If a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the West Virginia Mountaineers was the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic’s marquee game a couple of years ago, fans everywhere would be rejoicing at seeing Bama’s Nick Saban-orchestrated (head coach), Kirby Smart-led (defensive coordinator) defense matchup against Dana Holgorsen’s all-out assault offense for WVU.

Mountaineer QB Geno Smith was piling up astronomical numbers — which included at 70-33 victory over the Clemson Tigers in 2013 where Smith threw six touchdowns opposed to zero interceptions — and receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey were breaking ankles and taking names.

But after a 4-8 finish to last season, and a roster full of unknowns, many of the Tide faithful (and practically everyone outside of the state of West Virginia) are looking at the Mountaineers as a glorified tune up rather than the viable opponent most expected when the game was inked.

Last season’s opening-game drubbing of Virginia Tech certainly doesn’t help, but with all due respect to the Hokies, their brand of offensive football pales in comparison to the type of scheme, concepts and execution Holgorsen has the ability to unfurl.

While it is expected that Bama will still dominate, WVU’s style of offense has given Bama’s defense fits in the past, so it’s a good early-season test for the Tide moving forward.

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Coach Holgorsen served under some of the most innovative offensive minds in the business: Hal Mumme (Kentucky fame), Mike Leach (Washington State), Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M) and Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State).

Despite having a background in the Mumme-Leach “air raid” offense, he’s developed some pretty magnificent run-game concepts to accompany the aerial philosophy. While some may confuse West Virginia’s offensive stylings with that of Oregon’s, mostly due to the break-neck pace with which the two teams operate, the difference in philosophy at the quarterback position needs to be noted.

QB Mobility

While Oregon is known for having QBs that are dual-threat, in a sense that they are required to run a ton, Holgorsen’s QBs need to be able to extend plays mostly to deliver the ball with accuracy in the short-to-intermediate game.

While some confused Smith with the athletically gifted Robert Griffin III (Baylor), he was soon found out to be more like an Aaron Rodgers-like (Green Bay Packers) of QB that usually has designs on passing the ball while on the run.

The Mountaineers’ current QB, Clint Trickett (6’2″, 175 lbs), is built from the same cloth as Smith; Bama will be forced to defend all quadrants of the field, because Trickett is a threat to bolt the pocket.

QB-Draw

Here we see Trickett on a designed QB draw. Running this play out of  “00 personnel” is tricky for the defense as it is spread out with the five-receiver set. For an aggressive defense like Bama’s, getting upfield to procure the QB is the first order of business.

But when the offense likes to spread out defenses to provide running lanes for the QB, it becomes a tougher road to hoe (get ‘cher mind right!) — as Bama often found out with Texas A&M and the great Johnny Manziel.

While it may not be necessary for Bama to use inside linebacker Reggie Ragland as a spy, Saban will be very cognizant of Trickett’s ability to manufacture first downs.

Physical Run Game

Holgorsen’s offense is miscast as a finesse outfit. While “pop” passes, quick screens and draws are littered throughout his playbook, he has certain run concepts that will absolutely bloody your mouth.

Last season running back Charles Sims rushed for 1,095 yards on 208 attempts (5.3 average) with 11 TDs — many of the smash-mouth variety. His backup Dreamius Smith (5’11”, 216 lbs) contributed 494 yards of his own on only 103 attempts. With Sims now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Smith will get a chance to prove he’s every bit as talented as Sims — who was drafted with the 69th pick in the third round — and I believe he will.

InsideZone

Here’s Smith proving his worth on an inside zone run out of “21 personnel.” Flanked by Sims — who’s uncharacteristically used as a play-side blocker — Sims finds the cutback lane in the zone-blocking scheme and proceeds to make men out of multiple would-be defenders.

Smith is a powerful back that has plenty of “giddy up.” While Bama is used to seeing top-flight backs, it’s the scheme that differentiates what it will see at the Georgia Dome. Inside backers Reuben Foster and Ragland will have to read their keys and try not to over pursue ball-carriers in the run game.

30Personnel

Here is WVU in what I like to call a “Heavy Set,” out of “30 personnel.” Most people equate zone blocking with finesse — including your’s truly — but when you can provide two lead blockers for your tailback, you’re back in smash-mouth mode.

The goal here was to press the action front side providing a cutback that almost mimics a counter. With both defensive edges being kicked out, the back was bound to find daylight.

While the Tide’s defense is a 3-4-based outfit (that provides multiple looks), it may be more feasible for them to employ more of an even-front look to ensure they dominate at the point of attack.

Additionally, Bama may want to relax on the exotic-blitz packages it’s know for. WVU has about a thousand ways to throw a screen pass and love to do so against aggressive defenses.

Advanced Screen Concepts

For someone who once covered Sean Payton’s offense with the New Orleans Saints for an entire season, I must admit that very few are more creative than him when it comes to the screen game.

Holgorsen is the exception.

Whether it’s tunnel, slow-developing or inside screens, Holgorsen has a variety of ways to execute. For fans of defensive football, watching Alabama’s all-world safety Landon Collins attempt to detonate one of WVU’s screens will be worth its weight in platinum.

Collins is a heat-seeking missile that operates well in space; the Mountaineer’s offense is a symphony orchestra-like outfit that creates a ton of space.

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One thing the Tide needs to be ready for is a ton of “ghost” action (a player running across the formation at, or before, the snap of the ball presenting a reverse look). By employing a ton of ghost, the defense is forced to assign a box player to contain the potential reverse.

The minute Holgorsen thinks the defense is not keying on the ghost, it will quickly be turned into a “Speed sweep.” Here it takes the “Will” linebacker out of the play allowing for WVU to outflank the defense, putting the back in some serious space.

Perhaps a “46” look from the Tide would be good to circumvent the Mountaineers’ screen-game prowess. By walking Collins up in the box, essentially making him a de facto linebacker, the Tide would gain a sideline-to-sideline blur to go along with the athletic prowess of Ragland and the kamikaze-like recklessness of Foster.

This would put the onus on the cornerbacks, preferably freshmen Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey, to be disciplined in their principles. It would also put a ton of pressure on the free safety to defend against the deep stuff.

The Mountaineers have a couple of deep-ball threats in Ronald Carswell and Mario Alford, so expect Holgorsen to test whoever lines up in the secondary.

Verdict

Make no mistake about it; West Virginia is not in Bama’s league. Alabama is stronger along both lines of scrimmage and has way more talent at the skill positions. But WVU has the scheme to exploit weaknesses, perceived or authentic, and Bama is inexperienced in certain key position (most notably in the secondary).

Expect a monster day from interior lineman DJ Pettway if he’s allowed to shoot gaps against that zone blocking. His quickness is uncanny and he’s very physical at the point of attack. If fellow lineman A’Shawn Robinson is healthy enough to go, the Tide will force the Mountaineers to go to their stretch-zone game — where Ragland, Foster and Collins will be waiting with bated breath.

The difference will be that Alabama also possesses an equally talented offense that can win a game on its own, where the Mountaineer defense lacks that type of talent.

The Tide will roll at the Dome.