After Stopping Kyler Murray Just Often Enough, Alabama's Defense Recalibrates for Clemson
After the Crimson Tide’s 45–34 win against the Sooners on Saturday, Williams explained what happened between the words “Kyler Murray is not…” and “I’m good.” “I didn’t see Coach Saban’s face,” Williams said. But he might have heard Nick Saban’s voice. Saban tells players that they should avoid saying anything that isn’t about the game. “I felt like I was going into an opinion, so I had to cut myself off,” Williams said. Then things got more interesting. “I can finish the sentence now if I want to,” Williams said. With this, a reporter gave Williams a prompt. So, Kyler Murray is… “Great,” Williams said. “Super fast. The real deal.” Then he elaborated, with a not-so-subtle nod to Murray’s other sport. “He’s really fast,” Williams said of Murray, who threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 109 yards and one touchdown. “Like inside-the-park home run fast. He’s tough. He did his job really well. He’s a leader.”
Alabama defenders came away complimentary of Murray because Murray led the Sooners to scores on every second half possession (one field goal followed by three touchdowns). Those defenders were critical of their own performances because they didn’t like forcing Alabama’s offense into a position where it had to score practically every possession to maintain the lead. The Tide offense probably could have done that—or at least come close—on a night where quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 24 of 27 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns. Alabama scored touchdowns on two of its four second-half possessions, but the Tide would have also scored a touchdown on the last one had they not wanted to run out the clock to keep Oklahoma from getting the ball again. What won Alabama the game—along with Tagovailoa’s pinpoint accuracy—were three early defensive stops that included two three-and-outs and a turnover on downs in the first quarter. The first three-and-out turned on a spectacular open-field tackle of Murray by linebacker Anfernee Jennings that set the tone for the first quarter.
Source : https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/30/playoff-alabama-defense-clemson-national-championship-game
After Stopping Kyler Murray Just Often Enough, Alabama's Defense Recalibrates for Clemson
After the Crimson Tide’s 45–34 win against the Sooners on Saturday, Williams explained what happened between the words “Kyler Murray is not…” and “I’m good.” “I didn’t see Coach Saban’s face,” Williams said. But he might have heard Nick Saban’s voice. Saban tells players that they should avoid saying anything that isn’t about the game. “I felt like I was going into an opinion, so I had to cut myself off,” Williams said. Then things got more interesting. “I can finish the sentence now if I want to,” Williams said. With this, a reporter gave Williams a prompt. So, Kyler Murray is… “Great,” Williams said. “Super fast. The real deal.” Then he elaborated, with a not-so-subtle nod to Murray’s other sport. “He’s really fast,” Williams said of Murray, who threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 109 yards and one touchdown. “Like inside-the-park home run fast. He’s tough. He did his job really well. He’s a leader.”
Alabama defenders came away complimentary of Murray because Murray led the Sooners to scores on every second half possession (one field goal followed by three touchdowns). Those defenders were critical of their own performances because they didn’t like forcing Alabama’s offense into a position where it had to score practically every possession to maintain the lead. The Tide offense probably could have done that—or at least come close—on a night where quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 24 of 27 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns. Alabama scored touchdowns on two of its four second-half possessions, but the Tide would have also scored a touchdown on the last one had they not wanted to run out the clock to keep Oklahoma from getting the ball again. What won Alabama the game—along with Tagovailoa’s pinpoint accuracy—were three early defensive stops that included two three-and-outs and a turnover on downs in the first quarter. The first three-and-out turned on a spectacular open-field tackle of Murray by linebacker Anfernee Jennings that set the tone for the first quarter.
Source : https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/30/playoff-alabama-defense-clemson-national-championship-game
