I agree - plays like this demonstrate why it is so important that players know their job on every play, and trust their teammates to do their jobs. There is only additional pressure on that player if he is also expected to help in run support. With 2 receivers on his side of the field and the safety all the way on the other side of the field, he is not expected to help with run support. He has one job. If you know your job and trust your teammates, you can't be "schemed" into this kind of mistake. As Saban has said countless times, "Do YOUR job!".The difference I see in a busted coverage vs. a "we got you on that one" kind of play is this:
busted coverage is when someone plays man instead of zone (or vice versa). It's when the DB guesses inside and breaks that way when the receiver runs a simple out pattern. It's when two DBs both go to the underneath receiver and neither covers the one over the top (but still a two-on-two situation). It's when a fairly straightforward play goes big because of one defensive player's mistake.
The "we got you" play (which I believe the OJ Howard TD play in question was) is when the offense schemes a play specifically to put pressure on a particular player, kind of predicting what that player *might* do, baits him into doing what the offense *wants* him to do, and then exploits his decision to the offense's advantage.
From the defense's standpoint I suppose this is still technically a bust, but the reason behind the bust is different. It's not accidental. It's intentionally schemed by the offense to create the bust.
That's the difference. I think Bama knew when they came to the LOS that they had just what they wanted. Coker had to set up the alignment correctly and read one guy. The play was either going to be a nice gain or a likely TD... and their one key on defense took the bait and Bama took advantage.
But this is where Alabama's superiority in talent becomes a problem. Henry busting that long TD early in the game caused the Clemson defenders to focus on him - even defenders who were supposed to be focused elsewhere. The play action is a waste unless the defense fears your running game. Henry helped your offense on every play - even when he didn't get the ball. Clemson's defense was well designed, and they had a lot of very talented players on that side of the ball. But Alabama put too much pressure on them, and they became undisciplined. They started "cheating" to help one another out. Kiffin noticed this and took advantage.
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