Alabama Crimson Tide

Dabo Swinney calls Alabama D-line 'clearly the best we've seen'

Published Jan. 6, 2016 5:12 p.m. ET

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The biggest issue for Clemson heading into the National Championship is how the Tigers plan on moving the ball against Alabama's defense. In particular, the Tide's rotation of outstanding defensive linemen appears to be the biggest hurdle to achieving a victory in the game.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is not in the mood to sugar coat his feelings regarding Alabama's extremely talented and effective defensive line. 

"Oh, they're by far – clearly the best that we've seen," Swinney said. "I mean, they're as good as it gets in the country, No. 1 in about everything defensively, but the biggest thing is they just have great depth in their defensive line. I mean, they've got – they roll them guys in there, play a lot of guys, a bunch of subs, and they all play at a really, really high level. That's why they're a great team."

Alabama is of course coming off a Cotton Bowl performance in which the team held Michigan State to only 29 yards rushing and shut them out on the scoreboard -- thanks in large part to the outstanding defensive front.

How Clemson deals with the challenges of facing the defensive line will likely go very far in determining the outcome of the game. Will the Tigers be the latest victim, or do they have the formula to sustain success where everyone else has failed?

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