re: Xs and Os wise, why are some LSU fans so confident playing Bama Saturday?

LSU has the defense to limit Alabama. They did it last season and they can do it again. It won’t be as crisp without White, Riley, Beck, Adams, Neal, and Godchaux, but the guys that have taken their place are talented. LSU will make Jalen Hurts beat them with his arm or legs because they’re gonna lock up Alabama’s WRs and play sound in the front 7 as they do almost every year in this rivalry.

I don’t see this one going like 2013 or 2015 where the Tigers get manhandled up front by Alabama’s OL. Guys like Gilmore, Lawrence, LaCouture, Edwin Alexander, and Frank Herron will form a wall similar to what Godchaux and LaCouture did in 2014 and what Godchaux, Gilmore, and Neal did in 2016. White and Delpit will be all over the field making tackles and barring a blown coverage it will slow down Bama considerably.

On offense it’s the same old same old. Star RB that may not be 100% with a shoddy OL, average receivers, and a below average QB. It should be a little different this season with Canada calling plays but it’ll be an uphill battle for the LSU OL vs Alabama’s front. Buggs and Payne will likely feast and guys like FR Charles at LT will be roughed up.

The only real hope is that Canada can refine the scheme and really utilize all his weapons to move the ball on Bama. That means short passes, moving the pocket, fly sweeps galore, etc.. They’ll need to dislodge Alabaam’s front and make them hesitant to fully commit to the RB as they have in the past.

If Alabama plays a really bad game and LSU plays a great one I can see the Tigers winning a 23-17 type game. If LSU’s D collapses and the offense can’t get going Alabama will likely shut out LSU to the tune of 31-0 or something similar.

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Guys like Gilmore, Lawrence, LaCouture, Edwin Alexander, and Frank Herron will form a wall similar to what Godchaux and LaCouture did in 2014 and what Godchaux, Gilmore, and Neal did in 2016.

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Because of the length and serious tone of this post I'm going to assume it's an actual post and not one of the recent LOLRideBaws posts.

If so.............what makes you think this? LSU's run defense has not been good all season.

Mississippi State : 48 attempts, 285 yards (5.94 YPC)
Troy : 42 attempts, 206 yards (4.90 YPC)
Florida : 38 attempts, 194 yards (5.11 YPC)
Auburn : 44 attempts, 189 yards (4.30 YPC)
Ole Miss : 28 carries, 153 yards (5.46 YPC)

Even the last 3 weeks against UF, AU and Ole Miss the LSU defense is giving up 4.87 YPC.

In 2016 it was very different. LSU was dominating in run defense heading into the Alabama game.

I'm not saying that LSU won't have a great plan and might cause some problems, but nothing they have done so far to this point in 2017 would make anyone think that their run defense would be able to stop Alabama's run offense.

Because Saban didn't get started until 2008. Lots of your guys were drafted before. Nobody has put more players in the league than Saban over the last decade.

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Because of the length and serious tone of this post I'm going to assume it's an actual post and not one of the recent LOLRideBaws posts.

If so.............what makes you think this? LSU's run defense has not been good all season.

Mississippi State : 48 attempts, 285 yards (5.94 YPC)
Troy : 42 attempts, 206 yards (4.90 YPC)
Florida : 38 attempts, 194 yards (5.11 YPC)
Auburn : 44 attempts, 189 yards (4.30 YPC)
Ole Miss : 28 carries, 153 yards (5.46 YPC)

Even the last 3 weeks against UF, AU and Ole Miss the LSU defense is giving up 4.87 YPC.

In 2016 it was very different. LSU was dominating in run defense heading into the Alabama game.

I'm not saying that LSU won't have a great plan and might cause some problems, but nothing they have done so far to this point in 2017 would make anyone think that their run defense would be able to stop Alabama's run offense.

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LSU was out our 3 best Dlinemen vs MSU and just got Herron back at AUBURN and only played a few snaps. We are still battling injuries, though these two weeks should give us ZERO excuse to have our best game.

Key and Herron have been out of shape and Key is just starting to look normal. Lawrence has been battling slight ankle injuries so again, these few weeks should have this unit the best its been all year.

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How do we have more guys in the nfl with all our less magical 5 stars?

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Nobody is talking about past years. We are talking about the current makeup of the rosters.

But, for the sake of argument..........

Last 5 years in 1st round picks
Alabama : 11
LSU : 6

Last 5 years in 1st & 2nd Round Picks
Alabama : 19
LSU : 13

Last 5 years in 1st, 2nd, 3rd Round Picks
Alabama : 26
LSU : 20

Last 5 years in Total Picks
Alabama : 41
LSU : 35


LSU churned out 1st-3rd round picks from 2007-2014 like almost nobody else. Alabama and LSU were very, very even talent wise (both depth and top end talent) from 2008-2013 or so.

However, since then, it's not nearly as high a rate. And the ones they do churn out were highly recruited, High 4-stars and 5-stars. So, I think the stars (especially Top 100 player types) matter.



JMHO.

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Nobody has put more players in the league than Saban over the last decade.

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True

Alabama-68
LSU-67

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Looks like we matchup pretty damn well in talent to me

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I mean LSU is still clearly talented. But they used to be even with Alabama every year and individual position group matchups would swing one way or the other. That really isn't the case anymore.

Doesn't mean that LSU has no chance to beat Alabama on the field or that it can't change in a class or two (LSU's freshman class this year appears to be very good), but that's kind of the tale of the tape right now and the last 5 years IMHO.

Some fans think their team will win every week. I normally do too, but I just cannot see LSU winning @ Bama this year.. I have faith LSU will keep it close.. but that's going to be extremely difficult too.

I'd like to think that also, but I don't like the match up there. Their Bama OL > LSU DL