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5 things Ed Orgeron said about Alabama ahead of Saturday’s showdown in Tuscaloosa
By Brian Stultz
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With the big battle between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama awaiting on Saturday, Tigers coach Ed Orgeron took time to talk about the Crimson Tide, the challenges the Tigers will face against Nick Saban’s team and the amount of confidence he has in his squad.
“I would not want anyone else in the country (in this game),” Orgeron said. “I believe in these guys.”
The two sides, usually involved in low-scoring affairs like the 9-6 LSU victory in the “Game of the Century” in 2011, have quarterbacks that lead offenses that can put up points in a hurry. Alabama is second in the FBS by scoring 48.6 points per game while the Bayou Bengals are fourth, averaging 46.8 points per outing.
The battle between Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa, which when asked if the Alabama signal-caller would play by coming back from an injury, Orgeron answered “sure,” will be one of the most-watched matchups of the night. Orgeron is certain he has the right guy on his side.
“Joe Burrow is one of the top-five most important recruits in LSU history,” Orgeron said. “He’s the reason we’re able to have the success we’re having this season. I believe he’s as good — or better — than the QB we’re playing. But we have to prove it on the field.”
One of the reasons Tagovailoa and the Crimson Tide offense are so explosive is the plethora of talented wide receivers that they have on the roster. No matter if it is Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle, Tagovailoa has an option that can break it open for a touchdown at any moment.
Orgeron and his defensive coordinator Dave Aranda have noticed.
“We were talking about that at six this morning,” Orgeron said. “The tackles we make in the open field are critical. It’ll be a chess match. Coach Aranda has been working on this a long time. But it’ll come down to blocking and tackling.”
The coach also knows that a lot is at stake when it comes to Saturday’s matchup. The winner will have an inside path to the College Football Playoff, but there is so much more than that.
“SEC West. SEC. Chance at the College Football Playoff. Chance a National Championship,” Orgeron listed off as what the winner will likely have.
Yet, for the Tigers, Orgeron admitted that there will be a season left to play after Saturday.
“There’ll be bigger games down the road for us.”
Of course, with every press conference that involves the LSU coach, recruiting came up.
“Obviously this is a big game in recruiting,” Orgeron said, signifying the constant battle between the two schools for the top prospects across the nation.
As for his own recruitment experience, Orgeron admitted that he was going to meet with a legendary Alabama coach until his father got involved.
“Bear was gonna come to my house, but daddy said ‘NOPE,'” he said. “That’s the way it should be. I wish it was like that today.”
Brian Stultz covers SEC football for SaturdayDownSouth.com. A graduate of Auburn University, he is a member of the Football Writers Association of America. You can follow him on Twitter @brianjstultz.
