Nick Saban Breaks Down Notre Dame Offense
Nick Saban said all the usual things you expect a coach to say about his opponent leading up to a game.
“Notre Dame is an outstanding team,” Saban said on Monday afternoon. “Their defense really plays hard. They're very physical. Run to the ball. Really have played well. Present lots of problems with some of the things that they do.
“It’s certainly going to be a challenge for our offense to finish and do things that we need to do to be able to have success against a very good defensive team.”
And the Alabama head coach’s comments in the leadup to the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl certainly ring true, but Saban’s tone went to a different level, one that sounded like legitimate concern, when asked about Notre Dame’s offensive line.
“I think these guys are really, really good,” Saban said. “They have a lot of experience. They've played together for a long time. They don't miss their targets very often. They finish blocks. They play hard. They're physical and I think that's probably the best word to describe them on both sides of the ball up front is they're very physical.
“These guys do a really good job. They don't make very many mistakes, I can tell you that.”
Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Pete Golding echoed those points.
“I think it obviously starts up front,” Golding said of the Irish offense. “Probably one of the best offensive lines from tackle to tackle that we've seen all year. Do a great job communicating. They're all on the same page. They're physical. They do a really good job of protection.”
It's clear the play of that group up front is what allowed Saban to say, “These guys are one of the best offensive teams in the country.”
Saban said the Irish have “an excellent running game” with “really, really good balance, really good tight ends.”
Not surprisingly, Golding pointed to Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams.
“I think 23 is a really good player,” he said. “They do a really good job in the run game with a lot of different personnel groupings. Play several different tight ends, create extra gaps in the C area.”
Saban said the Irish have “lots of weapons outside” and quarterback Ian Book utilizes them.
“Ian Book distributes the ball really well, runs the offense well, makes plays with his legs as well as his arms, can make all the throws,” said Saban. “I think their entire offensive team is going to be a great challenge for us because of the great balance they have on offense, their ability to run the ball, also make explosive plays in the passing game, and the quarterback's ability to make all the throws as well as extend plays with his feet, scramble and run.
“He's certainly a dual-threat guy that presents a lot of problems for us, and we're going to have to be very disciplined in terms of the way we play and everybody doing their job if we're going to have a chance to be successful against Ian Book and Notre Dame's offense.”
While Golding said it starts with the offensive line, he said Book is what makes the Irish “tick.”
“Really good football player,” he said. “Competitive, he's tough. I think he does a great job extending plays, but keeps his eyes downfield. When you break down their explosive reel, a lot of their explosive plays come because he extends the play, moves out of the pocket. And obviously do a really nice job in the scramble.
“Schematically, they do a lot of different things that create a lot of problems. I think they've got some good players that they look for some matchup issues, getting them off safeties and linebackers. Obviously, we've got our work cut out for us. They're a really good football team. We're excited to play them.”
Saban isn’t surprised by what he’s seen from Notre Dame on tape.
“That's what we would expect, I guess, from any team that you play in the playoffs. And it’ll certainly be a great football game.”
