Three Things We Learned From The 2021 National Championship Game
It is fitting, that the most unpredictable season in college football history, would end in a very predictable way. Since Alabama started their season on September 26, 2020 against Missouri, showed right away they were built differently. Their 52-24 win against Ohio State in this year's National Championship game, sealed Nick Saban's undefeated season, and established his 2020 squad among the best teams in history. With all this noted, there were three important things we learned after watching this game.
Mac Jones Deserves Consideration for QB2
Prior to this game, the general consensus was that Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, had solidified his place as QB2 in the upcoming NFL Draft, because of his spectacular performance against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. Yet, Mac Jones performance in the first half against the Buckeyes, suggested that perhaps one should not be so quick to overlook him in the spot. The only aspect that is questionable in Jones' overall skillset is his mobility, which he displayed some of it in this game. When it comes to the technical attributes necessary to be a productive quarterback in the NFL, Jones has them all. In addition to his accuracy, he is patient when going through his reads and progressions, he throws a near-perfect deep ball (see his fourth touchdown pass), and he possesses the leadership tangibles NFL teams desire. It could very well be that Fields takes that spot as QB2, but this game made a strong case for Jones.
Devonta Smith Is Going To Be A Star In The NFL
One does not have to be a football analyst to notice when a player is special. Simply put, he absolutely dominated the Ohio State defense in the first half. What was most impressive, was how he won the majority of his one-on-one battles against Buckeyes cornerback Shaun Wade, who is a First-Team All-American defender. Whether he is positioned in the slot, at 'z', or on the outside, Smith is a consummate threat. In the last few years, Alabama has been a receiver-producing factory for the NFL. Yet, Smith may end up being one of the best to come out of that program since Julio Jones in 2011.
All Nick Saban Does Is Win
If there are any doubts at this point, Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach in history. Let us set aside the fact that he is the second head coach with seventh National Championships (Bear Bryant is the first to accomplish this feat). What makes his so impressive, is the fact that he continues to win National Championships with different coordinators and personnel. Regardless of his age, part of what makes him special, is his willingness to adjust and adapt to newer offensive schemes. In this game, he used a well-balanced combination of a ground attack featuring Najee Harris, and a strong vertical attack featuring Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith. By all observations, Saban continues to get better with age and with his ability to recruit top prep talent, an eighth National Championship is inevitable.