There are some things you just do not want to do.
You know what I’m talking about. Obviously bad ideas, actions
with such foreseeable adverse consequence, no sane person would ever undertake
them. For example: making a bet proposed by someone in a bar, anything that is
preceded by the words “Hey, y’all, watch this…..”, and publicly disrespecting a
Nick Saban-coached football team.
With few exceptions, the pundit class of college football
opinion-mongers spent the time between the Iron Bowl and New Year’s Day ignoring
the obvious results of dishing hate on Alabama’s prospects against Clemson. All
that disrespect produced a ferocious response from the Crimson Tide. It is a
good thing the Sugar Bowl kickoff was late enough to be past the bed time of
impressionable children. The way Alabama’s defense treated Clemson’s offense
ought to have been accompanied by a waning; TV-MA, L = adult language, V =
Violence, N = Non-Offensive TD, T = Turnovers. Include Bama’s offense in the
mix and another warning would have been appropriate; PC = Play-calling.
From the opening kickoff, Alabama left no doubt about the
intensity, ferocity and competitive energy with which they were going to play
this game. As the game progressed, Clemson found itself pummeled by Alabama’s
defense and gashed by a resurgent Tide running game. After three possessions,
Alabama had scored 10 points; a total sufficient to win the game.
In the second half, the defense, not satisfied with merely keeping
Clemson in check, intercepted two passes; running one for a TD. The stop-troops
also loaned the offense a defensive end to catch a TD pass on a play Bama has
not run since Jalston Fowler was on the roster.
The running game returned from November’s hibernation, but was
not as productive as it could have been due to personnel and play selection
decisions made by Brian Daboll. More on that shortly.
These grades are way off schedule….the game was played on a
Monday night, so there is that….but the National Championship Final is in two
more days, so without further ado, here is how I grade the game:
Offense: B+ Alabama gained 261 total offensive
yards (141 net rushing) earning 16 first downs, and converting 9 of 18 possession
downs. The last time these two teams played each other, the Tide converted only
2 of 15 possession downs.
Jalen went the distance at quarterback. If Brian Daboll had
called the game the way Nick Saban and every sentient Alabama fan would have preferred,
the last 7 or 8 minutes of the game would have been Tua Time. Jalen completed
16 of 24 pass attempts; two of those incompletions were dropped balls. He threw
2 TD’s [Calvin Ridley, Da’Ron Payne] and was sacked twice. He lost a fumble on
a bad decision on the first play of the second half.
Ridley led all receivers with 4 catches for 39 yards and a
TD. Henry Ruggs, III, Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris, and Josh Jacobs each caught
2 passes. Najee Harris, Irv Smith, Jr., Hootie Jones land D’Ron Payne each made
one reception. In case you are interested, that’s four different receivers,
four running backs, and a defensive lineman.
Harris led all rushers with a season high 19 carries for 77
net yards. Jalen gained 40 net yards on 11 runs and Bo gained 24 net yards on
12 carries. While it is a good thing that our running backs were handed the
ball 31 times, Damien Harris was clearly the hottest RB with an average of 4.1
yards per rush. Why Brian Daboll took the ball out of Harris’ hands is a
mystery. To his credit, when the Tide faced 4th and 1 at the Clemson
18 yard line in the third quarter, Daboll called a hand off which Damien Harris
took over left tackle with a leap that gained 4 yards.
Bama was blessed with excellent field position….credit to
the defense and special teams…so the Tide only had three possessions that
gained more than 40 yards [47, 46, 41]. These resulted in a field goal and a TD.
A 39 yard drive ended in a missed field goal. Bama had three “three and out”
possessions in addition to the lost fumble.
Defense:
A+ Alabama would have
beaten Oklahoma or Georgia Monday night the way the defense played. The number
1 team in the nation was held to 188 yards of total offense (64 net rushing)
and 75 of Clemson’s total offensive yards came on its last possession of the
game, which ended in a turnover on downs. At the end of the first quarter, the
Tigers had -7 yards of total offense. Their leading rushing only gained 22
yards. Their dual threat QB only rushed for 19 net yards. Bryant’s passing
efforts were not much better. He completed 18 of 36 pass attempts and threw 2
interceptions, one of which was a “pick-six”……..that’s a “PICK-six”, not to be
confused with the “THICK-six” TD pass play to Da’Ron Payne (Jr. DE, 6’4, 308).
Rashaan Evans led all tacklers with 9 stops, including a
sack. Mack Wilson and Levi Wallace both made 6 tackles. Da’Shawn Hand, Anfernee
Jennings and Raekwon Davis were each credited with 5. All total, Alabama
defenders made 9 tackles for lost yardage [5 sacks], intercepted 2 passes, and
broke up 9 pass attempts.
A similar effort will be required to defeat Georgia.
Special Teams:
Punting: A+ JK Scott punted 6 times for an average
of 35.5 yards per punt. He downed 3 inside the Clemson 20. Clemson did not gain
any yards returning punts. The Tide punt return effort gained 30 yards on 3
returns [Trevon Diggs].
Kickoffs: A+ Scott averaged 63.6 yards per kick.
The kick coverage team allowed no return greater than 19 yards. On the flip
side, Bama returned each of Clemson’s 3 kicks for a total of 48 yards [longest
= 22].
Place Kicking: B- Andy Pappanastos made a 22 yard
field goal and missed from 38. He was perfect on 3 PAT attempts.
Coaching: A Alabama won the CFP Semi-Final
defeating the number one seed team by a three-touchdown margin. It could have
been much more lopsided if the running game had been allowed to establish its
identity. Perhaps we will see that this coming Monday night.
Alabama was only penalized twice for 10 yards. The
participation report lists 52 players who saw action in the game.
Well, here we are, folks. The college football season has come
down to only one game left to play and Alabama, for the third straight year is
one of the participants. All that chatter about torches being passed, about
coaching careers being in decline, about new, hungrier, teams taking their
rightful place atop the college football mountain, has amounted to only so much
wind.
Two teams. One conference. On the one hand, a team that IS
the paradigm of the sport of college football…..that’s right, “paradigm”……look
it up all you Alabama Haters…..on the other hand, a team that aspires to be
just like Alabama, coached by Nick Saban’s most faithful disciple.
Georgia v. Alabama…….it just doesn’t get any better.
And to all you fans, players, and pundits who have been
saying you “want Alabama”….that is another one of those things you just do not
want to do. Why? Because if you want Alabama, you know where to find Alabama……
Playing for the National Championship.
The road to Number 17 ends in Atlanta. Let’s all go be
Champions!
Roll Tide, Y’all.
The Commissioner
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