Film Study: Explosive Kenyan Drake could be difference-maker in Bama win vs. Ole Miss

Sometimes style makes fights.

When the University of Alabama hosts the University of Mississippi, it will pit not only the two best defenses in the Southeastern Conference against each other, but there’s a strong case to be made that both teams possess the premier defensive units in the entire country — along with Ohio State University.

For defensive purists like myself, it will be a treat to see both units match up against offensive schemes that are completely different at its conceptual core. The Rebels will bring their Lamborghini-like, tempo-based, spread-to-pass scheme to Tuscaloosa in hopes of exposing a talented, yet, often troubled secondary by way of a plethora of vertical concepts.

And although the Rebel’s are in possession of, perhaps, the most talented receiving corps in the country, and they now have a quarterback, Chad Kelly, who is a scheme-specific fit for head coach Hugh Freeze’s offense, the lack of elite offensive line personnel may play right into the hands of the Crimson Tide as the strength of their defense lies within the multitude of fabricated-pressure schemes head coach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart can cook up.

Conversely, the Tide bring in a potentially punishing rushing attack they hope will force Ole Miss’ uber-fast defense to pay extra attention to in an effort to lessen up the vice-grip like coverage the Rebel’s have quickly become known for. And while Alabama does have a pretty solid offensive line, with elite personnel at a couple of spots, the Rebel’s have shown that they can spotlight the pass as they are versatile enough to play read-and-react defense.

Revisiting Mississippi’s 23-17 win over the Tide last season, it was the Rebel’s ability to play a turnover-free tilt, coupled with the heroics of former QB Bo Wallace’s three-touchdown, 251-yard performance in which he went a very efficient 18-of-31, that played an integral part in the victory. More attention should’ve been paid to Ole Miss’ dampening of Alabama QB Blake Sims, as his propensity of ripping up offenses by manufacturing explosive plays with his legs was virtually non-existent.

And while the Tide did manage to generate 168 yards on the ground, the fact that it needed an eye-opening 44 attempts to do so — mostly behind a 20-carry, 123-yard performance by former star running back T.J. Yeldon — should speak volumes when you consider another major factor: Ole Miss completely stifled RB Derrick Henry to the tune of 37 yards on 17 carries.

With no major threat of the run from any Tide QB this season, Ole Miss may be even more apt to stifle the freight train that is Henry. And you have to think that if it becomes a complete passing attack from the Tide, they may end up in the loser’s column again.

But the Tide have an ace-in-the-hole player in RB Kenyan Drake who may be just what the doctor ordered against the style of defense Mississippi plays, and he can kill two birds with one stone by getting retribution in the game he lost the rest of his season in due to injury.

Ghosts, Counters, Traps, Screens, Draws and other Misdirection-Type Plays

In a comparison of skill sets, Drake is a lot more like the versatile, agile Yeldon opposed to the momentum-based Henry; if I were writing a scouting report on Henry, the negative portion of his game would be his inability to make approaching defenders miss in the backfield. The 6’3″, 242-pound Henry makes most of his hay on zone-based concepts as it allows him to make use of a one-cut-and-go style that coincides with his blinding speed once he’s built momentum.

Case in point: Henry ran this zone play to perfection.

However, Ole Miss did a great job of breaching the pocket and making Henry hesitate; once you get him going laterally, he doesn’t have the agility or quickness to make something from nothing.

Drake, on the other hand, is the epitome of making chicken salad out of you know what. His agility is unmatched, and his quickness may supersede that aspect; he’s simply an explosive play waiting to happen in a plethora of ways. This is why he may need to be featured with screens, draws, traps, counters and other plays designed at using a defense’s aggressiveness against itself.

Ole Miss’ defense is so fast, it’s easy for it to over-pursue and lose the leverage of proper run fits. Ironically, the Tide showed they could have that type of success with Drake on the very play he was injured on, which happened to be his only offensive touch of the game.

Just look how quick Drake got up to full speed despite the defender being in position to limit him to a no-gainer; screens will be the exact way to get QB Jacob Coker off to a comfortable start, be it Tunnels, Smokes, Slips, Bubbles or Middles. Another way the Tide can loosen up the Ole Miss defense is by way of “Ghost” action, which is simply the threat of a reverse by a motion player on any given play.

By lining Drake up in the slot (or any number of Tide receivers), and actually running a reverse or two with him, you threaten the defense and force it to pay attention to any action mimicking a reverse; TCU had success with that in a blowout win over the Rebels in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Here’s a prime example of that: Operating out of “10 personnel,” which forced Ole Miss to lighten up the load in the box, TCU’s Drake-like RB was afforded a ton of space to maneuver; nobody wants to see Drake in space with a two-way go. (And notice how aggressive the corner was on the blitz despite the Ghost action; don’t rule out a pass to the Ghost.)

All in all, the battle between Ole Miss and Alabama will be a schematic dream with the opposing coordinators matching wits. Alabama fans need to know that Ole Miss is more than talented enough to beat the Tide, and points may, indeed, be at a premium. But going into Tuscaloosa and pulling one out against the Tide is a tall order for any team; it very well could come down to the exploits of Drake.

Gentlemen, start your engines.