​Can Alabama O-Line Contain Terrifying Ohio State All​-American Joey Bosa?

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — This type of game plan has helped Alabama in the past this season.

"We're going to do what we do," Mississippi State cornerbacks coach Deshea Townsend told reporters when asked how the Bulldogs were going to contain Amari Cooper. "This week, it's just another guy. (Cooper is a) really great player, has a lot of catches, and the challenge always comes to us on the back end.”

Cooper caught eight passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Two weeks later, Cooper torched Auburn to the tune of 13 catches for 224 yards and three touchdowns. After the game, Auburn safety Johnathan Ford told reporters, "We just play him as any other person.”

Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson was fired shortly following the Iron Bowl.

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

The just-another-player line sounds good, but actually going through with it can have serious consequences, as several defenses that faced Amari Cooper this year found out.

So it’s somewhat curious when Crimson Tide players say they’ll employ a similar strategy in the Sugar Bowl.

When Alabama takes the field with Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, it will face an almost identical situation on the other side of the ball.

Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa has been a one-man wrecking ball this season. He ranks fourth in the country in sacks (13.5) and fifth in tackles for loss (20). Plays like this have defined his season, where he can take over a game on his own:

But Alabama players say they aren’t changing a game plan for one player.

“We don’t change our scheme around nobody,” said quarterback Blake Sims, who could be forced to use his feet a little bit more if Bosa can run free. “We play the way we play. He’s an awesome guy. We know he’s going to make plays. All we’ve got to do is erase it and try to make the next play very explosive.”

USA TODAY Sports

Senior right tackle Austin Shepherd will be shouldering a lot of the load against Bosa, who primarily plays on the left side of the defensive line.

He didn’t seem phased when asked about playing across from Bosa.

“I don’t really think about who I’m playing against,” Shepherd said. “I kinda approach everybody the same way, so I’m really thinking about the accolades. I’m just trying to look at how I can beat him every play.”

Will this sort of approach work in Alabama’s favor? If its past offensive line play this year is any indication, it very well could.

The Crimson Tide have only allowed 13 sacks this season, tied for first in the SEC this season with Arkansas, which has played one fewer game.

Individually, Alabama has faced seven of the SEC’s top eight sack leaders (the Crimson Tide’s Xzavier Dickson ranks No. 7). Those seven rushers combined for just 2.5 sacks against Alabama.

Here’s a full breakdown:

Name	Total sacks (SEC rank)	vs. Alabama
Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss	7.5 (8)	0
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M	11 (t2)	0
Curt Maggitt, Tennessee	11 (t2)	1
Derek Barnett, Tennessee	10 (4)	0
Preston Smith, Mississippi State	9 (5)	1
Shane Ray, Missouri	12.5 (1)	.5
Markus Golden Missouri	8.5 (6)	0
Total	69.5	2.5

Alabama has more or less slowed down top individual performers as well. 

USA TODAY Sports

Nationally, though, none of those rushers are getting to the quarterback more than Bosa is this season. And only Ray has more tackles for loss than Bosa.

So while Alabama has had success protecting its quarterback this year, it hasn’t seen a force like Bosa up front yet.

That may require a little extra attention.

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.