What Michigan said about facing Alabama's elite edge-rushing duo

LOS ANGELES – Alabama outside linebackers Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell have formed one of the best pass-rushing tandems in all of college football this season. 

Turner and Braswell have combined to tally 17 sacks and 25 tackles for loss as they helped the Crimson Tide (12-1, 8-0 SEC) earn a College Football Playoff berth. They will look to continue applying pressure against No. 1 Michigan in Monday’s Rose Bowl semifinal.

Several of the Wolverines’ offensive starters know the challenge their opponent presents.

“Extremely physical, quick twitch,” quarterback J.J. McCarthy said. “Chris Braswell plays with a finesse to him that is different than I’ve seen all year, and Dallas is one of the best players I’ve ever seen. Just in combination with the speed, the size, the technique, he’s a tremendous football player, and the motor doesn’t stop for those guys.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge for our tackles, but they’re excited for it. They wouldn’t come to Michigan to not expect those match-ups, and they thrive on it. It’s going to be a fun sight to see for sure.”

Through 13 games, Turner has accumulated 50 tackles, including a team-high 13.5 for loss and nine sacks. Turner’s nine sacks rank second in the SEC and ninth nationally while his 0.69 sacks per game average is good for third in the conference. He is also ranked in the top 10 in the league for tackles for loss in what will most likely be his last year of college.

On the other side, Braswell has accumulated 41 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, good for third on UA, to go with eight sacks, just one behind Turner. Entering postseason play, Braswell’s sack total is fifth in the SEC and tied for 11th nationally, while his 0.62 sacks per game average is sixth in the conference. The senior ranks in the top 10 in the SEC for tackles for loss and is tied for the league-high total for forced fumbles with three in a breakout season.

While neither plays tackle, two Michigan offensive linemen spoke highly of the UA edges.

“Just great technique,” Michigan guard Trevor Keegan said. “I feel like the defensive coordinator really sets them up for success. Really smart football players. You can see that. And just how gap sound they are and the effort they play with, the strength. That’s what we pride ourselves on, too, so it’s going to be a strained battle. It’s going to be who can strain the longest. We’re excited for that. They’re really good players.”

Added center Drake Nugent, “Obviously, you have to account for Dallas Turner being who he is as a first-team All-American, probably going to be a first-round pick. Runs super well, super fast. They have got other guys, as well, but obviously, he takes a lot of the attention, given his stats this year. Just have to account for certain guys like that each play. 

“I’m sure they are going to have some kind of new blitz package or something for us, I don’t know what it is, but those third downs are going to be critical for us, too. Make sure everyone has communicated and are on the same page.”

Turner and Braswell have been a problem for opposing offenses all year long. But the Crimson Tide defense, as a whole, has generated 38 sacks, which ranks second in the SEC and 11th in the nation. On the flip side, Michigan has only allowed 18 sacks through 13 games.

While a lot of the Wolverines’ attention will be on trying to keep these linebackers from wreaking havoc, Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore knows Alabama has more weapons that can create headaches for his offense on Monday than just Turner and Braswell.

“It’s not just those two,” Moore said. “It’s the linebackers, it’s the corners, it’s the safeties, it’s the D-tackles, the whole team. They’re two really, really good players, so we’re really excited for the challenge. We’ve got to have a great plan to attack those players, to attack every player that they have on the field.

“But for us, it’s really about us, what can we do, how can we execute, and our plan is to just execute at a high level and play with great detail and great fundamentals.”

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