Film Study: Looking past LSU could get Alabama destroyed

Virtually every season critics and pundits write off the LSU Tigers and their oft-quirky head coach Les Edwin Miles. And virtually every season he unleashes one of the most physical, explosive football teams in the country on the Southeastern Conference.

This season — as usual — is no different.

Despite the loss of about umpteen NFL draft picks, Les has developed a whole new cast of characters who are about to terrorize the SEC for a few seasons to come.

For the Tigers it’s simple: recruit and develop like no other, employ a physical offense centered around NFL-caliber running backs, stay stocked with stout interior defensive linemen and line the secondary with a host future NFL stars.

Wash, rinse and repeat.

Not many would’ve given LSU a chance to knock off its heated rival, the perennially stacked Alabama Crimson Tide, especially after an auspicious start to the season that saw the boys from Baton Rouge then lose convincingly to Mississippi State and Auburn University.

But after knocking off the University of Mississippi in a 10-7 thriller, the Tigers look more-than-capable enough of continuing that trend on Saturday night against the Tide.

And they look to do so behind two aspects that are staples from a Les Miles team: a punishing between-the-tackles rushing attack and a suffocating pass defense.

But with that being said, it will be a mighty task for LSU to pull off as the Tide happen to own one of the best rushing defenses in the country and are in possession of an all-world receiver, as well.

This could be epic, folks.

The Emergence Of Leonard Fournette And The Run Game

For my money, Alabama and LSU are co-owners of the title of “Running Back University,” at least as it pertains to recent history. Both teams have consistently put top-flight backs in the NFL under their current regimes, however, where LSU may gain the edge at is in scheme.

Despite numerous offensive coordinators: Jimbo Fisher, Gary Crowton, Greg Studrawa and Cam Cameron immediately come to mind, LSU has always favored a power-based between-the-tackles run game.

With LSU, you know you’re going to get down blocks, leads, Iso-runs, traps, Power-O, counters, sweeps, tosses and more.

All of that versatility in the run game provided by some of the best backs in the country: Steven Ridley (New England Patriots), Jeremy Hill (Cincinnati Bengals), Alfred Blue (Houston Texans), Spencer Ware (Seattle Seahawks) and Michael Ford (Chicago Bears).

The current crop of LSU backs is as good as it’s ever been. Senior backs Kenny Hilliard and Terrence Magee would form a formidable duo in their own right. Throw in freshman Darrel Williams and you have as solid a rotation as you’ll see in the conference.

But it’s the presence of uber-recruit Leonard Fournette, the former No. 1-overall recruit this past season, that makes this run game downright frightening. The 6’1″, 230-pound man child got off to a painstakingly slow start, but he has since let loose and is looking every bit like the next Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings).

He’s pretty much flawless in every aspect of being a running back. He runs with good pad-level; he has sticky hands; he can outrun you or separate your soul from your carcass with a bone-jarring jaunt.

He’s a true every-down back and is quickly transitioning into a franchise player for the Tigers. Additionally, Connor Neighbors is the rare shorten-your-neck style fullback that’s a necessity in an offensive scheme centered around “21” and “22 personnel.”

But it all starts up front with the Tigers’ offensive line, which is laden with future NFL players — most notably left tackle La’el Collins and left guard Vadal Alexander. As it pertains to Bama, which has the most talented defensive front seven in country, maintaining gap integrity may not be as important as penetration.

Here we see a routine dive out of “21 personnel” from an I-formation. The first thing that jumps out is the type of push the offensive line is able to get with ideal pad-level. Possessing a tight end that can get after it in run blocking is worth its weight in gold in a pro-style outfit — and the Tigers have several.

The University of Mississippi has as stout a front seven as you’ll see and LSU continuously  blew them off the ball to the tune of 55 attempts for a whopping 264 yards (4.8 yards per carry). That’s the same Ole Miss defense that held Bama to a team total of 168 yards on 44 carries (3.8).

With Fournette now receiving the lion’s share of the carries, Bama needs to be prepared for explosive runs to the edges.

Check out how the Tigers are able to hit the edges: they seal off the edge with yet another tight end, they pull the front-side guard and flank him with the fullback. Additionally, they cut-block on the back-side pursuit in what was an absolute run-game clinic.

How To Defend The LSU Run Game

At times it seems as though the only team that can stop the LSU rushing attack is LSU itself. The Tigers usually possess too stout of an offensive line and running backs that would still be proficient behind a far-less talented line.

But with a renewed sense of commitment to the run, the Tigers will be tough for anyone to stop. However, we have seen teams slow down their attack by destroying their gaps.

Albeit in the first game, the University of Wisconsin did a fantastic job at slowing down LSU’s rushing attack by having an active front that confused the Tigers. Although they lined up predominantly in heavy personnel, the Badgers one-gap penetrated the majority of the tilt.

If there’s ever a team that could replicate Wisconsin’s game plan it’s Alabama. The Tide have a host of defensive linemen that are equally adept at one- or two-gap penetrating and make a living in the other team’s backfield — most notably the 6’4″, 320-pound A’Shawn Robinson.

Bama’s all-world inside linebacker Reggie Ragland can make a name for himself by flying all over the field assisting with the run. His sideline-to-sideline ability may only be superseded by his ferocious tackling.

This is also may be the game for fellow athletic linebacker Dillon Lee to get some clock at various positions. LSU loves to throw the ball to its running backs and will not hesitate to send one on a downfield route.

But it will mainly come down to Bama jumping back in an odd-front alignment and swapping helmet paint with an equally physical offense.

Vertical Game

LSU QB Anthony Jennings has been fodder for criticism by fans and pundits alike. His inefficiency in the short-to-intermediate game has left a lot to be desired even for fans of his ability like yours truly.

He was unceremoniously replaced by highly touted freshman Brandon Harris until the frosh ran into the Auburn Tigers and proceeded to look like, well, a freshman. Jennings has since ripped off a slew of wins by limiting turnovers and making clutch plays in the process.

With Bama dedicating a ton of attention to LSU’s rushing attack, its corners may be forced to be on an island with the premier vertical-passing attack in the conference. Receiver Travin Dural has caught 27 passes for 676 yards (25.0 average) with seven touchdowns.

His speed is unreal, and when matched with Jennings’ ability to uncork it with the best of them, it becomes virtually indefensible. Tide star safety Landon Collins should not be used to assist with the vertical-passing game as he should be positioned as an in-the-box safety to help with the run game.

This means that Bama cornerbacks Eddie Jackson, Tony Brown and Cyrus Jones must be able to function on an island like head coach Nick Saban’s defensive scheme is designed for.

But the same can be said when Bama has the ball; LSU will have to contend with the best wide receiver in the country, Amari Cooper. The battle between him and LSU’s secondary will be one for the ages as the Tigers are in possession of about six NFL-caliber defensive backs, as usual.

In a rivalry game such as this one, the team that limits crucial mistakes usually finds itself the victor. While Alabama is in perfect position to knock off the No. 1-ranked Mississippi State Bulldgogs next week, it must first contend with a young, talented team in LSU that is peaking at the right time.

Is it gameday, yet?

Murf Baldwin

Former linebacker/safety Murf Baldwin specializes in diving deep into the Xs and Os of the game with the goal of educating and entertaining while bringing fans closer to their team.