TALE OF THE TAPE
A position-by-position breakdown of the national-championship contenders
[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]
CLEMSON | Alabama | |||
[check] | Sophomore Deshaun Watson is the sort of mobile, strong-armed passer who has given Alabama's defense trouble in recent years. | QB | Senior Jake Coker, who has completed 71.6% of his throws in his last 11 starts, proved in the Cotton Bowl that he can win a game with his arm. | |
No one can gain yards up the middle against Bama alone, but Watson's ability as a runner could open up space for sophomore Wayne Gallman. | RB | Heisman Trophy--winning junior Derrick Henry remains a load to tackle, and a now healthy Kenyan Drake is dangerous on the edge. | [check] | |
[check] | Artavis Scott (89 catches) is the workhorse, Charone Peake is the big-play threat, and TE Jordan Leggett (6'5", 255) is the goal line nightmare. | REC | Freshman receiver Calvin Ridley has lived up to the Amari Cooper comparisons. Meanwhile, Coker finally got TE O.J. Howard involved. | [check] |
Right tackle Joe Gore and left guard Eric Mac Lain are steady seniors; freshman LT Mitch Hyatt will have to play near their level. | OL | Senior center Ryan Kelly is the leader and anchor. Sophomore left tackle Cam Robinson is the freak athlete. The entire unit can maul defenses. | [check] | |
All eyes will be on junior DE Shaq Lawson's injured knee, but junior end Kevin Dodd and junior tackle Carlos Watkins are almost as disruptive. | DL | The best group in the country. Eight players rotate through three spots, including tackle A'Shawn Robinson, and there are no weak links. | [check] | |
Senior B.J. Goodson (98 tackles, 14 for loss) is a big-play machine, and junior Ben Boulware (79 tackles) excels at stuffing run gaps. | LB | Like the D-linemen, the linebackers, led by Reggie Ragland, are future pros who frequently split reps with little drop-off in skill. | [check] | |
[check] | Sophomore CB Mackensie Alexander can lock down receivers; junior safety Jayron Kearse (6'5", 220) covers and is strong against the run. | DB | When the Tide goes nickel, they use five players who started as corners. All can cover, but the smaller safeties may need help in run support. | |
Opponents gain just 5.7 yards per punt return against the Tigers. Freshman Greg Huegel has made 25 of 29 field goal attempts. | ST | More than a third of sophomore JK Scott's punts have pinned opponents inside the 20. Senior returner Cyrus Jones has four punt return TDs. | [check] |
WINNER: ALABAMA
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DAVID KLUTHO FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (WATSON)
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DAVID KLUTHO FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (HUEGEL)
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CHRIS KEANE FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (GALLMAN)
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JACOB KUPFERMAN/CAL SPORTS MEDIA (SCOTT)
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RAINIER EHRNARDT/AP (MAC LAIN)
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DANNIE WALLS/ICON SPORTSWIRE (DODD)
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DOUG BUFFINGTON/ICON SPORTSWIRE (GOODSON)
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TOM DIPACE (ALEXANDER)
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TOM PENNINGTON/GETTY IMAGES (COKER)
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TOM PENNINGTON/GETTY IMAGES (JONES)
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KEVIN C. COX/GETTY IMAGES (HENRY)
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POUYA DIANAT FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (HOWARD)
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GREG NELSON FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (KELLY)
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GREG NELSON FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (ROBINSON)
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TIM HEITMAN/USA TODAY SPORTS (RAGLAND)
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TIM HEITMAN/USA TODAY SPORTS (MINKAH FITZPATRICK)