Clemson defenders explain how they exploited weakness they discovered in Tua Tagovailoa's game by studying his film
Despite having a truly incredible individual season, the lasting image many have of Tua Tagovailoa has defined him this entire offseason. That’s just the way it is at Alabama under Nick Saban these days. Winning 14 consecutive games to start the season is nice but it doesn’t mean as much if the Crimson Tide don’t walk off the field for the final time as national champions.
That’s a harsh but accurate reality for many Alabama fans and one that has defined Tagovailoa heading into his junior season in the eyes of some college football fans. Considering he completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,996 yards with 43 touchdowns and only six interceptions — and arguably should have won the Heisman Trophy — in his first season starting for Alabama, that’s probably an unfair criticism of Tagovailoa.
However, be that as it may, Clemson clearly took advantage of Alabama’s quarterback in the latest College Football Playoff National Championship Game and exploited what they saw on film to help open the game with a Pick Six that appeared to set the tone for the evening.
So, what was it that the Tigers saw that allowed them to do that? They explained just that in a recent AL.com article from Michael Casagrande.
“Really, we knew that he wasn’t reading the defenses that well in the backfield,” former Clemson defensive lineman Bert Huggins said. “So, we were disguising the defense pretty well and then we would move into a different defense. He just couldn’t read the defense.”
Clemson linebacker Kendall Joseph credited defensive coordinator Brent Venables for exhausting game planning.
“We understand what he wanted to do and we wanted to exploit it,” Joseph said. “It started with trying to knock him off rhythm and get some pressure and get some hits on him and try to rattle the quarterback and I think we did a good job of that.”
Those are some interesting observations from Clemson’s defenders on facing Tagovailoa. When you think back to his first performance in a national championship game, this is something Georgia would not have seen coming based on a lack of available film to pick apart on Tagovailoa. While his poor performance in the 2018 SEC Championship Game was chalked up to being injured against the Dawgs, it’s possible Kirby Smart and his program picked up on some of the same things Clemson saw leading up to the latest title game.
The entire AL.com article is well worth checking out. You can read it here.
I wouldn’t say he can’t read a defense if you were disguising the defense. Tua made the read and determined where he was going before the snap. He just didn’t read post snap. That’s youth and being a first year starter.
Several Clemson players stated they spent one week preparing for the cupcake named Notre Dame and the rest of the time preparing for Alabama.
Please, let’s hear even more information on how Clemson beat Alabama last season a couple of days before this season begins. I think an entire offseason of dissecting every part of it isn’t nearly enough.
I like these type articles. I hope this type stuff get said and posted all season about the Clemson game…
Free motivation for Bama.
If Tua is too slow to adjust to the reveal after the disguise…motivation ain’t gonna matter kid.
Why don’t you just stop replying to me? You’re doing nothing but trolling. Go bug the fans of a team UGA beat…
Naw, they aren’t nearly as fun as you. But that being said, if Tua isn’t fast enough at recognizing disguised coverages isn’t that concerning when you play elite teams like us, Motivated or not?
Sorry but the time of talking football with you passed the day you joined…
You’ve done nothing but troll since day one. Find someone else that will waste their time with you. I’m not biting on your ignorant comments and trolling anymore…
But you just did. So since you can’t resist the urge to get the last word in with everyone on SDS here is another chance…what’s motivation got to do with inability to quickly adjust to a disguised set?
Leave him alone from this point forward. Everyone knows that he doesn’t know what he is talking about. Don’t let yourself be sucked in again.
@red. I’m not. I’ve moved on…
Go back and watch the Sugar Bowl and then talk motivation.
Oh I have no doubt that game will be motivation this year.
But I have no idea how motivation plays into an inability of an elite qb to adjust to disguised sets that Kirby recognized and Dabo exploited.
I repeat…LeghumperU showed GooberU how to beat Trunksnorters and Dabo executed better than Kirby.
And I quote… It’s possible Kirby picked up on what son of Clem saw…44-16
Release the trolls
WOW!!…..1 week from kicking off the 2019 season and clemson still talking about 2018. I guess this happens when you are not use to winning championships. Also, to all GA fans, please do not respond to any of my post until your bulldogs break the 39 year drought (1980).
@BamaRulesSEC kinda ironic. A Bama fan complaining about Clemson still talking about last season when all Bama fans do is talk about the past lol. Every time a Bama fan gets annoyed, they always gotta bring up how they won the championship in the past and the other team didn’t.