Five questions heading into Alabama vs. LSU
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) runs past LSU defenders during last year's game. Photo | Getty Images
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@Tony_Tsoukalas
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For the first time this season Alabama will enter a game not ranked as the top team in the nation. The Crimson Tide was ranked as the No. 2 team in Tuesday’s College Football Playoff rankings as Georgia came away with the top spot. Saturday Alabama will get its first opportunity to prove the committee wrong as it hosts No. 19 LSU at 7 p.m. CT on CBS.
Here are five questions to consider heading into the matchup:
Will Alabama be fooled by LSU's 'eye candy'?
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LSU offensive coordinator Matt Canada, right, talks with players on the sideline. Photo | Getty Images
Over the past two seasons, Alabama has held LSU’s offense to an average of 8 points and 153.5 yards per game. LSU coach Ed Orgeron knows that won’t cut it, and that’s one of the biggest reasons he hired offensive coordinator Matt Canada this offseason.
“One of the reasons I hired Matt because all the shifts and formations and stuff that I would think would give Alabama problems,” Orgeron told reporters during his Monday news conference. “I think he's done a tremendous job for us this year. Obviously, he spent all week last week on his game plan. Obviously, when he watched the film, he sees what he can do and what he can't do.”
Those shifts Orgeron mentioned are no joke. Under Canada, the Tigers have one of the more exotic offenses Alabama has seen this season. LSU often looks to capitalize on confusing its opponents sending several players into motion before the snap. That’s caught the attention of Alabama head coach Nick Saban and is something the Crimson Tide is preparing for this week in practice.
“Sort of eye candy, I call it, for a defensive player,” Saban said Monday. “(It) makes a guy not focus on his real keys and play fast and remember that you’ve got to play block protection. You’ve got to tackle. You’ve got to play the plays. You’ve got to read the keys and do your job. It is a little different, especially from anything that we’ve seen this year.”
Despite its complexities, LSU’s offense ranks No. 53 in the nation averaging 419.1 yards per game. Much of that comes from how one-dimensional the Tigers can be at times. LSU ranks No. 28 in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 216.25 yards on the ground per game. However, the Tigers have struggled to establish much consistency through the air, ranking No. 84 in the nation with just 201.5 passing yards per game.
Will Jalen Hurts improve in second game against LSU?
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts runs in a touchdown last season against LSU. Photo | Getty Images
LSU was able to limit Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts through the air last season, holding him to 10 of 19 passing for 107 yards and an interception.
"I think they just did a good job of playing fast and hard like all the other teams we play against,” Hurts said. “They want to stop us defensively just like we want to stop them. That's the name of the game. We have to go out there and prepare this week and be ready to play."
Hurts expects the Tigers to come at him with the same speed and intensity this year but said he isn’t going to allow it to dictate his game. Instead, the sophomore hopes his added experience will be enough to produce better results. In five SEC games this season, Hurts has completed a combined 59 of 98 passes (60.2 percent) for 751 yards and five touchdowns with an interception.
"I think you learn something from every week,” Hurts said. “I learned this year from Florida State to the next game to the game after that. So, I just think it's an ongoing process of learning and taking in those experiences."
Even if LSU is able to have similar success against Hurts this year, it will need to find a way to contain the dual-threat quarterback on the ground. Hurts rushed for a game-high 114 yards on 20 carries during last year’s 10-0 victory over the Tigers, including the game’s only touchdown on a 21-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Can Alabama contain Arden Key?
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) runs away from LSU linebacker Arden Key during last year's game. Photo | Getty Images
The main person in charge of corralling Hurts Saturday will be LSU linebacker Arden Key. The 6-foot-6, 238-pound junior missed the first two games of the season and got off to somewhat of a slow start but has picked up lately, tallying a combined 12 tackles and three sacks in his past two games.
"He's a good player,” Hurts said. “Has a lot of length. Disruptive.”
Through six games this season Key has tallied 22 tackles, four for a loss, with 3.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. That kind of pressure combined with a talented secondary has helped the Tigers put together the nation’s No. 13 pass defense, limiting opponents to 173.5 yards per game through the air.
One area where Alabama should be able to attack LSU is on the ground. The Tigers rank No. 47 in the nation in rush defense and are allowing opponents 145.75 rushing yards per game. That doesn’t bode well going up against an Alabama team that ranks No.7 in the nation averaging 298.75 rushing yards per game. Of course, Crimson Tide players know taking advantage of that comes down to neutralizing players such as Key.
“He’s an explosive player. In the run game, he can stop the run, and he’s a great pass-rusher,” Alabama running back Damien Harris said. “So, they’ve got a lot of great players on their defense, on their team, really. And we just have to be willing to do whatever it takes to kind of contain those players and make plays ourselves.”
Can Alabama continue to win the turnover battle?
Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson (30) returns an interception against Tennessee. Photo | Getty Images
Orgeron called it the “biggest factor.”
When listing out facts about Alabama’s defense during his Monday news conference, the LSU coach made sure to highlight the Crimson Tide’s turnover margin. Through eight games, Alabama has forced 15 turnovers (four fumbles, 11 interceptions) while giving up the ball five times (three fumbles, two interceptions). The plus 10 margin tops the SEC and is tied for No. 8 in the nation. In comparison, LSU ranks No. 40 in the nation with a plus 3 margin.
Alabama’s defense has forced at least one turnover in its past 35 games. Over that span, the Crimson Tide has forced 66 turnovers (44 interceptions, 22 fumbles) and scored 16 touchdowns. That streak might be hard to extend this week, considering the Tigers have only given up the ball six times this season.
Alabama’s offense has been a bit sloppy with the ball recently. All five of the Crimson Tide’s turnovers have come in its past three games. That includes an interception from backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa which was returned 97 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee, giving the Volunteers their only score of the game.
Does Alabama have a chip on its shoulder?
LSU running back Derrius Guice (5) carries against the Alabama last season. Photo | USA Today
Da’Ron Payne chuckled a bit while doing his best to stick to the company line. When asked whether or not he was bothered by the talk coming out of LSU, the defensive tackle wasn’t going to give too much away.
"We really don't think too much into it,” he said. “We just try to focus on what we need to do to play the game.”
Whether or not that’s how Alabama players actually feel, it’s been the message they’ve been portraying to the media this week. Cornerback Anthony Averett later echoed Payne's response, stating that he doesn’t pay attention to things like that and that “every team talks a little bit.”
Nevertheless, it’s hard to imagine certain statements are sitting well with Crimson Tide players, particularly the words that came from LSU running back Derrius Guice when he called Alabama’s defense “scared” following last year’s game, a 10-0 victory for the Tide.
"It was brought up the other day,” Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “But I have nothing to say about that really."
Alabama will get its opportunity to answer back on the field this Saturday as it goes for a seventh straight victory over the Tigers. That will speak a lot louder than words anyway.
BamaInsider.com - Five questions heading into Alabama vs. LSU
