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Urban Meyer explains how he would limit Alabama offense in CFP Championship Game
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Urban Meyer has plenty of experience coaching in championship games. As the head coach of Florida, he led the Gators to national championships in 2006 and 2008. In 2014, in his 3rd season in charge at Ohio State, his Buckeyes hoisted the trophy.
This time around, Ohio State will be tasked with limiting a powerful Crimson Tide offense led by Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris. The Tide will be poised to give the Buckeyes defense, along with co-defensive coordinators Kerry Coombs and Jim Mattison, all it can handle in Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
How can the Buckeyes stop the Tide? Just ask the man that coached against them in the semifinals at the end of the 2014 season.
“Every defense, there’s a strength to it and there’s a weakness,” Meyer explained. “For the strength, it’s run-pass. If we’re going to call a defense, I’m looking at my tendencies, I’m looking at my call sheet, maybe a see a signal on the sideline, maybe it’s a personnel group…
“There’s some indicators why they’re going to call that defense. When that defense is called, I used to listen to it and I look over and I see the offensive line with their ‘A’s up and I knew we’d call it for a run. If it’s a pass you’re holding on to your you-know-what. So I would not leave our corners on an island. I would really coach this game back to front…
“I would not let those receivers get behind us. Does that mean Najee Harris is going to have some yards? Yes…but I would not leave Ohio State corners on an island in this game.”
How would @CoachUrbanMeyer defend Alabama’s prolific offense?
“I would not leave our corners on an island. I would really coach this game back-to-front.”
Get his full answer ⬇. pic.twitter.com/p55dPfMZxD
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 10, 2021
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
