This sounds like a cop-out, coming from one of the most prepared defenses in the country.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart told Atlanta radio station 680 The Fan, that the Ohio State Buckeyes dominated his defense because of Cardale Jones.
Smart told The Fan that three departing Tide defenders told him during exit interviews, that “they didn’t respect Cardale Jones.”
“All three of them said they did not respect the quarteback, and our job as the coaches was to make them respect the quarterback,” Smart said, per a Sporting News transcription. “Well, they heard from the media, they heard from ESPN, they heard from everybody that [Jones] was a third-string quarterback. How can a third-string quarterback beat Alabama?
“We didn’t promote him enough and they didn’t value his talents enough.”
Smart added that while Tide coaches knew Jones was a capable passer, “we had not seen him run the ball,” they didn’t fully appreciate Jones’ ability as a power runner.