The 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Miami will showcase two high-powered offenses in No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Ohio State. The contest will come down to which defense has the ability to mitigate the damage done by the opposing quarterback.
Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones will have numerous weapons to throw to, including the Heisman Trophy winner in wide receiver DeVonta Smith, and fellow wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who returns in his first game since suffering a fractured ankle in October. Not to mention, the 2020 Doak Walker Award-winning running back, Najee Harris, will also be a major factor.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has undoubtedly earned the high praise that has been dealt his way all season long, as he carved up the Clemson defense with a 79% completion percentage, 385 passing yards, six touchdowns, and a lone interception to defeat the Tigers in the 2021 Sugar Bowl.
Fields and the Buckeyes will certainly attempt to utilize star running back Trey Sermon, who ran for 193 yards on 30 carries and reached the end zone once on the ground in the Sugar Bowl. However, Sermon’s efforts may be of no help against the No. 13 overall run defense in the nation, with Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s front seven only allowing 110.2 yards per game.
If the Buckeyes’ run game proves to be ineffective early in the title game, then Fields will have to rely on his arm against Alabama’s defense, which has allowed opposing quarterbacks a completion percentage of 58.9%, reeled in 12 interceptions, and gives up an average of 242.9 passing yards per game.
Similar to offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s Crimson Tide offense, Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson has Fields throwing a majority of his passes to two wide receivers, junior Chris Olave and sophomore Garrett Wilson.
Through seven games, Olave has recorded 42 receptions, for 660 yards and seven touchdowns and Wilson has added 40 receptions for 673 yards and five touchdowns. Both Buckeyes receivers are viable options for Fields and could spell trouble for Alabama head coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide if not matched up correctly.
Alabama, known for historically strong defenses, has put together a group of defensive backs that force opposing quarterbacks to make a very difficult decision: who do they want to throw towards?
With 34 tackles, eight pass deflections, one interception, and a defensive touchdown this season, Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II may not be Fields’ first choice to throw at. Nor would it be wise for him to throw in the direction of a receiver being covered by junior defensive back Josh Jobe, who has tallied 52 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and two forced fumbles in his 12 games this season.
Mixing up coverages might be a strategy Ohio State could attempt in order to achieve the best possible matchup for each receiver.
Alabama freshman defensive back Malachi Moore may be a potential target for Fields. One might think the inexperience of a young star in his first national championship game may lead to him being a vulnerable target. However, Moore would likely welcome the challenge. The true freshman leads the team in interceptions with three, has 44 tackles, six pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.
As a member of the 2020 class, Moore was a four-star, in-state recruit out of Hewitt-Trussville. His size, strength, and speed are just three key attributes that make his level of play so impressive at such an early stage of his career.
He has the discipline to stay with a receiver, regardless of the route, and punch the ball away at the last second. His speed allows him to cover long distances after the ball is thrown and make a play on the ball. The sheer size and strength of 6-foot, 182-pound Moore allows him to strip the ball, hand fight with receivers, and even take the ball away completely, as he’s shown throughout his freshman season.
Moore did not participate in the 2021 Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semi-final contest against Notre Dame due to an injury sustained in the SEC Championship game. Though, he “should be ready to go,” according to Surtain during recent media availability.
While Fields may see Moore’s inexperience on a big stage at the collegiate level as a weak spot for Alabama, there’s no doubt that the true freshman is more than capable of being a defender to avoid for Ohio State as they seek their ninth national title.
