BAMA’S BIG TEST
WASHINGTON QB BROWNING SURE TO PUSH ELITE DEFENSE
This group of Washington football players — a heavy underdog against Alabama, per Las Vegas — believes it has an advantage for the Peach Bowl semifinal matchup.
No, it’s not because the Huskies coach has a stash of trick plays in his pocket or because Alabama is
deeply flawed in any way.
It’s because their quarterback — sophomore Jake Browning, who finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting — has spent every practice all year going up against Washington’s stout defense, a unit multiple players said reminded them of the Crimson Tide’s.
And Alabama’s defense, albeit terrific and terrifying, has not faced a quarterback nearly as talented as Browning.
Consider this: Southern California, which finished ninth in the final College Football Playoff rankings and is Rose Bowl-bound, is the best team Alabama has played. In that season-opening matchup, USC did not start its freshman quarterback, Sam Darnold, who would ultimately become one of its biggest stars. Darnold attempted eight passes in the Alabama game. He remained the team’s backup for two more games, before taking the reins and leading the Trojans to an 8-1 record to close out the regular season, including a dominant win at Washington. But, again, he barely played in the 52-6 loss to the Crimson Tide.
And no Southeastern Conference quarterbacks — outside of Alabama’s Jalen Hurts — were particularly impressive this season. Even the young ones who showed glimpses of potential were no match for this Alabama front seven and secondary.
“I don’t think there’s really that much in college football that no one’s seen before — but we’re a different offense than they’re facing every day in the SEC,” Washington offensive lineman Jake Eldrenkamp said Tuesday. “I don’t know if it’s a personnel thing or a scheme thing, but I don’t think when you look at an SEC offense and a Pac-12 offense that they’d match up identically. … I’m a little biased toward Jake but think he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country. When you give him time, that’s when you see special things.”
Add one of the best under-theradar receiving corps and a stronger run game than outsiders give credit for, and you have a very good offense run by a very good quarterback. Browning is fifth in the nation in quarterback efficiency, and he’s at the helm of the best team in the country in terms of turnover margin.
Browning’s decision-making is excellent and his mistakes few.
“He protects the football,” Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt said. “There are very few interceptions, very few turnovers, which is very important. He understands the offense. He understands what they’re trying to get done. He doesn’t hold the ball (too long).
“He probably doesn’t get enough credit for the athletic ability that he has. He can extend and be a playmaker with his feet, but he does a nice job with his eyes down the field to create an explosive pass game.”
Said defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, “He’s a very athletic running quarterback. While breaking down the film, time after time, you see linebackers and defensive backs missing tackles on him, and they’re making great throws down the field.”
Allen described Browning as a challenge for Alabama’s vaunted front seven, and it’s not just that. It’s likely the pivotal matchup that will decide Saturday’s game.
“They’re not going to give you anything,” Browning said, later adding that he thinks what makes Alabama’s defense so dominant is not just the talented and wellcoached personnel. They’re always in the right position, using the right technique and “scheme-wise, they’re similar to our defense.”
Browning is also well aware that he’s going to take a beating. Alabama’s pressure is constant and consistent, and pass rushers are often able to deliver punishing blows even if the quarterback gets the pass off and it’s not technically a sack. Those hits pile up; by the end of the games he has watched on film, quarterbacks were totally worn down against this front.
Washington offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith has made it clear to his players that he’s not sugarcoating anything. He knows they know how quick and strong Alabama’s defenders are and how good they are at forcing turnovers. He knows they know it’s the most difficult matchup they, too, will face all season.
Smith has framed the game for his offense as such: It’s a challenge but also an opportunity to play against this Alabama defense, and as long as the Huskies refrain from turning the ball over on offense, they know their defense can keep them in the game. It sounds simple, but the execution will be anything but.
“They create some havoc around the quarterback, obviously,” Smith said. “They’ve been great against the run and the line of scrimmage — they’ve been tough to move there. They do play extremely hard with those guys, and they can really create pressure on the quarterback, not having to blitz. That’s what you want. You get to the big games like this, and you want to play the best. These guys have been the best for a long time on that side of the football.”
But this year’s iteration hasn’t faced a quarterback the likes of Browning yet — and he might be just the kind of quarterback it takes to beat the best.