Sunday Hangover: Clemson

What a wretched and disappointing way to end what otherwise was a great season. 

Even though I haven't watched any of the sports talk shows this morning, I'm sure there will be a focus on Tua's really bad interceptions. Those were factors in game. 

However, what really determined the game was line play. 

The Crimson Tide got very little pressure at all on the Clemson quarterback. I don't think Alabama had one stinking sack. We shut down their running game for the most part, but when a quarterback is sitting back there unscathed and able to pick his receivers, your team is going to get beat. 

The Tide defense apparently really missed LB Christian Miller because they didn't look like themselves. 

In addition, the Clemson DLine, with all kinds of talent, played a great game. We could talk about some of the play calling, but on certain plays the Tiger DLine just flat out beat the Alabama OLine. 

Winning football comes down to line play. 

Sunday Hangover: Clemson

There was all kinds of hype leading to this game. 

Most football prognosticators picked Clemson based on Clemson's track record as an offensive team and their much vaunted defensive line. All of their starting four will probably be picked in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. 

I suspect that the Crimson Tide used all these picks and all this talk about Clemson's defense for motivation. 

And it showed because Alabama's defense was salty and ferocious last night. 

They kept Clemson to 6 points and 188 yards of total offense. The defense also bailed out the offense after Hurts's stupid turnover. 

It was an old-school win: play great defense, control the ball and clock, and work field position. 

It was a much closer score than the final tally indicates. 

Payne and Wilson had outstanding interceptions, with Mack's going for a pick six. 

Payne won the defensive player of the game, but I think he got that more for the fabulous touchdown catch. One could make the case that Evans, Wallace, Wilson, or Jennings should have won that award. 

But here are some stats to show defensive standouts:

• Evans: 9 total tackles (5 solo), 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss (tfl)
• Wallace: 6 total tacles (all solo)
• Wilson: 6 total tackles (4 solo), 1 sack, pick six
• Jennings: 5 total tackles (3 solo), 1 sack, 3 tfls
• Davis: 5 total tackles (4 solo), 1 sack, 2 tfls
• Hand: 5 total tackles (2 solo), 1 sack, 1 tfl

As much as I want to pump sunshine about this win, I'm still concerned about the offense's performance. Hurts underthrew a pass on flee flicker that could have been a touchdown for Ridley if he would have led Ridley enough. 

The game plan obviously was run-centric, which is fine with me. D. Harris had a great game. He was the standout it the running game. However, I'm still waiting for a stronger passing attack. We've had that at times this season, but it hasn't been consistent. 

I guess the question going forward is this: Is Georgia's defense better than Clemson's? 

I think they are probably comparable, and I am confident that the Bulldogs have a better running game than Clemson. 

What I think we will see in the National Championship is two evenly matched teams that have similarities on both offense and defense. 

Tuesday Hangover: Clemson

Last night's national championship was epic. 

We saw signs of the offense using O.J. Howard in the Michigan State game, but Kiffin really dialed up plays last night to feature Howard. He was the offensive MVP of the game with 5 catches for 208 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

Of course, the well designed onside kick and Drake's fabulous kick return for a touchdown were the difference because Deshaun Watson is an absolute freak. If anyone is doing a pre-season top twenty for college football, Clemson needs to be number 1 because they will not lose many players from their squad, and that quarterback carried the offense. 

Besides the one long run for a touchdown in the first quarter, Henry had a relatively quiet game. He amassed 158 net yards on 36 carries and had one touchdown, but the Clemson defense gave Alabama's offensive line some trouble, particularly the right side of the line. 

Congrats to Alabama for its 16th national championship and its fourth in the last seven years. 

Roll Tide.