BCS Championship Preview: LSU-Alabama
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: LSU-ALABAMA
Those accustomed to recent bowl-game shootouts between Oklahoma State and Stanford; Baylor and Washington or even Oregon and Wisconsin may be a tad bit disappointed by Monday night’s rematch of Southeastern Conference (SEC) rivals LSU and Alabama in what promises to be a grueling battle between two ground-oriented, defensive powerhouses.
In fact, sports fans who are hoping to see prolific scoring may just as well switch the channel to an NBA game, as the Tigers and Crimson Tide collide for a second time following a 9-6 overtime victory last November on the part of the Bayou Bengals in what was a field-position chess match that featured two of the best coaching minds on the college football scene in Les Miles and the “Evil Genius” Nick Saban.
In comparing the two, Miles’s schemes aren’t as complex as his counterpart’s. The man known as “The Mad Hatter” will come after teams will all the subtlety of a two-by-four across the chest on offense by daring defenses to stop his formidable running attack that will continue to use four different running backs to pummel the opposition in Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue.
It all starts up front with a cohesive offensive line led by left tackle Chris Faulk, who is the most physically-gifted Tiger lineman. The punishing sophomore specializes in getting low and paving the way for his running backs by effortlessly getting to the second and third levels.
Linemate Josh Williford will often be pulling from right to left, where he can wreak havoc with the devastating, short-area burst he generates on the move.
The problem posed by Alabama’s defense is that it’s extremely stout up the middle with the likes of 325-pound Josh Chapman clogging up the interior gaps, which opens up alleys for head-hunting linebackers Nico Johnson and Dont’a Hightower, as well as free safety Mark Barron who always looks to bury ball carriers.
LSU must find a way to gain yardage outside the tackles versus the Crimson Tide’s top-ranked run defense that has allowed only three touchdowns all season.
Quarterback Jordan Jefferson will have a big role in LSU’s mission to exploit the perimeter along with Ford, who has enough speed to turn the corner. Hilliard can also be used in a similar manner given the fact that he has surprisingly quick feet to baffle defenses with his jump cuts at 225 pounds.
The Purple and Gold would also be well served by utilizing 6’4” wide out Rueben Randle a bit more than they did in the first contest in which the junior was held to two receptions for 19 yards.
Randle is not only the team’s best deep threat, but also has great burst off the line for a man his size. The long-limbed play maker has loads of untapped potential that’s too often underutilized in a conservative scheme.
The Crimson Tide’s objective on offense, on the other hand, is to quite simply ride their plow-horse back Trent Richardson, who at 5’11”, 224-pounds is arguably the hardest runner to tackle in the game today.
Asking one man to wrestle him down is typically a herculean feat, but if that weren’t enough the Pensacola, Florida native also possesses the elusiveness to sidestep oncoming defenders and generates sufficient speed to bounce runs to the outside.
If Alabama manages to produce enough short-yardage situations on third down, one can bet the farm on T-Rich getting a ton of carries and pounding his massive frame into the teeth of the defense to move the chains and chew up clock.
It is because of Richardson that quarterback A.J. McCarron should be able to take advantage of play-action opportunities during which he’ll be targeting tight ends Michael Williams and Brad Smelley along with speedy wide out Marquis Maze.
Of course, if Saban’s boys get stuck in third-and-long scenarios, LSU’s intimidating set of defensive linemen will be sure to pin their ears back and come after the Alabama signal caller like a pack of wild dogs in pursuit of a helpless antelope.
Ends Sam Montgomery (nine sacks) and Barkevious Mingo (eight sacks), in particular, have the length, first-step quickness and closing speed to get by blockers and flatten opposing passers.
The Tigers second level of defenders includes a competent assortment of linebackers, such as Ryan Baker, who can be quite masterful in timing his blitzes. But the true star power resides in the back end, where cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne use their fluid hips and outstanding recovery speed to beat receivers to the ball.
While Claiborne is technically flawless in pass coverage, Mathieu—also known as the “Honey Badger”— is the more physical of the two and has a knack of forcing turnovers in key moments.
The 6’2” Eric Reid is another defensive back that can turn around the momentum of any ball game thanks to his ability to read plays and outmuscle pass catchers for the football.
Final Analysis: This grudge match will be determined by LSU’s ability to stop Trent Richardson. He’ll be the best player on the field and has the strength to carry defenders with him once he builds up a head of steam. The Bayou Bengals, however, were one of only three teams that kept the All-World back out of the end zone this year. Interior linemen, such as Bennie Logan, will have to stay in their gaps while perimeter defenders Mingo, Montgomery and Adams must avoid losing contain on early downs. Offensively, LSU has more weapons than ‘Bama, considering the fact that they have four running backs that can inflict damage and superior weapons in the passing game. The special teams edge also has to go to the Baton Rouge contingent thanks to the punt-returning skills of Mathieu, who will take one of Cody Mandell’s offerings to the house in the late stages of the title game to give Miles his second Coaches’ Trophy…and a hefty raise.
Prediction: LSU 19 Alabama 16