How Clemson got away with 2 crucial rub/pick plays against Bama in the Championship

Clemson had time for one more play. And for all the marbles, down four, the Tigers went back to the well of exploiting Alabama’s man coverage on the goal line.

“We knew Alabama would be in zero coverage inside the 5,” Clemson QB Deshaun Watson said after the game on ESPN.

So Clemson took advantage, running what offensive coaches will call a “rub route,” or what defensive coaches will term a “pick play.”

Watson called it a “pick.” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney called it a “rub.” But pick plays are not necessarily offensive pass interference, even though those terms are often used interchangeably.

And Clemson ran the play to perfection.

The outside receiver on the play runs a quick slant, and the outside cornerback initiates contact and grabs him. This forces the inside cornerback to take a circuitous route to cover the inside receiver, who initially fakes inside, only to quickly cut outside. He is wide open. The throw is perfect. Clemson dethrones the Tide.

If the outside receiver had initiated contact, or had not made an attempt to run a route, offensive pass interference could have been called. Heck, if the defender had not initially grabbed the outside receiver, it probably gets called. The people in charge saw it this way, too, and confirmed as much the next day.

Clemson scouted Alabama well, knew the exact play to call, and executed it to perfection.

Throughout the first half of the National Championship, Alabama’s man coverage gave Clemson’s offense fits. The Tigers’ run-pass option (RPO) game, often more effective against zone coverage, was limited.

But in the second half, the Tigers had counters to all the man coverage being played by the Tide. Here’s a similar play to set up a prior Mike Williams touchdown:

So, why did the official keep the flag in his pocket? A few reasons.

First, while Clemson’s outside receiver is essentially blocking, Alabama’s cornerback is engaging with him and also initiates contact. The receiver must be actually be trying to run a route, but it’s not clear that he isn’t.

Second, this is a pretty good sales job by the tight end, who turns around and pretends to expect to receive a pass.

Third, one defender slips down, and the other does not do a good enough job attempting to fight through the pick/rub.

Fourth, if you watched the game, you’re aware the officials consistently let both sides get away with very physical play. These are just more examples of that.