66]

What these guys said. I'm so old I played when you were mostly expected to play both ways. Coach always told us "rest on Offense". You can take plays off if you are carrying out a fake away from the play or setting up a double team. But we still got tired

 

[RollllTide!]

Just get on a field and run forward for a while and then try running backwards for a while. One side is pushing forward and the other side is pushing forward and running backwards. The running backwards part will wear you out. When I played football, I was an offensive end and a defensive line backer. The defensive part would get you gassed quicker than the offensive part. If your offense goes 3 and out over and over, your defense will get worn out quicker.