November 6, 2009

Things to watch for in the LSU-Alabama game:

1) The two defenses have the upper hand, and each offense has a weakness that plays into the other team's hands.  LSU is 10 in the SEC in rushing offense, while Alabama is first in rushing defense.  That means the Tide puts teams in bad down and distance situations, which has led to an league leading 23 sacks and 11 interceptions.  To make things worse for the Tigers, LSU is second to last in the SEC in sacks allowed.  Jordan Jefferson must get rid of the football or the Tigers will be playing out of the down and distance hole all day.

The Tiger defense has roughly the same amount of points allowed on the season as the Tide does, and one of the things they have been exceptional at is redzone (inside the 20-yard line) defense.  LSU leads the league in that category, and Alabama has struggled of late, scoring just two offensive touchdowns in the last ten quarters.

However, Tide kicker Leigh Tiffin is 20-23 on FG's on the season, so they have been able to get points.  It was Tiffin who supplied all the points for Alabama in a 12-10 win over Tennessee two weeks ago.

2) The offensive interior for LSU is light, at least by the standards set in this game.  Center T-Bob Hebert is 282-lbs., and guard Josh Dworaczyk is 281.  Alabama noseguard Terrence Cody is 354-lbs., give or take, and he dominates the inside.  The Tigers will have to double team him, which leaves MLB Rolando McClain free to roam.  He leads the Tide in tackles and is the best LB in the Southeastern Conference.

To counter this, LSU may go four or five wide.  Against these formations Alabama usually goes into a "dime" defense (six defensive backs) and Cody comes off the field.  If the Tigers can run from either of these sets, it will give them needed balance on offense.

3) Special teams will be key.  Javier Arenas leads the SEC in punt returns, and is on the verge of the all-time NCAA lead in the category.  LSU should kick away from him.  On the other hand, Alabama has struggled in their coverage of both kickoffs and punts, and there may be some room for Trindon Holliday to roam.

4) Alabama will run the football from two different versions of the "wildcat".  In both formations RB Mark Ingram, who leads the SEC in rushing, takes a direct snap.  In the regular version, QB Greg McElroy splits out as basically a decoy.  However, in the "bobcat" as Alabama calls it, RB Trent Richardson takes McElroy's spot, giving the Tide an extra option.  It is the "bobcat" that is the more dangerous of the two.

5) If Alabama wins, they clinch the Western Division title, and a spot in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.  If LSU wins, they will be in first place by virtue of the tiebreaker in the West, but still must beat Ole Miss and Arkansas to clinch if Alabama wins out as expected.