Fansided

National Championship 2016: 5 keys to victory for Clemson Tigers

By John Buhler

December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard (88) warms up prior to the 2016 CFP semifinal against the Washington Huskies at the Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard (88) warms up prior to the 2016 CFP semifinal against the Washington Huskies at the Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Stop O.J. Howard at all costs

Looking back on why Clemson lost to Alabama in the 2015 National Championship, three things standout: 1.) Alabama executed better on special teams than did Clemson. 2.) Derrick Henry was a Heisman Trophy winner at tailback for Alabama. 3.) Tight end O.J. Howard absolutely ruined the Clemson defense.

Howard was a solid junior tight end for Alabama, but he had his coming out party in the 2015 National Championship. It was far and away his best game as a member of the Crimson Tide. He had five catches for 208 yards and two long touchdown receptions. Those were his only two touchdowns of 2015 and that was more than one-third of his receiving yards on the year (602 on 38 catches).

Through 14 games in 2016, Howard has played well in the Alabama passing game with 41 catches for 489 yards and two touchdowns. His yards per catch of 11.9 is below his career average of 14.7, but Howard is undoubtedly a first-round talent in the Alabama offense during his senior season in Tuscaloosa.

The good news for the Clemson defense is that the Tigers neutralized the best tight end it went up against this season in Virginia Tech junior Bucky Hodges. Clemson limited the Virginia Tech standout to only one catch for 42 yards in the 2016 ACC Championship Game in Orlando. Howard is slightly better than Hodges, but the defensive game plan seems to be in place for the Tigers to limit another tight end outburst from the opposition.

Home/College Football Playoff