NEW ORLEANS – So there’s this theory floating around that Alabama’s stout defense might just be in trouble on Thursday because of the unknown.
Specifically, the unknown of what Cardale Jones, Ohio State’s third-string quarterback, brings.
“There’s not much (game tape) out there,” says Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. “It’s a challenge.”
Or is it?
“You could say (Alabama coach) Nick and Kirby have some things Cardale has never seen, too,” said Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman.
Know this: if Ohio State is going to beat Alabama – it’s not a stretch to think so – Jones will have to do things he wasn’t forced to do in a 59-0 rout of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. He’ll also have to do the one thing he did better than any other.
If that sounds confusing, it’s easier to say Jones must make plays in the passing game – throws while reading defenses and throws that are simple go routes and jump balls.
The latter was very successful against Wisconsin, and has been an issue for Alabama all season – especially in the last two games of the season against Auburn and Missouri. The former is something Jones wasn’t forced to do against the Badgers because Ohio State had balance on offense and wasn’t forced into it.
“We want to stop the run; that’s the first priority,” said Alabama linebacker Trey DePriest. “If you can do that, you make things a lot easier on yourself. You force teams into the one thing you know they’re going to do, and then make them uncomfortable doing it.”
Here’s the problem with that philosophy: if Alabama focuses on stopping Ohio State’s run game, it must commit to it in the front seven and leave the Buckeyes’ elite group of receivers in man coverage. That means relying on a shaky secondary – remember the Auburn and Missouri games? – to win individual battles.
Auburn took a 12-point lead in the third quarter last month because the Tigers kept chucking it deep with success in man coverage. Missouri pulled to within eight in the third quarter in the SEC Championship Game because quarterback Maty Mauk threw numerous, 50-50 deep balls and the Tigers’ receivers won more of their share.
So maybe the game isn’t so much about Jones as it is Ohio State wideouts Devin Smith, Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall – a group Tide coach Nick Saban has compared to the elite group of receivers Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer had at Florida – helping Jones by winning favorable matchups.
“I’m confident my guys will help me in any situation,” Jones said.
Even if he has never seen it before.