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5 Reasons Clemson Football Will Beat Bama

By Andrew Boardwine

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney and quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrate after defeating Oklahoma Sooners in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Clemson won 37-17. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney and quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrate after defeating Oklahoma Sooners in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Clemson won 37-17. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Columbia, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers cornerback Mackensie Alexander (2) blocks the pass intended for South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver D.J. Neal (3) during the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Columbia, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers cornerback Mackensie Alexander (2) blocks the pass intended for South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver D.J. Neal (3) during the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Mackenzie Alexander will shut down Calvin Ridley

Outside of Derrick Henry, the single-most explosive player on the Alabama offense is freshman wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

Ridley has 83 catches for 1,031 yards and seven touchdowns on the year. Against Michigan State, he got behind the defense several times and ended up with 138 yards and two touchdowns.

There’s no question this freshman has elite talent and may be the best wide out that Mackenzie Alexander has played this season, other than Sterling Shepard in my opinion. Check out what the Washington Post had to say about this match up.

"One of the most decisive advantages Alabama will have when it takes the field against Clemson will be its explosiveness on passing downs — those situations in which it is at least second and eight, third and five, or fourth and five. According to Bill Connelly, Alabama produces 1.94 points per play in these situations, the 27th best in the nation, while Clemson allows 1.64, 100th best. That means Alabama quarterback Jacob Coker will need to continue to get the ball to his playmakers, especially freshman wide receiver Calvin Ridley."

Clemson football has been gashed several times this season on passing downs. It seems that a defensive back will be out of place or the quarterback will find a receiver right in the middle of the field. Alabama quarterback Jake Coker will be looking for his wide receivers and it will be up to Clemson’s defensive backs, especially Mackenzie Alexander, to lock down the Bama wide receivers, especially the talented freshman Ridley.

I mean look at that catch. You can’t defend that play much better, but he still found a way to make a catch. He is physical and extremely fast, but at the end of the day, Mackenzie Alexander is just too good.

People don’t realize how good of a corner back Alexander is. He can guard the best wide receivers in the nation and has the perfect combination of talent and confidence to shut Calvin Ridley down.

If he does this, it will take away a huge part of the Alabama offense and will make Jake Coker uncomfortable as the game progresses.

Next: The Trenches

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