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2013 BCS National Championship: Alabama players downplay individual match-ups

The Crimson Tide respect Manti Te'o, but they don't intend to steer their offensive game-plan away from Notre Dame's star LB.

Kevin C. Cox

The BCS title game is a match-up of strength on strength, as Alabama has won games with its offensive line all season while Notre Dame is built around their stout front seven on defense.

Manti Te'o, the Irish's senior leader and a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, has gotten most of the publicity headed into the game, but the Crimson Tide don't intend to alter their game-plan on account of the star LB (courtesy of Alabama.com):

"This is honestly one of the parts of football that the media overblows more than any other part," Jones said. "You really don't scheme around players like this. On TV, they're always like, 'This guy, look they're double-teaming him.' It just that happened on that play.

"Obviously Manti's a very good player. I've watched him on film. Not only is he physical, he gets off blocks really well. You can see his heart out there just on film. I don't think we really put in special schemes for a player. We play against really good players every week, and we feel like we have very good players."

Te'o certainly isn't the first elite defensive player Alabama has faced this season. From Jarvis Jones to Johnthan Banks, the Crimson Tide have made a habit of attacking star defensive players in SEC play.

That's the luxury you have when you have as much NFL talent as Alabama: instead of adjusting to your opponent, you can make your opponent adjust to you.

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