We obviously don't have that at the QB position.

Frankly, we've known since 2010 it is the 'best' way to hurt their D but we haven't done shite about it. If anything have packages with a non-starter to try and get some extra drives out of it so we don't let them have the ball for 42 min a game.

So, the question is... how do we produce the effect of a DT QB without having a DT QB. And how does such a QB hurt them.

Firstly, if you look at that history it's not just having a 'running QB'. Plenty of teams have faced them with RPO and systems based around dual-threat and been unsuccessful.

So how did Manziel, Watson, etc have the biggest effect on them? Improvisation. Extended plays, but still going through the air. Getting first downs on the ground on passing downs. Those legs have to accentuate both the passing game and running game. Both. If they can plan on one or the other, the effect is lost. We did the same to Lamar Jackson. If Jackson's WRs had played like Evans did for Manziel, then it would have been a different story.

I do not know of a way to recreate or 'make up' that improvisation. I do know that they count on having more at the point of attack than you do. One way to beat them there is mismatches. A CB on JD Moore on the sideline. Chark flanking a LB. The jet sweep is basically a pre-snap RPO, but as stated above it's not the RPO that's hurt them, it's the unexpected from the backfield they've struggled with.

So when we manufacture those mismatches, each and every one will have to be executed well. We will only get so many.

Secondly, instead of improv'g will just have to risk more. In a way that's unexpected. We rarely go risky against Bama, we usually get more conservative. We did last year with Ensminger/CEO just like every year prior to that post-2010.

So lay it all out. Bait them with a series of back shoulder throws & a jet sweep (BS throw, jet sweep, BS throw other sideline... then go deep). When backed up against our own goal line, take a shot on first down (that's what Saban does anyway). Numbers say you're not going to get points, so flip the script. We have some playmakers, if we don't risk plays they won't be making any.