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WINTER GARDEN, FL — While Michigan’s biggest challenge vs. Alabama seems to be the defense against the high-flying Crimson Tide offense, it seems like the other side of the ball is flying under the radar.
Yes, despite the injury to Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama hasn’t missed a beat in the month of November, still averaging 526.8 yards per game, good for seventh in the country last month. At 60th in the month of November in total offense, it doesn’t quite seem like the Wolverines are on the same plane in that category. But in passing, while the Tide are still 7th for said month, Michigan is 19th — a far cry from where it once was.
Of course, there’s the situational aspect of it all. Alabama lost twice — to LSU and Auburn, in what both ended up being shootouts. Michigan lost once, at Ohio State, and blew out every team it faced except its rival.
This will be tight end Sean McKeon’s last go-round with the Wolverines, and he’ll be tasked — along with the rest of the offense — at exploiting what he can against the Alabama defense.
So what does he see in that regard?
“They’ve got a really big D-line, a lot of 300-pounders-plus playing D-tackle, D-end,” McKeon said. “A lot of good athletes in the secondary, linebackers. But we have just as many good athletes as they do, in my opinion.”
Defensively, as a whole, the Crimson Tide are still excellent, but perhaps not quite as elite as in years past.
Looking back at Alabama’s championship seasons since 2012, the defenses were suffocating. In 2012, it allowed an average of 250 yards-per-game, only allowing over 300 yards four times, and over 400 yards of offense twice. In 2015, it allowed 276 yards-per-game, and again, only two 400 yard games. In 2017, it allowed an average of 243 yards-per-game, and only one 400 yard game in a loss to Auburn.
But that’s when things changed. In 2018, despite making a national championship appearance — a blowout loss to Clemson — it allowed 319 yards-per-game and four 400 yard offensive performances. This year, it’s been more of the same, with five games with over 300 yards allowed and three over 400, with a 318.5 average, per game.
Looking at Alabama’s defense, Nick Saban’s calling card, the scheme seems to be the same, McKeon notes. He shared the tenets of what Michigan expects to see on that front and why they still tend to be a difficult matchup.
“I think Nick Saban’s defense has been the same for most of his years,” McKeon said. “But it’s a pretty complicated defense. They play high with even spacing. They play different coverages. They’ve got a lot of good athletes on defense. Just overall really solid.”
McKeon continued, noting that Michigan has seen some similar looks, but certainly not with athletes that are quite as high caliber: “Maybe a little bit Indiana – they kind of play a little even high. Maybe Maryland. Kinda similar. Cover 3, cover 4.”
So what does he say about Michigan’s chances?
Given that the offense has been rolling, despite many who simply see the name Alabama and assume a blowout loss, McKeon notes that they’re still college-level athletes. It can be beat.
Just like it has twice this year.
“They’re not an NFL team – they can be beat,” McKeon said. “Like any other team. Just because they’re Alabama doesn’t mean we can’t compete and beat them. Obviously they’ve lost twice already.
“(For us to win, it’ll take us) just playing our best football and I think we get the job done.”
We’ll see if he’s right come Jan. 1, when the Wolverines take on the Crimson Tide in the VRBO Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.