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Same story for LSU against Alabama
Bryan Lazare | TigerBait.com Senior Writer
The LSU defense was spectacular Saturday night against Alabama ā almost as good as one of its predecessors was in the Game of the Century some five years ago.
For three quarters, the Tigers held Alabama scoreless. The Crimson Tide had not been shut out for 16 years when Auburn accomplished that feat.
The LSU defense couldnāt pitch a shutout Saturday and all that would have done was earn the Tigers overtime. The LSU offense was overwhelmed by coach Nick Sabanās defense as Alabama came away with a 10-0 victory.
Danny Etling was under pressure from a highly talented Alabama defense
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The Tigersā offensive production was not as poor as it had been in the 2011 national championship game when they gained 92 yards. But, LSU finished with just 125 yards Saturday ā with only 25 coming in the final two quarters. The Tigers collected six first downs ā one in the second half.
Leonard Fournette, who ran for 31 yards on 19 carries in the game at Tuscaloosa last season, had slightly more success this time. Fournette rushed for 35 yards on 17 carries. In three games against the Tide, Fournette picked up 145 yards on 57 carries ā not even three yards per attempt.
Quarterback Danny Etling completed 46 percent of his passes (11-of-24). He was under pressure all night. Alabama was credited with five sacks and three quarterback-hurries. Etling scrambled another time and dumped off a pass to Colin Jeter to avoid s sack.
In the five previous LSU-Alabama games, two statistics stood out ā rushing yards per attempt by the tailbacks and sacks. The Crimson Tide was dominant in both of those areas. Nothing changed Saturday.
Alabamaās three tailbacks ā Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough and Josh Jacobs ā combined for 102 yards on 28 carries. Thatās an average of 3.6 yards per attempt. However, the Crimson Tide has another running threat this year in quarterback Jalen Hurts, who averaged 5.7 yards while rushing for 114 yards.
LSU tailbacks Fournette and Derrius Guice totaled 43 yards on 19 carries ā an average of 2.3 yards per attempt. For the fifth time in the Tigersā six-game losing streak to Alabama, their tailbacks didnāt average even three yards per try.
Then, there is the matter of pass protection. Alabama had five sacks, while LSU had one. In the last six games between the teams, the Crimson Tide has 20 sacks, while the Tigers have nine.
Undoubtedly, LSU does not have a dynamic quarterback like the speedy Hurts. It was Hurts who made the two key third-down runs in this game. On third-and-nine, Hurts scrambled for a 21-yard touchdown. Then, on third-and-15, Hurts ran for 23 yards to keep Alabamaās game-clinching field goal drive alive.
Etling was a sitting target for the Alabama defense. Sabanās defenses are not defeated by pocket passers. Just think back to Sabanās time at LSU. His words for the defense were āaffect the quarterback.ā Thatās easy to do when you always know where the quarterback will be.
The pounding Etling absorbed certainly impacted the way in which he threw the football. There were some open receivers and Etling threw the ball inaccurately.
When facing a team like Alabama, an underdog must take advantage of mistakes. Jamal Adams intercepted a Hurts pass at the Crimson Tideās 33 three plays into the game. The Tigers came out throwing ā completion for three yards, incompletion and sack.
Forced to settle for a 49-yard field goal attempt, LSU fans watched Ronnie Harrison partially block Colby Delahoussayeās kick. There was one missed scoring chance for the Tigers.
In the third quarter, Arden Key recovered a Hurts fumble at Alabamaās 42. Two plays gained seven yards. Then, LSU was hit with a delay-of-game penalty to turn a third-and-three into a third-and-eight. What followed was an intentional grounding call on Etling. The Tigers had to punt ā another missed chance.
Championships are won up front and LSU has been second to Alabama in this area for a few seasons now. The Tigers defensive front was excellent Saturday, but their counterparts on the offensive line couldnāt hold up their end of the bargain.
LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron kept using the words āno executionā following the game. Itās more a case of the Tigers not having the talent, particularly on the offensive line, to move the ball against Alabama.
What complicates the problem is that LSU has no athletic quarterback who can make plays on his own. Thatās how Alabama won the game Saturday. Hurts, the freshman quarterback, adlibbed on a couple of third-down plays to get the Crimson Tide in the win column for the 21st game in a row.
There will be no Western Division championship for LSU ā its fifth straight season without reaching the Southeastern Conference title game. The Tigers still need a victory to be bowl eligible. The schedule is not easy ā road games against Arkansas and Texas A&M and a home game against Florida.
The LSU administration must begin to really sharpen their look for the next head football coach. Orgeron is still a contender, but he has a lot of work to do. Any November slide eliminates Orgeron from contention.
It was easy for Orgeron to get the Tigers mentally prepared and energized for this meeting against Alabama. The task will be much greater next week when LSU travels to Arkansas. Two years ago, the Tigers were inept on offense in a 17-0 loss to the Hogs in Fayetteville.
For Orgeron to be a deserving candidate for the permanent job, he must show that he is capable of having his team perform with focus and a sense of urgency next Saturday night. The next game is the most important one as regards Orgeronās future with LSU.
TigerBait.com - Same story for LSU against Alabama
Bryan Lazare | TigerBait.com Senior Writer
The LSU defense was spectacular Saturday night against Alabama ā almost as good as one of its predecessors was in the Game of the Century some five years ago.
For three quarters, the Tigers held Alabama scoreless. The Crimson Tide had not been shut out for 16 years when Auburn accomplished that feat.
The LSU defense couldnāt pitch a shutout Saturday and all that would have done was earn the Tigers overtime. The LSU offense was overwhelmed by coach Nick Sabanās defense as Alabama came away with a 10-0 victory.
Danny Etling was under pressure from a highly talented Alabama defense
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The Tigersā offensive production was not as poor as it had been in the 2011 national championship game when they gained 92 yards. But, LSU finished with just 125 yards Saturday ā with only 25 coming in the final two quarters. The Tigers collected six first downs ā one in the second half.
Leonard Fournette, who ran for 31 yards on 19 carries in the game at Tuscaloosa last season, had slightly more success this time. Fournette rushed for 35 yards on 17 carries. In three games against the Tide, Fournette picked up 145 yards on 57 carries ā not even three yards per attempt.
Quarterback Danny Etling completed 46 percent of his passes (11-of-24). He was under pressure all night. Alabama was credited with five sacks and three quarterback-hurries. Etling scrambled another time and dumped off a pass to Colin Jeter to avoid s sack.
In the five previous LSU-Alabama games, two statistics stood out ā rushing yards per attempt by the tailbacks and sacks. The Crimson Tide was dominant in both of those areas. Nothing changed Saturday.
Alabamaās three tailbacks ā Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough and Josh Jacobs ā combined for 102 yards on 28 carries. Thatās an average of 3.6 yards per attempt. However, the Crimson Tide has another running threat this year in quarterback Jalen Hurts, who averaged 5.7 yards while rushing for 114 yards.
LSU tailbacks Fournette and Derrius Guice totaled 43 yards on 19 carries ā an average of 2.3 yards per attempt. For the fifth time in the Tigersā six-game losing streak to Alabama, their tailbacks didnāt average even three yards per try.
Then, there is the matter of pass protection. Alabama had five sacks, while LSU had one. In the last six games between the teams, the Crimson Tide has 20 sacks, while the Tigers have nine.
Undoubtedly, LSU does not have a dynamic quarterback like the speedy Hurts. It was Hurts who made the two key third-down runs in this game. On third-and-nine, Hurts scrambled for a 21-yard touchdown. Then, on third-and-15, Hurts ran for 23 yards to keep Alabamaās game-clinching field goal drive alive.
Etling was a sitting target for the Alabama defense. Sabanās defenses are not defeated by pocket passers. Just think back to Sabanās time at LSU. His words for the defense were āaffect the quarterback.ā Thatās easy to do when you always know where the quarterback will be.
The pounding Etling absorbed certainly impacted the way in which he threw the football. There were some open receivers and Etling threw the ball inaccurately.
When facing a team like Alabama, an underdog must take advantage of mistakes. Jamal Adams intercepted a Hurts pass at the Crimson Tideās 33 three plays into the game. The Tigers came out throwing ā completion for three yards, incompletion and sack.
Forced to settle for a 49-yard field goal attempt, LSU fans watched Ronnie Harrison partially block Colby Delahoussayeās kick. There was one missed scoring chance for the Tigers.
In the third quarter, Arden Key recovered a Hurts fumble at Alabamaās 42. Two plays gained seven yards. Then, LSU was hit with a delay-of-game penalty to turn a third-and-three into a third-and-eight. What followed was an intentional grounding call on Etling. The Tigers had to punt ā another missed chance.
Championships are won up front and LSU has been second to Alabama in this area for a few seasons now. The Tigers defensive front was excellent Saturday, but their counterparts on the offensive line couldnāt hold up their end of the bargain.
LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron kept using the words āno executionā following the game. Itās more a case of the Tigers not having the talent, particularly on the offensive line, to move the ball against Alabama.
What complicates the problem is that LSU has no athletic quarterback who can make plays on his own. Thatās how Alabama won the game Saturday. Hurts, the freshman quarterback, adlibbed on a couple of third-down plays to get the Crimson Tide in the win column for the 21st game in a row.
There will be no Western Division championship for LSU ā its fifth straight season without reaching the Southeastern Conference title game. The Tigers still need a victory to be bowl eligible. The schedule is not easy ā road games against Arkansas and Texas A&M and a home game against Florida.
The LSU administration must begin to really sharpen their look for the next head football coach. Orgeron is still a contender, but he has a lot of work to do. Any November slide eliminates Orgeron from contention.
It was easy for Orgeron to get the Tigers mentally prepared and energized for this meeting against Alabama. The task will be much greater next week when LSU travels to Arkansas. Two years ago, the Tigers were inept on offense in a 17-0 loss to the Hogs in Fayetteville.
For Orgeron to be a deserving candidate for the permanent job, he must show that he is capable of having his team perform with focus and a sense of urgency next Saturday night. The next game is the most important one as regards Orgeronās future with LSU.
TigerBait.com - Same story for LSU against Alabama
