re: Alabama vs LSU - Breakdowns

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They also probably have the most balanced offense in the country outside of us and OU.

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Balanced perhaps, but not terribly efficient. They rank #16 in the nation, but context is key. There's only a slightly greater gap between Clemson and Auburn (68th) than there is between Alabama and Clemson. People knock Alabama for a weak opening schedule, but Clemson's has been absolutely pathetic. They played one decent team (and no, no one should think N. Carolina St is a decent team - struggling against James Madison disqualifies you), and that was an A&M team that was legit close to winning that game. Clemson has simply out-talented every other team they've played.

I'm not trying to say Clemson sucks; I just don't think their defense really is in the same vein as LSU's or Michigan's. Considering how pathetic the offenses they've faced have been, they should be much higher than 24th in Pass Eff defense.

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don't think LSU wants to go fast. The way you beat a dynamic offense is to keep them off the field. I think LSU will want to receive the ball and try to dictate the pace of the game from the start.

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They wont have to play fast every drive, but they will have to play tempo in spots. Similar to UGA in NC game, be aggressive and go tempo when it allows.

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Great breakdown.
I look for Saban to exploit our run defense and LB's in the first half. I would not be surprised in the least if he trots out Jalen for a few designed QB runs early in the 1st Quarter. Devin White is the QB for our defense, who everyone knows is ineligible for the first half. This means that we're going to be vulnerable to confusion and blown assignments. We're scouting Tua, not Hurts.

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I also wouldn't be surprised if he trots out both at the same time. We've run a few combined sets already (with Jalen running, passing, and even receiving). Confusion plays like that with White out would be the time to do it.

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RollTide nails it. This is what we will see happen and extra kudos for being one of the few Bama posters who admits that the loss of White for the first half will have negative implications for LSU.

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I still think the targeting ruling was BS. The only positive from all of this is that MAYBE they'll review the process further. It took a year or two for them to add the instant replay function which helped, and maybe this will add more fixes in the future. Sucks they won't be in play for this game though.

I suspect that Nick Saban intends to be more conservative on offense against LSU with an emphasis on establishing a run game for as long as LSU’s offense doesn’t have success. I expect a 13-10 type of score at halftime with more shots taken by both teams in the second half resulting in a final score in the high 20s to low 30s for both teams.

I love this thread. Great discussions here! Hope to see more like this in near future.

Awesome thread. Thank you!

Good work skrayper

LSU fans would literally drop dead from heart failure, O's seat would melt from the heat, and the scoreboard would stay open for the rest of the season, so basically we can only hope.