Clemson DE Shaq Lawson expected to play vs. Alabama

Alabama returned to the practice field Sunday to begin preparing for the College Football Playoff National Championship against Clemson.

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“It was just really during summer workouts, all the stuff they did”, Watson said. Alabama turned it over five times and let Chad Kelly complete 18-of-33 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns in Ole Miss’ 43-37 victory. That would be the same number Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson wears.

Alabama players are not robots. Clemson will need everything ready to go so that they can put their best foot forward against a very talented Alabama team. “We sold out to stop the run”.

The Clemson offense was held to 20 points, its lowest total all year, against Louisville in September then 296 yards, also a season low, a game later against Notre Dame. You got to help them too. The Tide, instead, played a lot of cover-two and counted on its four linemen to dominate up front.

Fears were ignited among the IPTAY-faithful during the Orange Bowl thrashing of Oklahoma, when Lawson was taken out of the game and had his knee strapped up with ice. But Alabama brings a much more experienced offensive line to the table.

Instead, pressure from the Tigers’ defensive line forced Sooners star quarterback Baker Mayfield to roll right. So Bama can practice all they want. Heisman Trophy victor Derrick Henry leads the Alabama rushing attack with 2,061 yards and 25 touchdowns and Calvin Ridley is the top receiver with 83 catches and seven touchdowns. The Clemson secondary ranks 9th in the nation in yards allowed and has forced 16 interceptions on the season.

Getting the focus back after the Cotton Bowl was no problem. Last year, Ohio State was the benefactor of this stipulation, because the school’s spring semester started after the National Championship, while OR was already in session. Probably kept some of the big-play potential out of the game. “Clemson was a good football team….”

During the bowl season, the NCAA’s 20-hour limit is usually not a concern because teams are on holiday break.

Establish the run game.

Have at least one big kick/punt return. Nick Saban is the best in the business, and you can be certain that he will have his team prepared.

Clemson will likely have a key piece of its defense back for the National Championship Game against Alabama.