The Clemson vs Alabama National Championship game is just three days away from kickoff. Here is a basic look at the Crimson Tide defense and what to expect.
The Clemson vs Alabama game is just three days away from kickoff and we can almost feel the excitement of a National Championship as we get ready to head to Glendale, Arizona.
Earlier this week, we took a basic look at the Alabama offense and told you what to expect out of that side of the ball. Today, we are going to take a look at the Crimson Tide defense so you know what to look for when Clemson has the ball.
This unit is probably the best group in the country and there is a ton of talent, especially across the front-seven. Let’s take a look at the Crimson Tide defense.
Alabama Defensive Line:
DE- A’Shawn Robinson (Jr, 312 lbs)
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NG- Darren Lake (Sr, 315 lbs)
NG- Da’Ron Payne (Fr, 315 lbs)
DE- Jarran Reed (Sr, 313 lbs) [56 tackles]
DE- Jonathan Allen (Jr, 283) 12.0 sacks on the season
This unit is, without a doubt, one of the deepest in the country. Every single one of these starters weigh over 300 pounds and are all, most likely, going to be NFL draft picks one day. You will see Bama run a lot of a base 3-4 defense, as well as some 4-3. Darren Lake, the senior, will get the start at nose guard, but all of these men, including others like Dalvin Tomlinson, Joshua Frazier, and Jonathan Allen will all see playing time.
Alabama Linebackers:
JLB- Denzel Devall (Sr)
**Ryan Anderson (Jr) with 6 sacks
**Tim Williams (Jr) with 10.5 sacks
MLB- Reggie Ragland (Sr) [leading tackler with 97]
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SLB- Dillon Lee (Sr)
WLB- Reuben Foster (Jr) [64 tackles]
WLB- Shaun Dion Hamilton (So)
This group is also very deep and full of experienced talent. You will see these guys covering slot receivers and tight ends, as well as Wayne Gallman out of the backfield. You will also see several different blitzing schemes by this group. The “JLB” spot will be used most to rush the passer. In many cases, they will line up on the line of scrimmage as a defensive end.
Alabama Secondary:
STAR- Minkah Fitzpatrick (Fr)
CB- Cyrus Jones (Sr)
SS- Eddie Jackson (Jr) [5 interceptions]
FS- Geno Matias-Smith (Jr) [61 tackles]
CB- Marlon Humphrey (Fr)
Now, I know many of you are wondering, what is a “star.” Basically, it is a hybrid position between the linebackers and the secondary, sort of like a nickel back. This secondary has actually been pretty good this season to many people’s surprise, but they still have some holes.
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Bottom line is that this is a very good Alabama defense. The defensive line will play eight or nine guys up front and you will continually see substitutions when they can get them out there. In many cases, when Alabama goes to a 4-3 defense, it will be a linebacker that lines up in the defensive end spot. He will rush the passer and, sometimes, even drop back into coverage.
The best way to beat a 3-4 defense is by taking advantage of the mismatches. That means you look to run the ball and hit guys in the gaps on passing downs. Look for Jordan Leggett to have some openings and look for Deshaun Watson/Wayne Gallman to continue to run their read-option.