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January 1, 2015Last week, I wrote about the coaching matchup and the shadow it will cast over the 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl between Ohio State and Alabama. But, while Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, and on-field reporter Holly Rowe will surely remind viewers countless times about who patrols the sidelines for the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide and their shared history, X’s and O’s have only limited power.
When the opening kickoff sends a football arcing over the Superdome turf, there will be two teams of men – some really still boys – hurtling towards each other. Urban Meyer and Nick Saban will be restricted to their respective sidelines. Schemes and gameplans are essential, but, at the end of the day, if the players wearing scarlet and grey cannot execute, they will be rolled over by a brutally efficient and skilled Tide. Here are the two matchups Ohio State must win if they hope to move on to the College Football Playoff championship game at Jerry World on January 12.
Ohio State Rushing Attack vs. Alabama Front Seven
I had a front row seat on the Cardale Jones bandwagon, and I urged you all to join me even before the Wisconsin game. He rewarded the believers – and the rest of Buckeye Nation – with one of the most convincing first career starts you will ever see against a top 10 defense in the country.
But, regardless of whether Jones, J.T. Barrett, or Braxton Miller is under center, the running game is the fuel that gets the fire of the Ohio State offense burning. Urban Meyer’s offense is first and foremost a ground-based attack. Many of the pass plays the Buckeyes run – the screens, jet sweep push passes, and packaged plays – are glorified run plays designed to quickly get the ball in the hands of playmakers in space. A huge number of the deep balls Ohio State has thrown this year have come either off play-action or once the running game had pulled opposing safeties into the box, giving Devin Smith, Michael Thomas, and other Buckeyes receivers single coverage on the outside.
Jones did everything he was asked and more against the Badgers, but facing the Alabama defense is a whole different challenge. The Buckeyes rank ninth in the nation with an average of 5.8 yards per rush as a team, but if they can’t maintain their effectiveness against a Crimson Tide defense allowing just 2.9 yards per attempt (best in the nation), then Jones will struggle against Saban’s creative coverage schemes.
The Buckeyes offensive line began the season untested, but has emerged as a team strength. They will have to handle Alabama’s stout 3-4 front led by Jarran Reed and Jonathan Allen on the defensive line, linebackers Reggie Ragland and Trey DePriest, and Xzavier Dickson, who plays the “Jack” position. If that front seven can shut off running lanes for Jones, Ezekiel Elliott, Jalin Marshall, and the other Buckeyes, throwing the ball will prove tough. If Ohio State can gash the Tide on the ground, they will be forced to go away from their preferred Cover 2 scheme and bring stud strong safety Landon Collins into the box, creating opportunities for Jones to hit some downfield throws to his deep threats.
Ohio State Secondary vs. Amari Cooper
Cooper is a force of nature. Actually, with 115 catches this season1, he might be more accurately described as a blackhole. Throws to Cooper resulting in catches2 has become so predictable that Alabama offensive coordinator has taken to raising his arms in celebration before quarterback Blake Sims even releases the ball.
The Buckeye front seven was able to shut down Heisman finalist Melvin Gordon in the Big Ten Championship Game, but with Alabama’s two-headed backfield Hydra of T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, one would have to assume that the Crimson Tide will find at least some measure of success on the ground. That slow bleed can be survived, but if Sims is allowed to sling the ball all over the yard to Cooper and DeAndrew White, this game could turn into a shootout quickly – something the Buckeyes would surely like to avoid with a quarterback making just his second career start.
Hoping to stop Cooper is folly. The Heisman finalist averaged almost 8.5 catches per contest and will surely get his share of targets on Thursday night. Containing the Tide’s top offensive weapon will be the name of the game. For all of Cooper’s speed and skill, he is not a physical freak in the mold of Calvin Johnson. Alabama lists Cooper at 6-1, 210 pounds. Doran Grant, who will likely take the lion’s share of the snaps lined up across from Cooper, goes 5-11, 193 pounds, so he won’t be facing a massive physical mismatch.
Still, corralling Cooper will rely on more than just Grant. Covering Cooper one-on-one is something no sane coach would attempt, so expect to see safety Vonn Bell – who’s had a stellar year with five interceptions and 11 passes defended – frequently lined up to give Grant help over the top.
Further complicating the task of defending Cooper is the way in which the receiver has done his damage this season. He is just as dangerous streaking deep down the field as he is catching a short pass and making defenders miss. Grant and Bell will get the job of chasing Cooper around, but Ohio State’s linebackers and other defensive backs will frequently be called upon to bump him at the line or be solid in their tackling when he has the ball in his hands.
Only one team has truly limited Cooper this season. Arkansas held him to two catches for 22 yards in a narrow 14-13 Alabama victory.3 Conversely, Cooper has put together three games of over 200 receiving yards against Florida, Tennessee, and Auburn, all of which included at least two touchdowns. While Cooper only catching two passes may be too much to ask of the Buckeyes defense, allowing him to top 200 yards would make Ohio State’s already difficult task of defeating Alabama nearly impossible.
2 Comments
I fought the image of Cardale Jones in a Browns uniform but after yesterday all I could think of is this kid on the Browns under the wing of someone like Marc Trestman. His size, his arm, his legs and most importantly what appears to be an actual football intelligence makes me smile.
Then I watched Skip Bayless talk about him possibly being a high first round pick today and I went f%$K! If Bayless sees it Jones isn’t a secret for anyone. The good news is he’s still young and raw and behind at least two other QBs well one once Braxton Miller transfers so who knows maybe people will forget about 12 Gauge!
He looked like a big tight end trucking those bama defenders. Definitely has an NFL body and arm, unlike what the Browns have. I’d take a chance on him, not in the first few rounds though