Alabama - Clemson CFP Semifinal Game Discussion

[crimsonaudio]

First, the average defense can handle 80 plays without noticeably tiring today. Second, Alabama's defense is not average - Clemson is going to have to run 90+ plays to have a chance in this game. Third, Watson is not running this Clemson offense, so forget the last 2 years. Fourth, if you don't believe that Alabama can stop Clemson then I guess that the rest doesn't matter, because Alabama loses.

Fifth - if we can figure out that Dabo's plan to wear out the defense worked last year, you know Saban and Co have. They will have a plan in place to make sure the D gets rest, even if / when the offense goes three-and-out. One of the absolute killers last year were the three-and-outs while going (relatively) fast. The D would barely get to their seats on the bench before they needed to grab their helmets...

That cannot - and dare I say, will not - happen this year.

 

[runtheoption22]

Fifth - if we can figure out that Dabo's plan to wear out the defense worked last year, you know Saban and Co have. They will have a plan in place to make sure the D gets rest, even if / when the offense goes three-and-out. One of the absolute killers last year were the three-and-outs while going (relatively) fast. The D would barely get to their seats on the bench before they needed to grab their helmets...

That cannot - and dare I say, will not - happen this year.

I also thought the game plan for AU left with Major Applewhite..... here's hoping youre right

 

[bigjue24]

I've watched Clemson play alot this year, and there offense is good, but it's vunerable. They were held in check several times. Some of their games were close until a couple of plays at the end. The FSU game is an example of this. BC gave them all they wanted, it was 7-7 going into the 4th quarter, and they only scored 24 on Georgia Tech. They aren't the same offense that they were last year. I really do think a healthy Alabama defense will give them fits. Watson isn't running out of that tunnel.

 

[Snuffy Smith]

I like this play -- let's run this one

[/QUOTE]

The speed that he shows running away from NFL db’s is just... [emoji50]


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[crimsonaudio]

If Syracuse can hold Clemson to 24, Bama can do that and more. They're not unbeatable as some posters seem to believe...

 

[B1GTide]

I would love to see Alabama run at least 4 different naked screens in this game:

http://coachescollaborate.com/alabamas-naked-screen/

 

[B1GTide]

We will also see a lot of these plays - empty set:

https://www.krossover.com/articles/breaking-down-clemson-offense-empty-attack/

 

[USCBAMA]

Looking at the position groups:

QB - Draw, unless Jalen improves his play. Alabama has the edge in depth with Tua
RB - Alabama has a HUGE edge here, but only if you use your RBs
Receivers - Renfrow and Ridley cancel one another out - Alabama has a huge edge across the rest of the receiving corps
O-Line - Alabama is much better than Clemson, but Clemson does a better job mitigating this by moving Bryant around a lot

D-Line - Clemson has a pretty big edge here. This is their best group to date, and they have been very good for a while
LBs - With Lewis, Miller & Mack back at 100% (Moses filling in for SDH), Alabama has a significant edge
DBs - Not even close - Alabama's biggest advantage - Clemson's DBs are small and grab way too much in the open field, producing penalties

Kickers - If Papps is healthy, advantage Alabama. The Clemson kicker is not reliable at any distance.
Punter - Scott is the best in the country
ST returners and coverage teams - call it even with the earlier issues Alabama has had fielding punts (though that appears to have been resolved)

Match-ups:

D-line vs O-line - Both D-lines win these match-ups
LBs vs RBs - Alabama wins these match-ups on both sides
Receivers vs DBs - Alabama wins these match-ups on both sides, though both Ridley and Renfrow are going to open on just about every play.

Coaching (entire staff) - This is a draw from a pure talent perspective. Some of the best in the business. Even though Alabama has so many athletic advantages across the field, Clemson's coaches seem to do a better job of putting their players in positions to be successful. Can Saban come up with something over the next 3 weeks to get this team playing at an elite level again?

The defense that took the field against Florida State was incredible. That defense would have monster numbers. Can they get back to that form by January 1st?

We have talked about the offense and QB play since the struggles against MSU. Can Daboll and Saban put together a game plan that gets Jalen back on track, and gets the team playing as one again?

I see too many advantages for Alabama in this game. IMO, this is your game to lose. And with a good offensive game plan, it shouldn't be close.

Roll Tide!

Agree with much of this, but disagree on a few.

If you think Bama has edge at WR after Renfro & Ridley you are mistaken. clemson's #2 & #3 WRs (Cain, McCloud) have 52 & 46 receptions. Bama's #2 & #3 WRs have 13 & 13 catches. Cain & McCloud are faster than Renfro. clemson's starting 3 WRs are as good as any 3 in the nation, and they literally have more receptions (153) than Bama's top 10 WRs combined (150). clemson has a large advantage at WR.

I give Bama an edge at LB (if healthy), but not a significant edge. clemson LBs are less experienced than last year, but are faster and more athletic, and they've played very well this year.

clemson OL and Bama OL are even IMO. I've not been so impressed with Bama OL against good competition.

clemson DL is sick. Bama DL looked the part early, but not so much late, though I suspect injuries to LBs a big part of that. If Bama DL can rise to challenge and play like they did against FSU, and if Bama offense & Hurst can just be good, then I think Bama wins. But without dominating DL play and a decent (not great) offensive performance it becomes a long night.

 

[Jkl0802]

I hope Alabama shows up with a mad team and a game plan that commits to the running game....yaya Clemsons front 7 is tough in pass rush, but let’s play Bama football and run it at them with a oversized and mean offensive line and tight ends that primarily need to worry about mauling the defense...making their you know what quit. I’m not saying run straight at them, although there should be a good dose of this too, but also sweeps, jet sweeps, and quick throws to receiver screens. On a few occasions we need to throw deep, and I don’t care if the receiver is covered, Jalen should be instructed to throw deep if there is man coverage on one of our receivers because I’ve seen our secondary get beat in man coverage too often and I think we have the receivers to beat other teams’ man coverage. Stop worrying about throwing interceptions on the rare occasions we do take shots deep.

I think our defense will be ready to stop their running game. We are going to win this game and provide a beat down.

 

[B1GTide]

For those who do not understand Alabama's defensive coverage philosophies/techniques, read this. Alabama does not use typical mesh or banjo defenses to stop bunch formations. This does mean that rub routes can hurt you because you are not as aggressive at attacking the off man like in banjo, but it also keeps you from getting burned deep when the offense sees banjo and fakes the rub route.

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...udy-nick-sabans-pattern-matching-pass-defense

 

[crimsonaudio]

Interesting stats on scoring TDs:
Clemson passing: 17 TDs (7 ints)
Alabama passing: 23 TDs (2 ints)

Clemson rushing: 40 TDs (2,653 total yards, 4.9 ypc avg)
Alabama rushing: 36 TDs (3,184 total yards, 6.0 ypc avg)

Clemson receiving: 17 TDs (3,173 total yards, 10.9 ypc avg)
Alabama receiving: 23 TDs (2,401 total yards, 14.0 ypc avg)

Clemson has played 13 games, Alabama has played 12.

Clemson is scoring ~4 ppg less than in 2015 and 2016, while Alabama is scoring ~1 ppg more than last season,~4 ppg more than 2015.

 

[B1GTide]

Agree with much of this, but disagree on a few.

If you think Bama has edge at WR after Renfro & Ridley you are mistaken. clemson's #2 & #3 WRs (Cain, McCloud) have 52 & 46 receptions. Bama's #2 & #3 WRs have 13 & 13 catches. Cain & McCloud are faster than Renfro. clemson's starting 3 WRs are as good as any 3 in the nation, and they literally have more receptions (153) than Bama's top 10 WRs combined (150). clemson has a large advantage at WR.

I give Bama an edge at LB (if healthy), but not a significant edge. clemson LBs are less experienced than last year, but are faster and more athletic, and they've played very well this year.

clemson OL and Bama OL are even IMO. I've not been so impressed with Bama OL against good competition.

clemson DL is sick. Bama DL looked the part early, but not so much late, though I suspect injuries to LBs a big part of that. If Bama DL can rise to challenge and play like they did against FSU, and if Bama offense & Hurst can just be good, then I think Bama wins. But without dominating DL play and a decent (not great) offensive performance it becomes a long night.

Your problems with Alabama's WR corps are with Jalen and the playcalling, not the receivers. Alabama's WRs are better, they just play in a different offense with a different QB.

Every independent evaluator sees Alabama's o-line as one of the best in the country. Alabama fans just do not know what they are talking about. Watch film. Stop following the ball and watch the individual linemen.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Your problems with Alabama's WR corps are with Jalen and the playcalling, not the receivers. Alabama's WRs are better, they just play in a different offense with a different QB.

Every independent evaluator sees Alabama's o-line as one of the best in the country. Alabama fans just do not know what they are talking about. Watch film. Stop following the ball and watch the individual linemen.

Alabama fans have an absurdly high standard for OL play. I think that is a big part of the disconnect there. A lot of fans seem to think every OL should be able to dominate every DL they play completely. Spoiled with the OLs of 2011 and 2012.

 

[B1GTide]

Alabama fans have an absurdly high standard for OL play. I think that is a big part of the disconnect there. A lot of fans seem to think every OL should be able to dominate every DL they play completely. Spoiled with the OLs of 2011 and 2012.

Fair enough, but by anyone's standards, Alabama's o-line is better than Clemson's o-line.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Fair enough, but by anyone's standards, Alabama's o-line is better than Clemson's o-line.

Oh yea, I completely agree. I was just saying where I think a lot of Bama fans are coming from.

 

[Power Eye]

Fair enough, but by anyone's standards, Alabama's o-line is better than Clemson's o-line.

That is probably an accurate statement, but in terms of the match-up of our o-line v their d-line, I think they have an advantage. Vice versa, I think it's a push.

 

[B1GTide]

That is probably an accurate statement, but in terms of the match-up of our o-line v their d-line, I think they have an advantage. Vice versa, I think it's a push.

You are saying that your defensive front 7 and their o-line is a push?

 

[Power Eye]

If Syracuse can hold Clemson to 24, Bama can do that and more. They're not unbeatable as some posters seem to believe...

Bryant was limited in that game when he did play and then he obviously got knocked out for the majority of the game. Georgia Tech also held them to 24 but that was in an absolute down pour. To your point though, I'm not sure they are as scary of an offense as we might imagine. I think the beat down against Miami was just so dominate that we are probably overstating their offensive prowess.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Bryant was limited in that game when he did play and then he obviously got knocked out for the majority of the game. Georgia Tech also held them to 24 but that was in an absolute down pour. To your point though, I'm not sure they are as scary of an offense as we might imagine. I think the beat down against Miami was just so dominate that we are probably overstating their offensive prowess.

Okay, I'll say this - they're not as good as they have been the last two year. And Bama's offense is better.

And despite what people seem to want to believe, Bama's scoring defense is 2 ppg better than the last two seasons.

 

[B1GTide]

Okay, I'll say this - they're not as good as they have been the last two year. And Bama's offense is better.

And despite what people seem to want to believe, Bama's scoring defense is 2 ppg better than the last two seasons.

Without the benefit of all of those NOTs. You are really about 8 points per game better.