Quck note: I've been doing this feature for several years, and I don't recall ever when all four of the answers to obvious key questions were resoundingly in the negative for Alabama. Here they are:
1. How will Steve Sarkisian work out at offensive coordinator?
Sarkisian took over on short notice for Lane Kiffin. How he'll be regarded as the architect of UA's offense will be determined over time, but his first outing was uneven at best. Alabama scored 31 points and gained 376 yards, but it was a stop-and-start effort that never seemed to find a real rhythm.
2. Can Alabama convert on third down?
After converting just 4 of 14 third-down situations in a semifinal victory over Washington, and fared even worse against Clemson. The Tigers held Alabama to 2 of 15 third-down conversions, which played a big part in the Crimson Tide's inability to sustain any kind of offensive momentum.
3. Will UA be able to contain Deshaun Watson?
Alabama gave him some problems and sacked Clemson's quarterback four times, but he kept coming. A year after burning Alabama's defense for 405 yards and four touchdown passes, he went 36-for-56 for 420 yards and three sores while running for 43 yards and another touchdown. Most importantly, after throwing 17 interceptions on the season he didn't throw one in this game.
4. Can Alabama avoid a shootout?
It looked like a defensive struggle well into the third quarter, but then the floodgates opened. There were six touchdowns in the last 22:10 of game time as it became more and more the kind of game that Clemson wanted. Alabama's top-ranked defense eventually got worn down and out, and Clemson scored last to win it.
– Tommy Deas
1. How will Steve Sarkisian work out at offensive coordinator?
Sarkisian took over on short notice for Lane Kiffin. How he'll be regarded as the architect of UA's offense will be determined over time, but his first outing was uneven at best. Alabama scored 31 points and gained 376 yards, but it was a stop-and-start effort that never seemed to find a real rhythm.
2. Can Alabama convert on third down?
After converting just 4 of 14 third-down situations in a semifinal victory over Washington, and fared even worse against Clemson. The Tigers held Alabama to 2 of 15 third-down conversions, which played a big part in the Crimson Tide's inability to sustain any kind of offensive momentum.
3. Will UA be able to contain Deshaun Watson?
Alabama gave him some problems and sacked Clemson's quarterback four times, but he kept coming. A year after burning Alabama's defense for 405 yards and four touchdown passes, he went 36-for-56 for 420 yards and three sores while running for 43 yards and another touchdown. Most importantly, after throwing 17 interceptions on the season he didn't throw one in this game.
4. Can Alabama avoid a shootout?
It looked like a defensive struggle well into the third quarter, but then the floodgates opened. There were six touchdowns in the last 22:10 of game time as it became more and more the kind of game that Clemson wanted. Alabama's top-ranked defense eventually got worn down and out, and Clemson scored last to win it.
– Tommy Deas
