The current players for Alabama football know the importance of winning the Allstate Sugar Bowl, but a former player decided to drive the point home more about it.
Christian Miller, who played under Nick Saban from 2014 to 2018, was featured on The Developmental Focus Points via the Bama Standard. Miller, a South Carolina native, was a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion in 2015 and 2017.
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As a pass-rushing specialist, Miller said Saturday’s matchup against Kansas State for Alabama will be won in the trenches.
“I may be biased about this, but in any football game you win up front,” Miller said.
“We improved throughout the year, but our offensive line did not get that push we are used to seeing from Alabama. We did not see that earlier in the season, but we got better at it throughout the season. We became more physical up front and got more push, which allowed us to run the football. When you run the football effectively, it opens up the passing game.”
Miller said Alabama’s fundamentals on defense have to be top-notch versus the Wildcats.
“We have to do a good job on defense,” he said. “We have to tackle. In our last game against Auburn, we gave up over 300 yards rushing. That is unheard of. We have to stop the run, stop Deuce Vaughn, and when it’s third down, you earn the right to rush. We have to go get it and harass the quarterback. I think it is critical, we need to win this game convincingly. I feel like this is going to be a catalyst for what’s to come next year, but ultimately going into the offseason. If you lose this game, the spirit and aura around the program are going to be off.”
Hopefully, the Tide takes heed of Miller’s words and comes out firing on Saturday.
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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.
