Ad Disclosure
Can Jalen Hurts play hero against LSU for the second year in a row?
By Clint Lamb
Published:
Last year was Jalen Hurts’ first opportunity to see what the Alabama-LSU rivalry was all about.
Despite being a true freshman, Hurts embraced that opportunity, and as a result, he helped lead the Crimson Tide to a 10-0 victory against the Tigers.
The game was a defensive struggle, but Hurts emerged as the unsung hero after delivering a 21-yard touchdown run with 13:08 left to break a scoreless tie. It was the only touchdown in the game.
Much like this season, it was Hurts’ ability to make game-changing plays with his legs — not his arm — that allowed Alabama to prevail.
Hurts’ quick start to the 2016 season had slowed down by the time LSU made its way to the top of Alabama’s schedule, and he was becoming less and less effective moving the ball through the air. Against the Tigers, he completed only 10 of 19 passes for 107 yards and an interception.
His legs were a different story, however.
While the 21-yard touchdown will be remembered as his signature play from that game, he added 93 additional rushing yards on 19 other carries — good for a 4.9-yard average.
The touchdown wasn’t even his longest run of the night. He contributed a 28-yarder in the second quarter on a drive that ended with a missed field goal, and a 23-yarder on a third-and-15 play with 7:40 left in the fourth to help set up the Tide’s final points of the night — a 25-yard field goal. That final scoring drive lasted just short of 10 minutes, with Hurts rushing on 7 of the 15 plays.
To sum it up, Hurts played a big part in every scoring opportunity that Alabama had that night — although there weren’t many — and also helped keep the ball away from LSU for all but 1 minute, 25 seconds of the fourth quarter.
When Alabama fans think back to Hurts’ freshman year, that clutch touchdown against his head coach’s former team is one of the first highlights that comes to mind. In Baton Rouge — at night — against a tough Tigers crowd, Hurts rose to the occasion.
This year’s game could be a little different.
Hurts is no longer the “young gun” of the offense, and it’s entirely possible that Saturday’s game will require the now sophomore to make some plays with his arm as well.
LSU’s defense isn’t particularly strong at stopping the run — No. 8 in the SEC — but it does check in at No. 22 in the nation when it comes to total yards allowed.
With the Tide’s top-ranked rush offense, there’s no doubt that the Tigers are going to try to stack the box and force Hurts to throw. Last season, LSU’s emphasis on stopping the run didn’t end up mattering much. Can Hurts match or improve upon his effort against a Tigers team riding a three-game win streak?
The Tigers are one of the hottest teams in the SEC after discarding Florida 17-16 in The Swamp, rallying to top Auburn 27-23 and then, most recently, giving Ole Miss a 40-24 beatdown in Oxford.
After missing time with injuries and playing poorly upon his return, LSU star edge rusher Arden Key is regaining his form. In his last two games, the projected top-10 NFL pick has recorded 3 of his 3.5 sacks this season.
Key isn’t the only one getting after the quarterback, either. In fact, his 3.5 sacks are only good for fourth on the team.
Defensive linemen Christian LaCouture (4.5) and Greg Gilmore (4.5), along with linebacker Corey Thompson (4.0), have contributed more. Key does lead the team in sacks per game (0.58), so he’s definitely making up for lost time.
In addition to this already formidable defensive front, LSU also has sophomore defensive end Rashard Lawrence, who LSU head coach Ed Orgeron called the best player on the defense earlier this season.
Overall, this unit checks in at second in the conference in sacks (26) — trailing only Texas A&M (30).
While the Tide is only giving up 1.38 sacks per game — putting them at No. 23 in the nation in sacks allowed — Saturday’s matchup will still prove to be difficult.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the game ended up being put on Hurts’ shoulders in the same way that it was last year.
The question is whether or not the sophomore can continue to deliver during key moments — either through the air this time, or with his legs like in 2016.
Clint helps cover the SEC West for Saturday Down South. His work can also be found on USA TODAY Sports, The 'Bama Beat podcast and The Bullpen with TonyMac and The Lamb. Previous stops include SEC Country, 247Sports and Touchdown Alabama Magazine.
