Tappy, I hope four your sake it works out how you are accustomed to it working out for you. You definitely have tunnel vision. I don't need to ask around this site about anybody. I am one of the old timers here, if there is greatness, I know about it. I just happen to keep my cheering section at bay more than most and post less.
Now Bama may win this game 45-7, anything is possible, literally anything. But Alabama has not faced a QB anywhere close to the caliber of Watson. Compile all the QB talent in the SEC into one and it still does not compare to Watson or a number of other QB's around the nation. And yes, that's a knock on the lack of QB played in that league as much as anything.
On the flip side Alabama very well could be the best defense Clemson has faced this season, but FSU dialed in is as good as any.
Whichever team wins this game will have earned it. And whoever that is, can truly say they beat the best. If Alabama gets it done by 1 or by 21, they will have then beat the best team with the best QB this year. If Clemson wins it, they beat the most overall solid, talented team they have played this year in route to 5 wins over teams with 10+ wins that were ranked in the top 10 at some point in 2015.
But onto less talk about conference and less talk about other games played, and pedestrian SEC QB play. For Clemson to beat Alabama I feel like 3 things have to happen and it covers all 3 facets of the game: (without speaking the obvious about turnovers, etc)
1. Least talked about facet of a game....
The Clemson special teams have to be solid, they have gotten better, but they can not afford any lapses at ANY point, in ANY part of the game. Kick off coverages have gotten much better, gotta stay crisp here. The kick off returns will be best for Clemson if Alabama will just kick it in the end zone anytime they kick off. Clemson's returns are putrid consistently. Hopefully punt returns stay consistent. Cyrus Jones is dangerous, lethal.
2. D-Line penetration....
On defense, Clemson's D-Line MUST get penetration on run plays. They must get Henry running sideways as much as possible. If the Alabama o-line can get excessive push up front and allow Henry to run north-south, it's gonna be extremely hard to stop him. He is bigger, stronger, and badder that the Clemson linebackers. Can not allow him to o get a head of steam. Clemson is strong up front, I feel like they will have success doing just this. If that's the case and Clemson minimizes Henry, I feel like that plays right into Clemson's defense. Coker is asked to be a game manager, not a game winner. Clemson wants Coker to have to win the game for Alabama, get him to throwing the ball around the yard. Clemson is very long, athletic and fast in the secondary, not so much linebackers tho. It's possible Coker is the MVP FOR Clemson in this game if that scenario works out. The wild card here is Kenyan Drake. He is Alabama's version of Mccaffery. He is an all purpose player, including special teams. I give a lot of credit to Lane Kiffin, I actually feel like he is a great offensive mind. He has been an immature moron, but on game days, with the 10 star talent at his disposal, I think he is one of the best play callers. Ultimately like both defenses, Clemson is gonna load the box and press Coker to keep the ball in his hands.
3. Running on the edge....
Offensively Clemson is not gonna just run up the middle consistently, but i don't think that will be the game plan anyways. Alabama has a propensity to get beat on the edges. If Clemson takes advantage of that early, that will open up the middle later for some trap and counter plays whether it be RB or QB follow design. I agree, Watson has got to be more consistent in the passing game, more so Jordan Leggett needs take his panties off and focus here. He can be a game changer if he wants to be. The Clemson skill position on the outside is aplenty, Watson just needs to be more consistent earlier in the game. There is no lay off here from the previous game, I feel like his timing will be better because of it. He had some timing issues against Oklahoma and that generally happens with lay offs. There will be plays there for him to make, Alabama will play a more straight up man defense than Oklahoma did. As strong as Alabama is up front, if Clemson can get early success on the edge, open up some occasional inside success, with Watsons legs, I don't think you will see a lot of blitzing because of the balance that will be there and the fear of getting burnt by Watsons legs.
Clemson must play a near prefect game. When it's 2nd and 2 at the 9 yard line, they need TD's not FG's. This biggest asset for Clemson would be to come out hot and jump up early. Get Alabama out of their game and control the flow of the game themselves. Coming full circle with all of this, if either team is -2 or greater in the turnover margin it's an automatic L. Clemson can't afford these sideline unsportsmanlike penalties and randomly using up time outs early in the game, etc. The game will need to be played crisp in all parts as there is so much less room for error at this stage for both teams.