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October 30, 2012What LSU must do to beat Alabama
October 30, 2012
A total of 296 days have passed since Alabama completely dismantled LSU 21-0 in the 2012 BCS National Championship game.
After enduring many sleepless nights since that infamous New Orleans meltdown, the Tigers finally have their shot at revenge.
With last season’s drumming still fresh on their minds, the No. 5 Tigers will host No. 1 Alabama this weekend in Baton Rouge – a game that will again have major SEC Championship and also BCS National Championship implications.
Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be shown to a national audience on CBS.
Well more than 90,000 fans are also expected to jam-pack Tiger Stadium, as well, in what will be the showcase game in college football this weekend.
“Last year’s ending was a tough pill to swallow for us as a team,” LSU sophomore halfback Kenny Hilliard said earlier this season. “We all worked hard the entire offseason to try and make sure we never have that feeling again. … We have been knowing when that game was going to be for a long time and we look forward to getting another shot at them.”
For the second-straight season, the Tigers and Crimson Tide are virtual mirrors of one another.
On offense, both teams utilize run-first attacks and are among the best in America at their craft.
The Tigers currently rush for 208 yards per game – a mark near the top of the SEC. Alabama is a few notches above the Tigers, averaging 219 yards per game on the ground.
For LSU, the running game is a four-headed monster that utilizes some of the most talented halfbacks in America.
Hilliard and juniors Spencer Ware and Michael Ford provide leadership to a unit that is also boosted by freshman Jeremy Hill.
Hill has been the toast of Baton Rouge in the past two weeks, rushing for 251 yards and three touchdowns combined in LSU’s wins against South Carolina and Texas A&M.
The Baton Rouge native said he credits LSU’s coaches with his ability to stay patient.
“This team has a lot of depth. They recruit well every year,” Hill said. “Once you come here, you know you’re going to have to wait your turn to play. Once you get that opportunity, you’ve got to take advantage of it and run with it.”
While LSU has a multi-faceted rushing attack, the Crimson Tide have a duo of backs at their disposal.
Junior and Louisiana native Eddie Lacy is joined by electric freshman T.J. Yeldon to give Alabama a combination of power and speed within its lineup.
But where Alabama may have an offensive advantage over the Tigers is quarterback play.
The Crimson Tide return national championship winning signal caller A.J. McCarron, who is having the best season of his career.
Through seven games, McCarron completed 68.8 percent of his passes with 16 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
“I think he’s taking what the defense gives him, and I think he is reading what he is supposed to read,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “He has done a good job of taking care of the ball, reading things and throwing [the ball] in the right places. We are really pleased with his development. Hopefully he will be able to continue to play that way in the future.”
While McCarron cautiously slings the Tide to victories, LSU is trying to find an equal rhythm with its quarterback, junior Zach Mettenberger.
A highly touted transfer from junior college, Mettenberger has failed to live up to expectations. He’s completed 112-of-198 passes this season with seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
But in SEC games, Mettenberger has been a virtual non-factor, having completed just 49 of his 106 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions.
LSU coach Les Miles said during the SEC Coaches’ Teleconference last week that the Tigers’ struggles aren’t all Mettenberger’s problem.
“I don’t know that you can put all the passing woes on a quarterback,” Miles said. “Some of our balls were pretty well-thrown.”
No matter McCarron and Mettenberger’s progression, yards will likely be hard to come by in Saturday’s game.
That’s because for a second-straight season both the Tigers and the Crimson Tide have arguably the two top defenses in America.
Alabama currently ranks No. 1 in total defense, allowing a miniscule 195.57 yards per game – a number that is 30 yards better than the No. 2 team.
The Tigers are also among the best, ranking No. 3 in America, allowing 243.38 yards per game.
Many experts within college football believe LSU actually has the best defense in the country and that the stats are skewed because of the Tigers’ inability to control the football, which means that LSU’s defense plays more plays per game than Alabama’s.
Regardless of statistics, both sides have a lot of trust in their units.
Why wouldn’t they? The Tigers boast a star-studded group consisting of names like defensive ends Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo and safety Eric Reid – each a likely All-American.
Alabama counters with a group led by standouts Nico Johnson, C.J. Mosley and Vinnie Sunseri.
“We feel like whenever we are on the field, we love each other, have each other’s backs and are a brotherhood,” LSU linebacker Lamin Barrow said of the team’s defense. “It just works for us.”
“Coach Saban just really stresses on shredding blockers and to be intense for the first part of the game and to just try and set a tone for the rest of the game,” Sunseri said of Alabama’s approach. “That’s what we try to do – we try to be a physical team.”
Physicality, hatred, conference pride and a shot at the national championship – it just doesn’t get better, right?
LSU and Alabama are expecting another war.
The winner will likely have the inside track at punching a ticket to Miami for the BCS National Championship Game.
Hilliard said he sort-of expected that’d be the case 296 days ago when he walked off the field in New Orleans – shamed with defeat.
“You always know when you play them the stakes are going to be high,” he said. “We were upset with how it ended, but we definitely knew we’d get another chance in the future. What that time comes, it’s going to be a big, massive game.
“LSU and Alabama always is.”
LSU coach Les Miles studies the field during a game this season. Miles and the No. 5 Tigers are ready for a meeting with No. 1 Alabama.
