#2 LSU at #4 Alabama Preview Part 1
By Scotty Nola
With the release of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s Initial Rankings on Tuesday the matchup between 2nd ranked LSU and 4th ranked Alabama has taken on titanic proportions.
Or maybe we should call it “titanic and that other ship” proportions because one of these teams is about to hit the iceberg and sink while the other one keeps on sailing.
The hype train is fully engaged but in spite of the familiarity these SEC West rivals share there will be a lot of new faces when they play this years match.
Alabama has replaced their top receiver, top running back and starting QB from the squad that took a close game from the Tigers last year in Baton Rouge.
LSU has more consistency with most of the top performers back on both sides of the ball but the Tigers have their share of new starters this year as well.
With so much ground to cover, we are breaking the preview; and up first we are focusing on the matchups on the field when Alabama’s offense faces the Tigers defense……
When Alabama Throws The Ball
Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) shouts at the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
At first glance these teams seem evenly matched in the passing game. Alabama’s 64th ranked passing attack generates 233 yards per game, and LSU’s 60th ranked pass defense gives up 222 yards per game.
The yardage stat belies some of the difficulties Alabama has had moving the ball in the air this year. Alabama QB Jake Coker has nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns and he doesn’t have Amari Cooper to bail him out when the offense bogs down.
One place LSU has struggled this year is giving up big plays on miscues in the secondary. Alabama Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin likes to test teams deep. This is an area of concern for the Tigers, particularly with star CB Tre White nursing an injury.
LSU has the benefit of a fully healthy Jalen Mills for the first time this season, and this is an area where he can be a major difference maker.
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Many of the breakdowns in the secondary have been a result of poor communication. Getting the leader of the secondary back will go a long ways towards curing that particular failing.
The Tigers have another advantage on pass defense that should not be overlooked: Senior OLB Deion Jones. Jones was one of ten players named to the Butkus Award Watchlist. This is an honor he shares with Kendell Beckwith making LSU the only school in the country with two finalists for this prestigious award.
Beckwith’s inclusion on the Butkus list is for obvious reasons. He is a dominant middle linebacker against the run and a big time hitter. Jones is equally savvy against the run but has the distinction of being perhaps the best pass coverage linebacker in the country.
Jones combines an ability to flip his hips and accelerate like a defensive back with an exceptional talent for shadowing routes. He is a threat to intercept a pass or, when used as a blitzer to sack the QB on any passing play.
In addition to the great pass defense talent on the backside LSU has a legit pass rush from the defensive line. Davon Godchaux and Lewis Neal are having excellent seasons as pass rushers and Arden Key has been a pleasant surprise as well.
Alabama has not faced a team that can rush the passer and has the talent and speed dropping back into coverage the Tigers possess. It is a combination mistake prone Tide QB Jake Coker can not be looking forward to facing.
When Alabama Runs the Ball
Oct 24, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) carries for a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama will not go into the game against LSU looking to win it through the air. They have one plan on offense: hand the football off to star running back Derrick Henry and use the ground game to smother the life out of their opponents.
The national media is portraying this game as a matchup between two Heisman candidates with the best runner set up to take over the game and give his team the inside track to the College Football Playoffs.
Derrick Henry and Leonard Fournette aren’t facing each other though. Henry is facing LSU’s defense and this is not a matchup that looks like a real advantage for the Tide.
Henry has already broken the 1.000 yard mark and has his share of top runs. But in spite of his strong year Alabama is still not ranked among the Top 40 rushing teams in the country.
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They are facing a Tigers team that is ranked 6th in the nation and has a track record of holding opposing running backs to well under their season averages.
The best backs LSU has faced all year are probably the two headed monster of athletic QB Treon Harris and RB Kelvin Taylor of 10th Ranked Florida. LSU was able to hold the pair to 45 yards on 28 carries, and average of 1.6 yards per carry.
LSU’s strength is the middle of their defense. Christian LaCouture and Davon Godchaux are outstanding in the trenches. With two Tigers listed among the final ten players on the Butkus Award watchlist it’s a no brainer to call this the best linebacking corps in the nation.
When you throw in a pair of big time playmakers at the Safety position in Jamal Adams and Jalen Mills it’s difficult to imagine any team running the football consistently against the Tigers.
When you combine an Alabama Quarterback who has at times struggled to take care of the ball and a running back facing an outstanding run defense you have to think at this point alabama is hoping for a low scoring game. It is difficult to see them keeping up in a shootout….
TOMORROW: PART 2 – WHEN LSU HAS THE BALL