After a taking a day or two to celebrate Christmas, Alabama will be ready for its College Football Playoff game with Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 29.
Although the conversation around national media speaks of a shootout between both schools, Crimson Tide linebacker Mack Wilson does not see it happening. He and Alabama’s defense anticipate “showing the world what it is about” at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla.
Video comes from Jamie Hale, News sports anchor at ABC33/40.
“That’s something we take personal.”@iam__mw3o isn’t here for the Oklahoma shootout talk going around. @abc3340 @AlabamaFTBL #OrangeBowl #cfbplayoffs pic.twitter.com/D5JCj8c0Yh
— Jamie Hale (@JamieHaleSports) December 18, 2018
“Going into this game, everyone has been talking about how this is going to be a shootout,” Wilson said to the media on Tuesday. “They are going to score a lot of points… our offense is going to score a lot of points and that is something we take pride in. For people to say it’s going to be a shootout like our defense not nothing, that is something we take personal.”
RELATED: Kyler Murray wins Heisman Trophy; Tagovailoa finishes second
It has not been the best year for Wilson; however, he does lead a team that is fourth in scoring defense (14.8 ppg), tenth in total defense (295.4 ypg) and seventh in sacks (42) nationally.
Co-defensive coordinators Tosh Lupoi and Pete Golding must have an effective plan to frustrate this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Kyler Murray.
The talented quarterback of the Sooners anchors the nation’s top-ranked scoring offense (49.5 ppg) and total offense (578 ypg).
His individual numbers also stand among the nation’s elite, as he is third in passing yards (4,053), second in touchdown passes (40) and second in total offense with 4,945 yards – an average of 380.4 yards a game.
Murray guided Oklahoma to a Big 12 championship and has the program in the CFP for a second consecutive season, following its lost to Georgia in the Rose Bowl to start 2018.
Listed at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, there are some ways the Tide can scheme around affecting Murray to create negative results for the Sooners.
In Wednesday’s airing of In My Own Words, Stephen Smith of TDAL Magazine listed three things Lupoi and company should look at.
Check out the podcast below.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
