Posted on 12/10/2018 2:40:48 PM PST by blam
Alabama football squares off against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on December 29. The Sooners prolific offense has smashed offensive records along the way. One overlooked position group is vital to their monumental success.
The pure motivation for Alabama football to outwork yesterday is right in front of them. Start with Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray hoisting the illustrious, bronze Heisman Trophy high above his head Saturday night. That is no minor, internal motivation.
The Crimson Tide suffered losses in the previous three contests against the Sooners, including a 2014 Sugar Bowl shellacking at the hands of an unassuming Trevor Knight and pompous egomaniac Bob Stoops.
Lastly, Alabama’s eighteenth national title, Nick Saban’s seventh title, and back to back College Football Playoff champions are all within the Tide’s imminent grasp. Before planning another parade in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide needs a win against the defending Big 12 champion.
Boomer Sooner Flourishes in Big 12
The mere mention of a Big 12 team to an outsider and certain buzzwords quickly zoom into mind: tranquil defenses and intricate offensive attacks. The University of Oklahoma is the Big 12’s version of a pristine, V-12 powered Lamborghini Aventador in a race amongst badly beat up Hyundai Sonatas.
Second-year head coach Lincoln Riley appears on the verge of becoming an offensive genius similar to savant Bill Walsh. The flash of the offense is focused on Murray but without the O-Line Murray cannot make it happen.
Heisman quarterback Kyler Murray’s dual-threat capability is reminiscent of last year’s winner Baker Mayfield. His gaudy stats (4,945 total yards, 51 touchdowns, and 96 QBR) belong on the rookie mode in Madden 18. The diminutive five-foot-ten quarterback’s video game shiftiness and deadly passing accuracy allowed Oklahoma to thrive.
During a joint press conference in Atlanta, Saban spoke about the explosiveness of the Sooners’ offense,
They’ve got some really explosive players. The quarterback’s an explosive player. They can run the ball. They have great balance. So, I don’t know if there’s one particular thing other than I think their players know how to win and they’ve won a lot of close games and they’ve come from behind in games. This is a team that is as explosive as any that I’ve ever seen, and it’s designed that way. And I think it’s very difficult to stop a team like that.
Instrumental in the accomplishment of all the wizardry is the Sooners offensive line. Led by co-offensive coordinator Bill Bedenbaugh, Oklahoma’s offensive line is regarded as one of the best in the business. The line is a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award alongside Alabama and Georgia.
Bobby Evans (left tackle), Ben Powers (left guard), Creed Humphrey (center), Dru Samia (right guard) and Cody Ford (right tackle) are all north of 300 pounds. Named to the Walter Camp All American team and All-Big 12, senior Powers is the driving force behind the balanced offensive juggernaut. He has it all: strength, quickness, and power.
SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic and ESPN announcer Todd Blackledge praised the play of this powerful offensive line.
Frightening offensive Unit under Lincoln Riley
Broadly speaking regarding greatness, Oklahoma led the nation with 11.6 yards per pass attempt. The Sooners are on pace to break the single-season FBS record for yards per play with 8.7. To place it in perspective, Alabama football is second with 7.9, followed by Clemson at 7.4. Oklahoma ranks second nationally in the FBS with 6.7 yards per rush. Since Penn State in 1994, no team has finished in the top two nationally in both categories in the same year. Lastly, Riley’s team is the only team in the country to score 40 touchdowns rushing (40) and passing (41).
Bedenbaugh’s unit allowed only 1.23 sacks per game, second in the Big 12. The numbers are impressive considering the loss of NFL number one draft pick Baker Mayfield, consensus first-team All American Orlando Brown, Jr. and electrifying running back Rodney Anderson.
Create Disruption with Defensive Line
Alabama’s ability to disrupt Murray’s inner clock inside the pocket is imperative. Led by Outland Trophy winner, Quinnen Williams, the Crimson Tide defense allowed only 14 points per game, good for fourth in the country. Alabama enters the contest with 42 sacks, so the offensive line will have its work cut out for them. The Sooners will look to get the ball out of Murray’s hands as quickly as possible to avoid the rush. Above all, Saban is a master at creating defensive game plans with three weeks to prepare. Alabama football creating pressure with only the front four allows more players in coverage plus a covert spy for Murray.
Riley and company have not faced a defensive unit as talented and troublesome as Alabama. Can the offensive line hold up against the diabolical pressure brought on by Williams, Isaiah Buggs and Raekwon Davis?
Time will tell in 19 days.
Co-Defensive coordinators Tosh Lupoi and Pete Golding are not intimidated by Oklahoma. In a nutshell, every day in practice Alabama football (defense) faces the number two offense in the country led by Heisman runner-up Tua Tagovailoa.
So....with Tua and Tyler playing, it could be one of the highest scoring games ever. (last team to have the ball wins?)
What do you think?
Last years Rose Bowl (highlights), Oklahoma vs Georgia. Georgia beats Oklahoma in double overtime.
Kyler my friend, the Heisman Trophy Winner.
Boomer Sooner
Fortunately, Alabama enters the game with a chip on its shoulder. RTR
I've been lurking some on Tidefans, and honestly I find it to be the exact opposite of what I expected in comparison to a couple of other schools' or fan sites.
Alabama fans have a sophisticated knowledge of the game and are generally civil. Must be the deep south thing.
The only thing an Oklahoma fan would take issue with here is his characterizing former Coach Stoops as a "pompous egomaniac". Probably comes from Coach's reputation as being kinda defensive and sometimes gruff with the local media... how can a reasonable person blame him for that?
Grew up in Cleveland, practicing Catholic, dad was a coach at one of the Catholic schools, played Safety on Hayden Fry's Iowa team and grew up as part of Fry's family tree of coaches. Worked for Bill Snyder at KSU before going to Florida with Spurrier.
Stoops' humanizing fault isn't pride or arrogance, to the contrary it's loyalty to characters like his brother whether it serves the University's interests or not.
“So....with Tua and Tyler playing”
you mean Kyler, and it may be that Jalen Hurts that starts for Bama and not Tua ... Tua was badly hurt playing against Georgia and was losing the game until Jalen Hurts came in and saved the day ...
I do think Tua is a much better QB than Hurts, but for this game, Hurts may be the way to go. Think a power running game may be just what the doctor ordered. Army did take OU to overtime.
You’re correct. Army’s ball control, time eating offense is the way to beat OU. Iowa State, TCU and Texas all had decent defenses but OU still scored. Keep Murray off the field and you win the game.
My school had them beat if we had only hit the kicks.
Bet the house on the Tide. I think Bama by 20.
This will test the old adage, “Defense wins Championships”.
Three times this season OU’s defense could have been rated Medium. If Medium shows up, and Murray is not affected by all the Glitz, and we get a couple of injured players back we have a chance. OU lives and dies on the “Big Play”.
I believe OU’s O-Line will be ready and they are fearsome.
OU’s big issue is, as has happened in years past, scoring too fast. That causes what defense we have to stay on the field too long. OU will not have a sustained pound it up the middle, time eating ground game for a lack of depth.
There’s plenty that can go wrong for OU. Alabama not so much.
Last years Rose Bowl (highlights), Oklahoma vs Georgia. Georgia beats Oklahoma in double overtime.
******* That’s was one of the greatest games I have ever seen on both sides of the ball.
As a Longhorn fan,the only that I have to say is,”Roll Tide.”
“This will test the old adage, “Defense wins Championships”.”
We are in complete agreement on this. Both offenses are incredibly explosive and are capable of scoring at any time. I expect the scoreboard to be very active.
Our O-Line are very good with our passing attack but aren’t quite as effective when run blocking. That’s not to say that they are bad at run blocking but are more effective when pass blocking. Thankfully, this year’s offense is pass first, then run.
I understand the scoring too fast dilemma. We have scored very fast at times this season and, as a result, our defense became tired. We lost the 2017 National Championship game against Clemson because, late in the Fourth Quarter, we scored to take the lead but left too much time on the clock for Deshaun Watson and Clemson won on the last play.
As explosive as Murray and OU are, the same thing can happen if we aren’t careful.
The main concerns for Bama fans are Tua’s health, turnovers, OU’s explosiveness and, as you pointed out, scoring too soon.
Both teams are similar in many ways. It should be one heck of a game.
Game On
Well?
Still cocky?
Actually from the season scores, OU’s (admittedly sucky) defense was better than the bulk of the SEC.
In fact, OU won 3 of the 4 quarters. The 1st quarter killed us. Once we got rid of our diapers and pacifiers we played better, not good but better. Clemson won’t have that problem even in their Popsicle suits.
Excuses, excuses. I’m not surprised.
You sound just like your little whiny coach. After the First Quarter, we let our foot off the gas and played conservative clock control.
Sorry, but you won no quarters. We won the game. Period.
I expect to beat Clemson but, even if we lose, we still beat you and advanced to the Championship game.
BTW, as far as the other SEC teams, I don’t give a damn. I’m a Bama fan, not an SEC fan. I don’t pull for the SEC unless it benefits us.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.