The first metaphor that comes to mind when thinking of opponents trying to run against Alabama this season always seems to involve butterflies and brick walls.

The Crimson Tide has only given up 70.8 rushing yards per game this season, comfortably the best in the FBS. Its front seven is widely regarded as one of the best in recent memory.

However, one Clemson offensive lineman still doesn’t think Alabama has fully proven itself in that department quite yet.

Clemson guard Eric Mac Lain, a redshirt graduate, feels the Tigers can test the Tide like no other opponent this season.

“They’re No. 1 in a lot of categories, but I don’t think they’ve really been tested running the ball,” said Mac Lain. “They’ve given up 70 yards a game, so they’ve been a pretty dominant force.”

Clemson comes in ranked 16th in the FBS in rushing with an average of 228.6 yards per game. Its dynamic attack includes two 1,000-yard rushers in RB Wayne Gallman (1,482) and QB Deshaun Watson (1,032).

While Alabama has put the clamps on LSU’s Leonard Fournette (19 carries for 31 yards) and Arkansas’ Alex Collins (12 carries for 26 yards), Clemson’s two-headed monster may pose a different kind of threat.

Nonetheless, Alabama has faced plenty of teams that tried to run the ball only to fail miserably.