The Alabama vs. LSU game will be one of the most physical ball games to be played this year. Great offensive and defensive lines will set the tone for this match-up to determine the leader of the SEC West; one of the strongest divisions in college football. The SEC West maybe stronger than some NFL divisions! This is the second of a two part series highlighting the strengths of each team. Now up to plate, Alabama.
1. Running Backs: Do I need to say more? The Heisman trophy candidate is a rare blend of power and speed. The first guy NEVER brings him down. He wears you down through the game. He is not the tallest back (listed at 5”11), so his compact running style is conducive to him being so hard to bring down. It also helps him get behind those huge offensive linemen that he runs behind. His thighs are bigger than most super models, and he never fumbles the football. He is also very elusive. No other play is more memorable than the move that he put on Senquez Golson from Ole Miss. He displayed all of talents that he possesses on his run. He breaks 3 tackles, out runs the defense, then puts a move that crippled this young man all on one play. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLQOKjH_S3I) He is a horse. A big game against LSU will put him ahead of Andrew Luck for the Heisman trophy. Richardson is great blocker and can catch the ball out of the backfield very well. Eddie Lacy is a horse as well. He comes in and gives you the exact same style of running, power, speed, and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield better than Richardson. Since he has gotten rid of that case of the fumbles, the kid has been an awesome complement to Richardson. Just when you think that you are in the clear, they bring in big Jalston Fowler to try to bring down. The THIRD string back weighs in at 246 lbs. A load to bring down for the most fearsome of defenders. LSU has a great front line, but if they over run the lanes or past the running backs, they will have another game like they had against Auburn last year; giving up run after run for big yardage. This is the key to Alabama’s offense. If Richardson gets rolling, look out. It will be a LONG EVENING for the LSU defense.
2. Linebackers: Alabama has the deepest linebacker unit in the country. Courtney Upshaw, Dont’a Hightower, Nico Johnson, Jerrell Harris, C.J. Mosley, Trey DePriest, Tana Patrick, Chris Jordan, Adrian Hubbard, Xzavier Dickson, Alex Watkins, and Adrian Hubbard. My goodness. Most of these guys were 4 and 5 star recruits, can you imagine seeing Adrian Hubbard at 6”6 lining up at LB and him coming to blitz you?!? Dont’a Hightower is the total package at Inside Linebacker. He runs like a deer, can read a defense before the snap almost as good as Rolando McClain, covers well for his size, and can bring the blues to any QB that sits back there long enough to see him coming. Courtney Upshaw is a bull and can’t be blocked by one man. He plays the game like a Steelers LB already. He is a matchup problem against any college lineman right now. C.J. Mosley is the best cover LB in football. He can run with ANYONE; speedsters at RB, TEs, and WRs. The linebackers are the deepest group of players that Alabama has. They have a guy that can come right in and give them the same effort that the guy ahead of him gives. LSU’s offensive line has its work cut out for them. This is a very tough defense to block from the LB spot. The scheme is great for these guys to flourish. That is why right now to me, Alabama is the new linebacker U. I haven’t seen a set of backers this good in a long time. I hope LSU is disciplined at offensive line; if not this group of guys will have you jumping off sides all game long. You never know where the pressure is coming from. And if you do see the pressure coming, it doesn’t matter. You can’t block it anyway.
3. Offensive Line: Vlachos, Steen, Warmack, Fluker, and Jones are 5 of the best in the business. Jones is the most versatile offensive lineman in the country. He has good feet to play tackle and consistently seals his guy off at the point of attack. He also has the strength and the smarts to play guard as well. If needed, I think he could probably play center as well. Six out of 10 times, the run play is going to his side because of the job he consistently does in dominating his man. He is definitely the front runner for the Rimington and the Outland trophies. Fluker has been coming on well this season. There were thoughts that the freshman Kouandjio would take his spot. The line does a great job moving their men out of position. They know they don’t have to hold their guys long, because they have some outstanding backs coming through the lanes they create. If LSU’s rush is too aggressive, it will play right into the hands of Alabama. They will just draw LSU. And if this happens, LSU’s LBs are not the strengths of their defense. If they attack them, this will decide the game.
4. Saban: Many see Saban as the best coach in the land. Who can argue with that? He is bringing the recruits in and he is winning the games. He coaches his team very well and stays one step ahead of the opposition. He is one of the best of keeping his team calm and under control in big game situations. This is as big as they come especially against his old team. He is intense and takes no excuses. He can game plan for any type of defense. If Alabama gets up early, don’t look for the conservative approach. I expect for him to make a statement in this game. He and Kirby Smart keep opposing offenses off balance throughout the game. He runs a well oiled machine. If Alabama does take the L, it won’t be Saban’s fault. His team will be ready to play. Les Miles better have his rabbit foot, horse shoes, four leaf clovers and Lucky from the Lucky Charms box. If not, one bad play call in this game against Saban can cost him the game.
5. Bryant-Denny Stadium: The aura around this stadium is something that anyone can feel just standing in front of it; I felt it and I am not even a fan! With 101,821 screaming fans for the biggest contest that the stadium has seen in years, this game will be tough to win for LSU. This is one of the biggest fan bases in the country. Alabama football is second only to religion in these parts. Night game + Bryant-Denny= disaster for most teams coming in here. With the Tide feeding off of this, don’t look for LSU to have a good night.
6. Defense: Telling you that Alabama has a great defense is like telling you that Tony Parker was an idiot for cheating on Eva Longoria. Alabama ranks at the top of EVERY defensive statistical category. They are allowing 180.5 yards/game; the next closest team is at 228.75. That is almost a 50 yard difference. They are allowing 44.88 yards rushing/game; the next closest team is 72.71. That is a full 27.83 yards difference in the next team. They are #2 in pass defense at 135.63 yards per. They are allowing 48.15% completions per game. Barron, Lester, Kirkpatrick and Menzie are one of the best defense backfields in the land. Two of the four (Barron and Kirkpatrick) are up for the Thorpe award, for the nation’s best defensive back. Alabama is completely dominating teams from the defensive side of the ball. Alabama is allowing 6.88 points per game the next closest team is 10.00 per. They are statistically the best defense in the land; with those numbers, you can’t deny that they are the best defense in the land. It doesn’t matter who they have or have not played.
7. Special Teams: Marquis Maze is one of the most dynamic return men in the country. If he gets a lane, you can hang it up. The kid is averaging 8.9 yards a return. He can change games and dictate field position. If the guy gets a chance, he can determine the outcome of the game by setting Alabama up with short fields. He also has 238 kickoff return yards on 9 attempts. The guy is a game breaker at this position. If LSU doesn’t come down and put a hat on him quickly, it can definitely decide the game.
Alabama hasn’t played the toughest of schedules, but that doesn’t change the fact that this team has been the most dominate with the opponents that it has faced. No one has been able to move the ball against these guys. LSU isn’t best offensive team and gets off to slow starts. If they can force LSU into a turnover, they can jump out early. This is lining up to be a struggle of defenses. If Alabama plays the type of game it is capable of playing, Alabama can win this game by 14 points and hold LSU to its lowest point total of the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment