re: If Mac Jones plays the whole game

I didn't think Mac could beat LSU after the Tennessee game either.

However, after seeing the throws he was making against Arkansas, I now think he can.

I also think the whole team will step up their play with Tua out.

Without Tua, I see Bama winning a 35-24 type game.

With Tua, Bama wins a 56-42 type game.

Bama just scores so fast with Tua, it wears down the defense. Good problem to have though.

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The greatest strength of this team is the wide receivers. If Jones starts and plays the whole game, it limits the ability to maximize that strength. You'll see more bubble screens and jet sweeps and fewer verticle passing plays, although Jones did throw it deep downfield a couple of times against Arkansas. You'll probably also see LSU load the box a bit more. If we have to get into a passing duel with Burrow to keep up or come from behind, it could be a long afternoon.

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Ive wondered if we see some replication of the Kiffen era. LSUs front is at min apx 315 ...Shelvin is 340ish?.and , i believe, not terribly deep either...LBs are good but not game changers...does Bama go back to sideline to sideline pop oasses. Use the speed and elusiveness of jeudy ruggs smith and waddle. Wear out the line. Make life easier for Mac. Then lean on Najee Robinson and a controlled passing game?

LSU is certainly going to play the possession game. Look how many plays they have had in games it’s very minimal.

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Would you run at LSU early, esp. wide, and run swings and bubble screens to look to soften them up more for the second half?

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Honestly, I expect us to get more run heavy in the 2nd half when the D gets worn down. In the first half, I expect us to be our normal explosive selves. LSU doesn't have much in the way of a pass rush, but statistically they are stout versus the run. Therefore, I'd expect us to pass more when they are fresh and run more when they are tired.

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My concern would be getting Tua, if the starter, out of rhythm, or not being prepared for a special pass defense while trying to execute 3rd and 6 or 8.

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My concern is not this, but LSU's blitz package. If I'm LSU, I blitz the run with the added benefit of hopefully getting pressure when it's a pass play. Granted, all this opens up the slant game a little more, but I expect LSU's DBs to play inside leverage all day and play physical. My guess is that this opens up the sluggo (slant and go) as well as the back shoulder throw.

What any viewer needs to key on is whether LSU is in 1-high or 2-high safeties. If they are in 2-high safeties, then LSU thinks they can stop our run game without adding a guy to the box, and we need to punish them for trying that. If they are in single high safety, they we need to pass on them, understanding that we'll likely do it in the face of some heat. But that's where the big plays come if the Oline/backs pick everyone up.

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How would you scheme to help our inexperienced middle linebackers?

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Get in 4-1-6 Dime whenever possible with Benton. Many here think Benton is bad, and it's false. He's our best coverage LB by a country mile. However, we can only do that on obvious/logical passing downs. On regular downs, just make sure Shane Lee has the least coverage responsibility possible, i.e the RB only or no one if feasible. Theoretically, we could go to more of a 3-3-5 look with Jennings giving a bit more of a ILB look, as we'd done of late, but I can't see us doing much of that unless we really bring the heat out of it, which I'd be fine with.

The simple point is limiting the distance Shane Lee has to pursue. If that can be accomplished and Harris knows who to cover every play, we'll actually be fine at ILB on regular downs. I'm just worried about Harris being unsure who to cover and Lee getting outrun east-west.

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How would you scheme to help our inexperienced middle linebackers?


Get in 4-1-6 Dime whenever possible with Benton. Many here think Benton is bad, and it's false. He's our best coverage LB by a country mile. However, we can only do that on obvious/logical passing downs. On regular downs, just make sure Shane Lee has the least coverage responsibility possible, i.e the RB only or no one if feasible. Theoretically, we could go to more of a 3-3-5 look with Jennings giving a bit more of a ILB look, as we'd done of late, but I can't see us doing much of that unless we really bring the heat out of it, which I'd be fine with.

The simple point is limiting the distance Shane Lee has to pursue. If that can be accomplished and Harris knows who to cover every play, we'll actually be fine at ILB on regular downs. I'm just worried about Harris being unsure who to cover and Lee getting outrun east-west.

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Pretty spot on. We did really well when XM15 came closer to the box and played hybrid. He seemed to help with confusion pre snap. If Lee could like you said be kept in minimal coverage just plug the holes we would probably be in good shape.

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My thinking was that we would look to protect Tua by running early to help slow down the pressure and keep him on his feet. Wear out the down linemen and even lbs by making them run after Waddell for awhile. Added benefit is that by second half we are running right at them and they can’t stop lengths drives.

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Sound ideas all, but I'd be more focused on executing my scripted stuff early, and try to get as many points in my schemed up stuff as possible before Aranda adjusts. I think playing it conservatively early would be giving away an advantage. Funny tho, this goes for LSU on offense as well.

Additionally, I see no reason to protect Tua early. Personally, I don't think his ankle will be much of an issue. It might make him less likely to scramble for first downs aggressively, but I expect him to slide in the pocket at 100%. If LSU wants to bring early heat, I say let them and throw it downfield to what might be the best WR corp ever assembled. Seriously, I expect us to generally pick up their pass rush, and these are the plays in which we can do the most damage.

And while I respect your play-it-close-to-the-vest approach, I wouldn't do that here. I think we have a talent advantage over LSU in several spots, and I think it'd be a travesty not to play aggressively from Jump Street.

I trust our defense to get stingy in plus territory, I trust Perine to boom a few and keep field position in our favor, and I think we need to drop the expletive-deleted hammer on their arse from play one and establish the pecking order with a quickness. Play fast, play loose, and create a whirling dervish of Crimson destruction.

The King of the Hill didn't perch that hill with a conservative gameplan.

He took it by making asses quit.

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LSU is certainly going to play the possession game. Look how many plays they have had in games it’s very minimal.

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???

They're averaging 73 plays per game