Shut down Deshaun Watson. That’s something Alabama, which had the best defense in the nation last season, couldn’t do.

The Clemson quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist torched the Tide for 478 total yards (405 in the air and 73 on the ground) and 4 passing touchdowns.

“That guy’s the most significantly dominant player we played against since Cam Newton in 2010 … That guy coming back for that team is going to make them a very, very competitive team in terms of being in the championship arena again,” Nick Saban said on ESPN’s “College Football Live” last month.

But as Auburn approaches its season opener on Saturday night against Clemson, are there things it can do to at least slow down Watson? Here’s a look at potential strategies it can use.

Play spy games

Former Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, who blocked for Watson over the last two seasons, had this take on how he would stop his former teammate.

“I would probably put a spy on him,” Mac Lain told the Tulsa World last year. “He’s a very active quarterback. We do a bunch of designed quarterback runs that tend to get people. I think I would have a guy keyed on him at all times.”

Safety Rudy Ford would probably be a really good spy for Auburn. But keeping Ford – or a linebacker – close to the line of scrimmage would more than likely prevent Auburn from playing two deep safeties against Watson, a scenario he would definitely try to exploit.

Plus, using a spy on Watson could weaken other parts of Auburn’s defense. It’s a group that is trying to bounce back from two straight subpar years and is on its third coordinator in three seasons.

“I think our ability to spread the ball around and have a lot of different threats eliminates the use of a spy,” said Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott. “If you use a spy, you’re taking him away from some other responsibility. Then, you’ve got a guy like Deshaun, he’s gonna find out where that guy was supposed to be, and he’s gonna get that ball to that spot …

“I think with what we’re able to do with all of our skill guys, it’s difficult to put a spy on him.”

Another reason why it’s difficult to put a spy on Watson is that when he’s shadowed, he can turn to other options in Clemson’s offense more often. One of those options is running back Wayne Gallman, who set a school record with 1,527 rushing yards last season.

Draw a fine line

It might not be the worst thing for Auburn to try to force other players such as Gallman to beat them. In that scenario, Auburn’s defensive line would have to step up.

But that line will be counted on for more than stopping Clemson’s running game. Not only will it have to try to keep Watson in the pocket, it will need to limit what he can do when he breaks containment.

Watson has become very good at throwing while on the run. He tends to be at his best when he rolls to his right, so Carl Lawson, Auburn’s weakside defensive end, must put as much pressure on Watson as possible.

Plus, the line — and every other Auburn defender for that matter — needs to ramp up their physicality against Watson. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Watson isn’t an imposing QB. In fact, he’s already suffered some major injuries.

In 2014, he missed three weeks of spring ball due to a broken collarbone. After that season kicked off, a broken hand followed by a torn ACL limited him to eight games.

Watson seems to have completely recovered from his knee injury. But whenever Auburn has a chance to deliver a clean hit on him, it has to take it. Otherwise, he will have his way.

Make Watson think twice

Watson runs a relatively uncomplicated offense. More often than not, he makes simple underneath throws off predetermined reads.

The key for Auburn will be to force Watson off his first read and direct him toward other targets. It’s a risky strategy, considering that seven of Clemson’s top nine receivers from a year ago have returned, but it’s one worth taking.

Clemson’s top returnee at wideout is Artavis Scott, who led the team with 93 catches for 901 yards and 6 TDs last season. He is also one of four returning Tigers who had at least 5 TD receptions in 2015, so cornerback Carlton Davis and the rest of Auburn’s secondary will have their work cut out for them.

But it might be to their advantage if they somehow manage to get the ball out of Watson’s hands. Aside from Gallman, no Clemson player is as dangerous as Watson when it comes to making plays with his feet.

Steele is the wild card

Kevin Steele served as Dabo Swinney’s defensive coordinator from 2009-11, with his group finishing first in the ACC and 13th in the FBS by allowing 18.8 points per game in 2010. A 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl after the 2011 season wiped out that success, but at least Steele has somewhat of an idea of how Swinney – a longtime offensive coach — likes to attack defenses.

Maybe the Alabama-Clemson game tape has given Steele and his players an idea of what not to do against Watson. We’ll find out soon enough if the approach they use ends up being the right one.