Alabama DC wants Tide to use Mendoza’s Heisman as motivation

© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Once the Crimson Tide secured its revenge victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the First Round of the playoffs, it guaranteed Alabama a matchup with the winner of the Heisman trophy.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who beat out Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia for the Heisman trophy, will be leading Indiana in its quest for a national championship.

When Alabama’s defense hits the field to face Mendoza in the Rose Bowl on Thursday, it will be lining up against a quarterback who’s thrown for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns.

He also has just six interceptions on the season, and a 71.5% completion rate, which pairs with a quarterback rating of 88.7, the third-best QBR in the nation.

Alabama’s defensive coordinator, Kane Wommack, said on Sunday that he would like the Tide to use Mendoza’s Heisman status as motivation come Thursday.

“You know, I want to stop quarterbacks whether they’ve won the Heisman trophy or not,” Wommack said. “But, I certainly think, if they’ve won the Heisman, it’s a tremendous challenge for us. I mean, he is operating at a really high level. He’s executing at a really high level. So, when you watch the tape and the challenge really, the rally cry for our guys, is you’re going to have to operate at a really consistent level, and you’re going to have to take away those windows that he’s wanting to get the ball to. That means it’s not just the coverage; we have to be able to rush. We’ve got to be able to affect the quarterback some. And ultimately, we have to be able to finish on the ball against a receiving corps that, in my mind, has competed for the ball at the top of routes all season long, and they tend to step up in big moments. So, this will be a big moment for us; it will be a big, great opportunity, one that, if there’s anything this team has been, it’s battle-tested. So, we’re excited for just another challenge at hand.”

Alabama will face a tall task on both sides of the ball in the Rose Bowl, but it’s one that this team has proven it’s capable of overcoming; it just has to execute efficiently.

The Hoosiers have a great receiving corps full of guys who are willing to go up and fight for the ball, so the Tide’s defensive backs must be ready for a physical challenge.

Meanwhile, Wommack must be able to call plays that create pressure and confusion for Mendoza, as his accuracy is lethal and he executes when needed in high-pressure situations.