Thoughts on the National Championship

[_MeDotOrg]

Alabama was out-coached by Clemson. Shocking to say for a Nick Saban team, but his own assistants have been picked off one by one, as a victim of Alabama's success. Clemson's defense was great at disguising their tendencies, and Tagovailoa got fooled more than once.

Clemson's front four on defense is truly formidable, allowing a lot of pass coverage downfield. Trevor Lawrence's poise as a true freshman (6'6" 215 lbs.) is amazing (give Clemson's O line props for great protection), and with Ross as a true freshman receiver, season tickets look good for the Tigers.

I've never seen a Saban Alabama team get blown out like that.

[_Lemmie]

Ross's catches were phenomenal. Taking nothing away from Trevor, as he's amazing, but he must be thanking his lucky stars Ross chose Clemson over Alabama.

[_Kevin Graham]

Ross's catches were phenomenal. Taking nothing away from Trevor, as he's amazing, but he must be thanking his lucky stars Ross chose Clemson over Alabama.

Yep. After I saw that catch, and after Alabama's corner went down with a hamstring injury right in the middle of a crucial play that resulted in an easy 70 yd TD... I figured maybe God was involved at that point.

Looking at the box score, Alabama actually had the ball longer, had more first downs, etc. But it was the turnovers and the poor play calling that did it. Alabama would drive at will until they got in the red zone and then they'd screw it up somehow. Two INTs, a penalty that negated a TD run, etc. Everything went Clemson's way. I mean everything.

Saban wasn't calling those idiotic plays, it was Mike Locksley the offensive coordinator. He just coached his last game at Alabama and is moving to to be the head coach at Maryland. He won't be missed after this game.

[_MeDotOrg]

Ross's catches were phenomenal. Taking nothing away from Trevor, as he's amazing, but he must be thanking his lucky stars Ross chose Clemson over Alabama.

Yep. After I saw that catch, and after Alabama's corner went down with a hamstring injury right in the middle of a crucial play that resulted in an easy 70 yd TD... I figured maybe God was involved at that point.

Looking at the box score, Alabama actually had the ball longer, had more first downs, etc. But it was the turnovers and the poor play calling that did it. Alabama would drive at will until they got in the red zone and then they'd screw it up somehow. Two INTs, a penalty that negated a TD run, etc. Everything went Clemson's way. I mean everything.

Saban wasn't calling those idiotic plays, it was Mike Locksley the offensive coordinator. He just coached his last game at Alabama and is moving to to be the head coach at Maryland. He won't be missed after this game.

I have to agree that some of the 4th down calls were especially baffling. And you're right...everything rolled against the Tide. But at the end of the game I have never seen Saban team sag quite like that.

Combine the Tigers' last 2 games, and they've beaten the #3 and #1 ranked teams in the country by a combined score of 74-19. Ouch.

[_moksha]

Clemson's stops in the red zone were amazing.

[_Dr Exiled]

Alabama's defense just couldn't keep up and get stops consistently. Some of the commentators were talking about that as a weakness prior to the start of the game and it sure showed.

[_Kevin Graham]

Alabama's defense just couldn't keep up and get stops consistently. Some of the commentators were talking about that as a weakness prior to the start of the game and it sure showed.

Yep, their defense had been suspect all year and that was the little secret Alabama fans didn't want to talk about. But their three best pass rushers were lost to injury in the off season. Their best CB was lost to injury early in the season and then in the first half of the game they lost their second best CB to injury. An injury that came at the worst time, costing them 7 points and a huge momentum swing.

Looking at the box score stats alone you never would have guessed the final score. Alabama had the ball for much more time, had more first downs, yds, etc. I never really thought they would lose even when they were down 14 points because they were killing themselves on these long drives that didn't produce any points.

[_Dr Exiled]

Alabama's defense just couldn't keep up and get stops consistently. Some of the commentators were talking about that as a weakness prior to the start of the game and it sure showed.

Yep, their defense had been suspect all year and that was the little secret Alabama fans didn't want to talk about. But their three best pass rushers were lost to injury in the off season. Their best CB was lost to injury early in the season and then in the first half of the game they lost their second best CB to injury. An injury that came at the worst time, costing them 7 points and a huge momentum swing.

Looking at the box score stats alone you never would have guessed the final score. Alabama had the ball for much more time, had more first downs, yds, etc. I never really thought they would lose even when they were down 14 points because they were killing themselves on these long drives that didn't produce any points.

I was thinking a come back too. Clemson's D came up big down around the goal line and that fake field goal was too obvious .... even the announcers predicted it right before.

I'm tired of Alabama/Clemson ... but they have the best players ....

[_Fence Sitter]

I never thought I would actually feel sorry for Alabama. I was really pulling for Clemson but I really just wanted to see a moderately close game. What we had was a showcase for both Ross & Lawrence. Two of those catches by Ross were just ridiculous.

[_Markk]

At half time the sideline reporter asked Nick what the deal was, and he said that they (the Tigers) were throwing ripped off plays at them from other teams, that were successful against the Tide, that they didn’t practice for, but that they would fix this at half time...well they didn’t. As much as they got whooped on the field they may have got whooped more by not being prepared.

Maybe this one is on coaching as much as a banged up D, or maybe the Tiger’s were just that much better...at anyrate for this suffering USC fan I loved every minute of it.

Speaking of USC, former USC coach Kingsbury, left for the NFL today before he even started, he already bailed...how messed up that?