章 34: The Grim Reapers
"Yo! Yo! Yo!"
Bryant-Denny Stadium erupted in a wave of boos. A fierce sea of crimson surged toward the end zone like an unstoppable tide. Yet Deshaun Watson remained unfazed, dancing in the end zone—literally.
Amid the boos, Watson mimicked the smooth moves from Drake's latest hit, "Hotline Bling," swaying his hips in a small space. Though his expression was hidden behind his helmet, his swagger was undeniable, exuding an air of mockery.
The louder the boos, the more hyped Watson became.
For Clemson, playing on the road, this was the best kind of validation.
In fact, Clemson had come prepared for this warm-up match. Though it was merely an exhibition, both Saban and Swinney had their own agendas and were executing their plans with precision.
In the first half, Clemson fielded their starting lineup and went all out from the get-go, while Alabama's Crimson Tide opted for a mixed strategy, sending out their starting offense but with their backup defense.
Saban had his reasons for this:
First, in the team's recent scrimmage, the backup defense performed exceptionally well. Throughout the entire game, they allowed only eight first downs, leaving the starting offense, led by Jalen Hurts, utterly confused. Saban had high hopes for the backups.
Second, he planned to focus on offense in the first half and switch things up in the second half to fine-tune the defense. So, in the first half, Saban was essentially baiting Swinney into attacking while carefully observing Clemson's offensive strategy.
The strategy was sound, even brilliant.
However, Saban underestimated Clemson's determination. From Swinney down to Watson, they were all driven by revenge for their defeat in last January's national championship game. They attacked aggressively from the start.
Watson, unsurprisingly, lived up to his star billing in the NCAA. Not only was he a top contender for the Heisman Trophy this season, but he was also a strong candidate to be the first overall pick in next year's NFL draft.
Watson hadn't forgotten that this warm-up game was being broadcast nationally—an excellent opportunity to showcase his talents.
Typically, NFL teams don't have time to watch college games. Scouts handle the information gathering, and the reports delivered to coaches and general managers are all they usually see. Unless someone's particularly interested, they won't go out of their way to watch game footage.
But today was different.
It was still spring camp, and the NFL had just wrapped up its draft. Training camps hadn't started yet, and with coaches and players on vacation, they had time to tune in. This ESPN-broadcasted game could easily catch their attention, making it the perfect stage for Watson to shine.
Even warm-up games have their own significance.
Watson was ready to seize the moment.
As soon as the game began, Watson was in the zone. His dual-threat abilities—both passing and running—were on full display, tearing through Alabama's defense and catching the Crimson Tide completely off guard with his relentless attacks.
"14-0."
Barely enough time to catch their breath, and Clemson was already up by two touchdowns. Watson's stellar performance overshadowed even Clemson's defense, with one touchdown through the air and another on the ground, leading to the celebratory dance in Alabama's end zone.
Today, Bryant-Denny Stadium was packed to the rafters. Facing last season's national championship runner-up and long-time rival, the entire town of Tuscaloosa had turned out. Though it was just a warm-up game, the atmosphere resembled that of a championship match, with waves of crimson energy reverberating throughout the stadium.
Yet Watson, bold and brash, dominated from the first drive, leaving Jalen Hurts almost forgotten in his wake.
The Crimson Tide struggled through the first quarter.
But Saban remained calm.
First of all, it had to be admitted: Clemson was playing well. However, was Clemson really that dominant?
Let's start with Alabama's offense. The root of the problem lay in the ground game. Saban's team wasn't known for its passing game, so the running attack was key. Swinney knew this and took advantage of Alabama's struggles at the running back position, specifically targeting this weakness to choke the Crimson Tide's offense.
Clemson's defensive line, made up of four top-tier players, was simply overwhelming. Swinney's defensive schemes weren't particularly varied, but his defensive linemen were so individually skilled that they formed a formidable unit even without complex strategies.
Carlos Watkins, entering his junior year, played defensive tackle.
Christian Wilkins, entering his sophomore year, played defensive end.
Dexter Lawrence, a freshman, was another defensive tackle.
Saban was familiar with Watkins, having faced him last year. He was a workhorse player—solid, dependable, and rarely missed a tackle. Though he lacked explosiveness, he was a rock in the defense, holding down the fort.
The real standouts, however, were the two younger players: Wilkins and Lawrence. Both were strong and aggressive, with the potential to be first-round NFL draft picks.
In football, more than any other sport, having a large roster means only the best of the best are selected in the first round. Even players picked in the first three rounds are usually exceptional.
To be a first-round pick is the ultimate affirmation of a player's abilities.
Moreover, not every position is prioritized in the draft. Teams don't always pick the most talented players—they pick the players they need the most. So, for defensive linemen to go in the first round is especially impressive.
And in Saban's eyes, Wilkins and Lawrence had that first-round potential.
Together, they anchored the inside and outside of the line, acting like grim reapers, completely shutting down Alabama's run game. Neither Jacobs nor Clark could make any headway.
As a result, whenever Hurts tried to pass, Clemson's defense had already read the play, causing Hurts to struggle with accuracy. The offense was stuck in a quagmire.
The pressure created a vicious cycle.
To Saban, the issue was all about confidence.
Both Jacobs and Clark knew how dominant Derrick Henry had been last season. Just having Henry on the field intimidated opposing defenses. Deep down, they knew they couldn't match up to Henry's presence, but they were still subconsciously trying to prove they could fill his shoes.
It was a contradiction.
Because of this conflicted mindset, their runs lacked vision and patience, repeatedly slamming into a brick wall.
Jacobs was starting to get frustrated—still too young.
The current situation was as much their fault as it was their opponent's. Saban remained cool-headed, observing the bigger picture.
As for Alabama's defense?
The main problem was Watson's growth. The Crimson Tide's defense couldn't figure out Watson's tactics, and this incredibly gifted quarterback was single-handedly carrying Clemson's offense.
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