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2022 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Cincinnati vs. Alabama

By Andrew Fischer

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 11: Ahmad Gardner #1 of the Cincinnati Bearcats celebrates after making an interception in the second quarter against the Murray State Racers at Nippert Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 11: Ahmad Gardner #1 of the Cincinnati Bearcats celebrates after making an interception in the second quarter against the Murray State Racers at Nippert Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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2022 NFL Draft, Desmond Ridder. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
2022 NFL Draft, Desmond Ridder. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder vs. Alabama’s vaunted defense

The 2022 NFL Draft is starved for quarterback prospects, and Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder could make his case as a first or second-day pick with a good showing here. Alabama’s pass defense hasn’t been great this season, as they’ve given up 201.4 passing yards per game, good for 45th in the country. They’re 18th in points allowed per game with 20.2, and the Crimson Tide are third in the country with 46 sacks. On top of that, they’re tied for 10th in the country with 15 interceptions. And they’ll be without starting cornerback Josh Jobe on Friday.

But Desmond Ridder deserves some praise for how he’s played this season. He quarterbacked the Bearcats to their best season in school history, won the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award, and ranked 11th nationally in passer rating (164.8). His raw passing stats were solid (3,190 yards, 30 TDs, 8 INTs, 9 yards per attempt) and he even ran for 371 yards and six touchdowns. Cincinnati is not in this position without Desmond Ridder.

But if you look closely at his two games against power five teams this year (at Indiana and at Notre Dame), Ridder was good, but not great. He failed to throw for 300 yards in either game, and his completion percentage was below 60% in both. He did rush for a touchdown in both games, and Cincinnati did win both contests by double digits.

The closest comparable opponent that the 6’4” 215-pound Louisville native has faced was likely the Georgia game in the Peach Bowl last year. In that game, Ridder threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns. The problem was, the Bulldogs sacked him eight times and Cincinnati lost 24-21. How will Ridder handle Alabama’s pass rush? Will Alabama’s secondary pick him off a few times? Will he be able to improvise and make plays off-schedule? In 2021, the Bearcats have gone as far as Ridder can take them (with a little help from the defense), and on the final calendar day of this year, I see that trend continuing.

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