NEW ORLEANS -- Finding a weakness in Alabama often requires a microscopic lens. There's a reason the Crimson Tide are No. 1 and have been the most dominant team in college football the past few years.
But there appears to be one glaring Achilles' heel on this otherwise imposing elephant right now, and it's one that could provide underdog Ohio State some hope in Thursday night's College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Alabama has struggled -- at least relative to its own high standards -- at the cornerback position and is vulnerable to big plays in the passing game.
"I thought we'd play better in the secondary than we have," Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. "We've obviously worked on it, tried to attack that area, tried to help those guys some. And at the end of the day, we have a lot of situations where if we can make the play and finish the play, then we're probably not talking about it."
The coverage concerns, though, remain a major talking point in Tuscaloosa, and never more so than after the Auburn game. Tigers receiver Sammie Coates so thoroughly burned the Alabama defense that Smart tried three different players at one cornerback spot during the game. Starter Eddie Jackson later apologized for his performance on Twitter, though he's moved on since then.
"We made our mistakes in the secondary," Jackson said, "but we try not to listen to what the media says and just worry about the team and the task that we have at hand."
It wasn't just one bad game, either. Alabama ranked a mediocre 57th in the FBS in passing yards allowed and was 24th among Power 5 schools in yards per attempt on 15-plus-yard throws, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Deep passes down the sideline particularly hurt the Tide, especially the past two games.
That's a pressure point Ohio State might be able to squeeze, especially since the Buckeyes' receiving corps is one of the team's strengths. Ohio State is led in that area by senior Devin Smith, whom offensive coordinator Tom Herman called the best deep-ball receiver in America after he reeled in three touchdown passes -- all of which went at least 39 yards -- in the Big Ten championship game bludgeoning of Wisconsin.
"I think it speaks volumes that he would say that," Smith said. "It's really my speed. I can get behind defenders really easily, and if you have the speed to threaten a DB and then make a move, you can get open."
Herman said Smith used to be "a one-trick pony" who could only go on fly routes. He has become a more complete receiver this year, but the big play remains his calling card. Smith averaged an FBS-best 26.6 yards per catch this season and has averaged 37.6 yards on his 29 career touchdowns. He has 14 catches and nine touchdowns this season on throws of 20 yards or longer, which is the most among all Power 5 players, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
His wheels are now combined with quarterback Cardale Jones' howitzer arm -- remember Smith helped Jones look good in his first career start against Wisconsin by catching some 50-50 balls -- to make the Buckeyes even more vertically venomous. Jones also has an array of other targets, like Evan Spencer, Michael Thomas, Corey Smith and Jalin Marshall.
"They remind you of an SEC receiving corps when you look at them," Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones said. "Their receivers are probably the best thing that stands out about their offense."
The opposite could be said of the Tide's corners with their defense. Cyrus Jones said the communication has been off at times between players, made more difficult by the juggling of roles throughout the season. He thought they made strides in the SEC title game against Missouri except when Tigers quarterback Maty Mauk made plays outside the pocket, something Cardale Jones can do as well.
Cyrus Jones is well aware of the criticism aimed toward his position group and the heat they're facing Thursday.
"I take that personally," he said. "Any time people think we're the weak link of the defense, that's something that motivates us to come out and try to shut offenses down."
There's little doubt the Buckeyes will try to pinch that bruise. One reason teams like to throw it deep against the Tide is that there's such little room to maneuver at the line of scrimmage against the nation's No. 1 rushing defense.
"You're not going to grind it out," Herman said. "You're not going to score whatever it takes to win with seven- or 10-play drives down the field [getting] six yards a pop. You've got to find a way to manufacture explosive plays."
That fits right in to what Ohio State likes to do on offense anyway. And if successful, that could give the underdog Buckeyes one of their only true advantages in this game, along with perhaps their best shot to win it.
