Common theme for Alabama, Clemson: Dominant defensive lines
Dan Wolken
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was asked Monday if he'd ever seen a defensive line that compares to what his team will face against Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game on Jan. 11 in Glendale, Ariz.
He didn't have to go far for his answer.
"They look a lot like we looked last year in that defensive line as far as the experience and depth they have up front," Swinney said of a unit that anchored Clemson's 2014 defense, which allowed the fewest yards per game in the country. "That's why they're no. 1 defensively."
Though not as celebrated as this Alabama defensive front — which rotates 11 players, most of whom will be future NFL Draft picks — Clemson's defensive line last year included end Vic Beasley and tackle Grady Jarrett (both currently with the Atlanta Falcons) along with starters Corey Crawford, DeShawn Williams and two other part-time starts/rotation players. All of them are now gone.
But the depth Swinney recruited at that position showed this year, as Clemson hasn't seemed to drop off at all up front. Even without star defensive end Shaq Lawson, who injured his left knee in the first quarter of the Orange Bowl, Clemson's line overwhelmed Oklahoma and played a huge role in the Tigers' 37-17 victory.
Playoff coaches: Shaq Lawson likely to return, but not Tony Brown
Swinney said Monday on a joint teleconference with Alabama coach Nick Saban that he's optimistic Lawson will be available for the championship game, pending how much he's able to do in practice.
"We thought our front line guys would be more than as good as what we had last year; we just weren't going to have the same type of depth," Swinney said. "Last year we're taking Vic Beasley out and bringing in Shaq Lawson. We had a lot of young players (behind them), so we were hopeful we could get through at least the first half of the season and stay healthy and develop those guys a bit, and I think that's what you saw in the bowl game."
Though nobody has stacked up elite recruits on defense like Alabama — Da'Shawn Hand, the former Rivals.com No. 1 overall player is still far down the depth chart as a sophomore — Clemson isn't terribly far behind in how it has built depth.
Guys like Lawson, end Kevin Dodd, tackle Carlos Watkins and defensive tackle D.J. Reader were all backups last year but now start and are helping build the next wave.
The Tigers' freshman class includes a former five-star defensive tackle in Christian Wilkins and two four-star linemen in Albert Huggins and Austin Bryant, all of whom have contributed.
Swinney pointed out that Bryant (who replaced Lawson in the Orange Bowl) and Kendall Joseph, a redshirt freshman linebacker, were both in on the 4th-and-1 stop with 5:28 left in the third quarter that helped Clemson turn a tight game against Oklahoma into a blowout.
"The cumulative effect of Austin's experience and being able to bring him along at a healthy pace has been very beneficial to us," Swinney said. "He was ready to play and he was confident, and we've seen that grow and mature all year long. That's what you hope to get throughout the season."
Of course, the likelihood of getting Lawson back would be a huge boost for Clemson.
Lawson suffered the knee injury early in the Oklahoma game, tried to play the next series and delivered a sack of quarterback Baker Mayfield. But Lawson felt like he couldn't push off the knee after that and remained on the sideline the rest of the game.
Swinney cautioned that he wanted to see Lawson "run around" during Monday's practice before declaring him available for the game.
"I think the prognosis is good at this point," Swinney said.
Meanwhile, Saban said cornerback Tony Brown, who was sent home the day before Alabama's Cotton Bowl victory over Michigan State, remains suspended "until we get new information."
Brown, a former five-star recruit, has had an up-and-down career at Alabama. His loss wasn't particularly noticeable in the Crimson Tide's 38-0 Cotton Bowl victory against Michigan State. Part of that is because Alabama's defensive front has been so dominant, allowing just 70.8 rushing yards per game — lowest in the Football Bowl subdivision by a wide margin.
"They're by far, clearly the best we've seen," Swinney said. "They're as good as it gets in the country, No. 1 in about everything defensively. They have great depth in their defensive line and they roll them guys in there; play a lot of guys, (make) a bunch of subs and they all play at a really high level. That's why they're a great team. There's a bunch of seniors and juniors and all those guys are starter-type bodies. Most teams you play, you don't have the type of depth Alabama can present."
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CLEMSON'S ORANGE BOWL VICTORY