Chapter 42: The Ground Threat
"Hey, big guy."
Lance still couldn't remember Allen's name. He really didn't mean it, but it just wouldn't stick. Anyway, Allen seemed to enjoy the nickname "big guy." Just as the defense was about to take the field, Lance called out to Allen.
Not just Allen, but No. 10 Foster, Humphrey, and the others all paused.
Lance flashed a smile. "Did you see Mr. Watson over there?"
Following Lance's gaze, the defensive players all turned toward Clemson's sideline, where they saw a very relaxed Deshaun Watson.
Watson had taken off his helmet and gear, now just wearing a fitted sweat-wicking shirt, with his arms draped over the back of a bench, legs crossed, chatting and laughing with his teammates as if he were on vacation in Cancun.
Even after Alabama had just scored a touchdown, Watson remained unfazed.
"That guy's on vacation," Lance said, "thinking we can't possibly threaten their lead. Even though their defense let a touchdown slip, he still believes their backup offense will maintain the advantage."
"Hey, gentlemen, why don't we prove ourselves by getting that guy off his seat and back into his gear?"
"What do you say?"
Those words fired up the Crimson Tide defense more than any speech could.
Allen turned to Lance, his eyes filled with the confident look of a seasoned leader. "How about we see who gets Mr. Watson up first?"
Lance gave him a thumbs-up. "Watch out, though. Our offense already scored one point."
Allen didn't respond, just nodded, signaling for the defense to take the field.
Indeed, in the previous scrimmage, the backup team had won, and the starting defense had allowed two touchdowns, one at the start and another at the end. But no one could forget that the defense had performed well overall, both starters and backups. The only wildcard had been Lance.
In today's first half, the defense had struggled to contain Watson's individual brilliance. But now that the starting defense was finally on the field, they were out to prove themselves.
Clemson's offense didn't bring Watson back in for the second half. Following the usual preseason routine, they rotated in different players to test new strategies. However, Lance was right. They should have kept Watson in.
Whether winning or losing, facing the best opponent and pushing one's limits—that's what makes sports so thrilling.
Allen was ready.
Clemson's offense, like Alabama's, relied heavily on their star player. Without Watson, their aggression and pressure dropped drastically, leaving them unable to control the game.
Even when Watson was on the field, once he was contained, the variety in Clemson's offensive strategies dwindled, losing much of its impact.
Clemson's dependency on Watson was similar to Alabama's reliance on Derrick Henry, but Clemson's dependence was even more pronounced.
Swinney, Clemson's head coach, was undoubtedly aware of this. That's likely why he chose Alabama as their preseason opponent—to refine their second and third offensive units.
However—
That was easier said than done.
Clemson's second quarterback, Kelly Bryant, was also a young dual-threat quarterback like Watson, but the gap between them was clear.
Leaving physical ability aside, Bryant's biggest issue was his decision-making—knowing when to pass, when to run, and when to break through himself.
Some of it was experience; some of it was natural instinct.
Alabama's defense piled on the pressure. Allen and his teammates didn't focus on sacking the quarterback. They simply applied constant pressure, forcing Bryant to make rushed decisions, and soon he was flustered.
No matter what Bryant chose to do, it felt like walking a tightrope, shaky and precarious, especially in the short passing game, where Alabama's defense packed the middle, leaving little room for either passing or running plays.
Three-and-out.
In baseball, that's when the pitcher strikes out three batters in a row. In football, it means the defense has forced the opposing team to fail to gain a first down in three plays, forcing them into a long fourth down and often leading to a punt.
Fourth and seven.
And with the ball deep in their own territory, Clemson couldn't risk it. They had no choice but to punt, giving possession back to Alabama.
As Allen walked off the field, he removed his helmet, a broad grin on his face, chin held high. He turned to look at Lance.
Lance understood. Helmet in hand, he jogged onto the field, raising his right hand high—
Smack!
Lance and Allen exchanged a high-five, completing the handoff between the offense and defense.
The Crimson Tide's internal rivalry, "Offense vs. Defense," now stood at 1-1.
As Alabama's offense returned to the field, it was clear that Clemson's defensive strategy had changed. Swinney was not one to back down.
Swinney had noticed Lance's impressive performance. Alabama had long been known as a school with great running backs, and their ground game was formidable. Lance had sounded the alarm in Swinney's mind.
Clemson's defense tightened up on the line. Led by No. 99 Ferrell, the front seven pulled their positions in tighter, ready to stop any running back that took the ball. As soon as the ball was snapped, defenders swarmed, creating a solid wall to block any path forward.
Lance now faced a heavy challenge.
As mentioned earlier, Lance wasn't a bruising back like Derrick Henry, capable of smashing through defensive lines. It was tough for him to make an impact when surrounded by defenders. Jacobs, Clark, and Emmons weren't built for that type of running either, which was exactly the dilemma Alabama faced.
Burns, the offensive coordinator, had brought Lance onto the team for his burst of speed. Over short distances, Lance had the ability to break through—two, maybe three yards in a flash before he was tackled. Though not as dominant as Henry, Lance could still address some of Alabama's weaknesses in the running game.
And beyond that, Lance's ability to read and make the right decisions meant that two or three yards could often become four or five—or even more.
At the same time—
Alabama used Lance's abilities to keep Clemson's defense on their toes. Occasionally rotating in Emmons, they continued to pose a ground threat, forcing Clemson to keep their focus on the run.
That split their attention.
Meanwhile, Alabama's passing game began to open up.
Swinney had been confident that Alabama's passing attack was weak, particularly with Bateman's inconsistent accuracy. So Clemson's front seven kept focusing on stopping the run, giving Alabama's passing game some room to operate. Clemson's defense didn't apply enough pressure on the passing lanes, believing that Alabama's passing offense wouldn't be able to capitalize.
But Swinney had miscalculated.
"Touchdown!"
Pasch threw his hands in the air, his voice rising with excitement, a surge of energy coursing through him.
"Touchdown! Bateman connects with Hunter Kiss for Alabama's first passing touchdown of the game, and now the home team's offense is fully in gear!"
"The Clemson Tigers are under immense pressure. Their lead is slipping away fast."
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