Last year, the key piece lacking from Clemson’s offense was a quarterback that could not only run but more importantly throw. This year Clemson is not lacking at QB. Here is the game plan for Clemson to beat Alabama Football.
Looking at the past three times Clemson has faced off against Alabama football team the Tigers had a clear game plan on both the offensive and defensive side of the football.
The game plan is rather simplistic in nature. In fact, when you get down to the bare basics of football, most game plans are. They are not designed around trick plays, new schemes, or gimmicks. Rather they are designed to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses and play to your own strengths.
Clemson Offensive Game Plan
I believe for Clemson to win the National Championship its game plan will focus on two main objectives. Quick passes and running to the perimeter.
The strength of Alabama’s defense is its interior players. Quinnen Williams appears destined for a Top 5 pick in this year’s upcoming NFL draft and his partner in crime Raekwon Davis appears to be either late first or an early second round pick. Teams have not fared well when testing these two individuals. In fact, both Williams and Davis have won games based upon their own individual performances.
Where Alabama football is weak is on the edge.
Need proof, look at the games this season where running backs experienced success against the Tide. Arkansas, Citadel, Auburn and Georgia all gashed the Tide’s defense on the ground and it was because they attacked the outside.
Runs outside put more pressure on Dylan Moses and Mack Wilson to make plays which they have struggled to do. It puts more pressure on Savion Smith and Patrick Surtain II to establish and hold the edge to force the back to the inside. The DB pair has also struggled against the run.
Alabama’s weakness in defending the running game is on the edge. Clemson will use Travis Etienne time and time again on the edge continually testing the Tide’s defense. If the Tide can stop this strategy, then Clemson will hurt. If Clemson is able to find success, it will not only establish a running game but will make plays through the play action pass.
The second objective for Clemson is to get the ball out quickly to its play-makers on the outside and force Alabama to tackle.
Why will Clemson do this?
It is the best offense against a great defensive line. You don’t allow the quarterback to be pressured when the defense only has a second or two to get to him.
True freshman Trevor Lawrence has the ability to make any throw. But I believe Clemson’s coaches are going to give him every chance to find success early and often through the short and intermediate passing game. Especially if Clemson begins to suffer in pass protection.
Clemson believes its play-makers on the outside are better than Alabama’s. If this turns out to be true then the only option will be for Alabama to answer continually while on offense.
Clemson Defensive Game Plan
Clemson’s defensive game plan comes down to one simple strategy. Pressure Tua Tagovailoa with only its four primary defensive linemen and allow everyone else to play coverage.
Tua Tagovailoa was 10-for-10 for four touchdowns against Oklahoma when the Sooners blitzed.
Blitzing puts Clemson into its greatest defensive weakness, which is its secondary. It forces its secondary to cover the likes of Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs II, Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith, Irv Smith Jr, Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris and Damien Harris in one on one coverage.
This is where this game is different from year’s past.
In year’s past, Clemson really just had to shut down one receiver. Calvin Ridley. Now, each position is a Calvin Ridley, in that you cannot afford to guard one on one for an extended period of time because you are going to get burned.
In the games where Tua Tagovailoa has not found the immense success, as in the Mississippi State and Georgia games, it was due to pressure on Tua before he could let routes develop.
Clemson was torched by South Carolina for over 500 yards passing and five touchdowns by Jake Bentley. How? Because Clemson gave Bentley time to throw.
Clemson is going to focus on its strength rushing the passer as their primary defensive game plan. If they succeed they will be able to control Alabama’s offense. If they don’t succeed, they will suffer the same results they had versus South Carolina.
Conclusion
For Clemson, this is a different Alabama football team from year’s past. In the previous meetings, The Tide focused more on the defensive battles rather than the offensive battles. Now the script has flipped with both teams possessing excellent offenses.
The defensive lines for both teams will ultimately be the deciding factor for the game. Clemson’s offensive strategy is meant to limit Alabama football’s defensive line. Contrast that to Clemson’s defensive strategy which is meant to favor the Tigers’ defensive line.
If Clemson can control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, they will win. If they cannot, they will lose.
It is that simple.
Comment below on your prediction for the game. Also, comment on how you believe the Alabama Crimson Tide will attack Clemson.