Front Porch FootballTigers and Tide: Teams of the Decade
by Chris Paschal
When Alabama and Clemson take the field, the South’s finest will be on display, yet again. And while this game may be taking place in California’s Bay Area, the consequences of this game will be felt in the Deep South. This game will decide many important things, there is no denying that. However, the most important question this National Title Game will decide is whether we consider the team of the decade to be located off the Black Warrior River in western Alabama, or whether we consider there to be another team of the decade, this one tucked away in the South Carolina Upstate.
The 1990s were dominated by Nebraska. The Cornhuskers won three National Titles, and dominated the Big 8 (Big 12) Conference. But even with their three National Titles, the Cornhuskers were almost overshadowed by the state of Florida, with Miami, Florida State and Florida combining to win four national titles.
In the 1940s, Army won 3 straight national titles. But Notre Dame won four, as well. Everyone remembers Southern Cal’s domination of college football in the early 2000s, but that decade concluded with the SEC winning four straight National Titles.
The point I am making is that no matter how dominate the team of the decade appears to be, there is always another team that is right there with them. The 2010s have been dominated by the Crimson Tide. Alabama has won the 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2017 National Titles. They have basically sucked the life out of the SEC. In the late 2000s, the question was if whether Florida or Georgia or LSU or Auburn or Alabama would represent the SEC in the National Title, whereas the question now is will the Crimson Tide slip up to an inferior team along their way to another National Title.
That being said, when you listen to what Nick Saban says, and when you listen to what Crimson Tide players have to say, it is possible that there is another team of the decade.
The 1990s and the 2000s were a time of great mental (and maybe physical) suffering for Clemson Tiger fans. The Tigers had dominated the ACC for so long. Clemson had claimed ACC Titles in 1956, ’58, ’59, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’78, ’81, ’82, ’86, ’87, ’88, and ’91. But for twenty years, Clemson fans watched as their grip on the conference loosened and loosened, eventually becoming an afterthought in the ACC. Florida State, Virginia Tech, and even Georgia Tech and Wake Forest won more ACC Titles between 1991-2011.
If you told college football pundits in 2010 that the teams of the decade would be Alabama and Clemson, many would have scoffed at the notion that Clemson would be mentioned in the same breath as the mighty Crimson Tide. In fact, Clemson limped into this decade with a losing record in 2010. But through excellent recruiting, establishing a winning tradition and culture, and surrounding himself with excellent assistant coaches, Dabo Swinney has now taken his Clemson Tigers to four straight College Football playoffs, their third National Title appearance, and oh yeah, he also already has five ACC Titles to his name.
The Matchup
Clemson beat Alabama in the 2016 National Title Game, avenging their loss to the Crimson Tide in the 2015 National Title Game. Clemson is hoping to avenge 2017 College Football Playoff loss to Alabama in this year’s National Title Game. If Clemson is to go on and beat Alabama, their claim to be one of the teams of the decade, and to be mentioned in the same breath of Alabama takes another giant step forward in legitimacy. All they will have to do is beat Nick Saban, Tua Tagovailoa, and this Crimson Tide defense.
Defensive Line
When examining both of these rosters, the first thing that stands out to you is the talent and the size and the speed on both lines of scrimmage. These are two of the five best defensive lines in the country. This conversation starts with Quinnen Williams, the defensive tackle for Alabama. Not only is Williams an excellent block eater and run defense specimen, but he also might be the Tide’s best pass rusher. Watch the LSU game. Williams was in the backfield every other play. Williams, just a sophomore, has logged 18 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. The rest of this defensive front has plenty of size and speed, as well. Isaiah Buggs, Raekwon Davis, and Labryan Ray are all excellent defensive linemen, who not only get after the passer, but maintain gap discipline in run defense.
Clemson’s defensive line is as heralded as they come. Of course, news that Clemson defensive tackle, Dexter Lawrence, being suspended for use of a banned substance has dominated the conversation, but Clemson’s complete domination of Notre Dame should be noted, as well. Notre Dame (one of the nation’s best rushing attacks) was held to under 90 yards rushing, and Notre Dame quarterback, Ian Book, was sacked six times. Clemson defensive ends, Austin Bryant and Clelin Ferrell, are both pass rushing specialists, who have top-end speed for their size. Both Bryant and Ferrell will be early picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Clemson Secondary
A concern for Clemson may be this Tiger secondary. Clemson, when facing elusive quarterbacks like South Carolina’s Jake Bentley and Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond, has been torched in the passing game. Bentley, a feisty but average quarterback, threw for 510 yards and five touchdowns against this Clemson defense. The Tigers were able to hold Notre Dame’s Ian Book to 160 yards passing, and were able to force an interception. But if Clemson is not able to generate pressure on Tua Tagovailoa, an elusive but somewhat injured quarterback, this may be a long day for their secondary.
Rushing Attack
Both Alabama’s and Clemson’s offensive lines are elite, full of big, athletic guards, and NFL prospect tackles. Further, both of these rushing attacks are in a category of their own. Between Travis Etienne of Clemson, and Najee Harris, Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs of Alabama, both of these rushing attacks rank among two of the best in the country.
With one of the best defensive players (Quinnen Williams) in the country on the Alabama sideline, one of the best pass rushing defensive lines in the country on the Clemson sideline, both of these defenses will handle their own tonight. And with athletes scattered amongst the offensive line and skill positions, both of these offenses are poised for big nights. So the question will be the quarterback position.
Quarterback
Both of these quarterbacks are elite passers. Tua Tagovailoa has made throws that absolutely don’t seem possible until he makes them, and even then, you wonder if you have to call a buddy to make sure your TV didn’t glitch. Tagovailoa is elusive and creative in the pocket. He is like watching a video game. When healthy, Tagovailoa is definitely the quarterback you want in the fourth quarter. He has the moxie to go out there and win the game for you. That being said, it has been well documented throughout the season that Tagovailoa has been nursing ankle and knee injuries. Those injuries may cause Tagovailoa to force throws with his arm (like he did in the Georgia game), due to his hesitancy to improvise with his feet.
On the other side is Trever Lawrence. I am going to caveat what I am about to write with this – I don’t like him. No, I have never met him, but everything about him drives me crazy as a Gamecock fan. His long hair, his cockiness, the fact he stared down Muschamp during the Carolina-Clemson game this year… all of it drives me crazy.
With that being said, you know I must mean it when I say that this dude is going to win the Heisman before he leaves for the NFL. Yes, he can make all the throws, but what I am more impressed with is his presence in the pocket. Nothing fazes him. Minus a few hiccups in his first couple of games against Texas A&M and Syracuse, Lawrence has absolutely lit up the competition. And even against this Alabama defense, I don’t think that changes. Part of Lawrence’s success is due to the fact that Clemson puts him in position to succeed. Most of his throws are either out of his hand quickly on screens and RPOs, or they are 50/50 balls that are tossed up to his All-American receivers. Last year, Clemson lost to Alabama because they had a quarterback that couldn’t make those throws. And despite what Dabo wants you to believe, he definitely made the switch to Lawrence with Alabama in mind. And I think it will pay off tonight in the passing game.
I was telling a buddy late last week that Lawrence is the quarterback I want quarters 1-3, but Tua is the quarterback I want in the fourth quarter, and I still believe that when Tua is healthy, but I am afraid this may be like the Georgia game. Tua is not as mobile as he was at the beginning of the season, and because of that, he lacks the confidence needed to make his signature big plays. When push comes to shove, he may rely too much on his arm. And while Alabama was able to escape the SEC Championship Game with a victory, Georgia’s horrific play calling was as responsible for that outcome as Jalen Hurts was. Because of my health concerns for Tua, I have Clemson winning this game in another all-time classic.
