Christian Harris offers first impressions of Cincinnati, Desmond Ridder

Alabama linebacker Christian Harris knows that the Crimson Tide will have a tough challenge in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Cincinnati. The Bearcats are 13-0 this season and won the AAC, while Alabama is 12-1 with an SEC title.

Harris spoke to reporters late last week, where he broke down how he and the Alabama defense is preparing for a versatile Cincinnati offense. He said that the offensive is a versatile challenge that is led by quarterback Desmond Ridder.

“I think they’re a very great team, very explosive,” Harris said of Cincinnati. “They’ve beat some good teams this year and they put up a lot of points as well as their passing game. They have a really great quarterback. Of course their running back, I think he’s over 1,000 yards right now already, so they’re a very successful team. Very dangerous. And they’ve shown in the past that they can compete with good teams. So it’s definitely a great challenge for us.”

Ridder is wrapping up his fourth season in Cincinnati’s offense. This year, he has thrown for 3,190 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions to go along with 361 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Ridder and Cincinnati can beat defenses in multiple ways, which is something Harris and Alabama are preparing for.

“I mean a lot,” Harris said of how much Alabama is preparing for Cincinnati, Ridder. “Like I was saying, they have a really explosive offense. So they have the ability to be able to sit there and pass in the pocket. If they want to extend plays or get out of the pocket, they can. Also have a really great running back. So they have weapons all around the offense.”

ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay projects Ridder as the 19th overall pick to the New Orleans Saints in his first 2022 mock draft.

Harris knows Alabama will see Cincinnati’s best

Late in the regular season, Harris talked about how Alabama knows it will always see the best effort from the opposition. Playing against Alabama can fire teams up, so Alabama always has to play a complete game. That will be no different against Cincinnati with a trip to the national championship game on the line.

“We know each game that we play, we’re going to get our opponents’ best shot,” Harris said after Alabama’s win against LSU. “It doesn’t really matter, necessarily, how they played earlier in the season or what they did in the game before. Of course, this game (LSU-Alabama), it’s always been a physical game and there’s a lot of history behind it, especially being here at Alabama.

“We know we have to match that intensity and keep that intensity up the whole game. I think knowing that it might be a full 60-minute game, that’s something that you have to emphasize. Just keeping your energy up, keeping it one play at a time, and that’s all we do.”