TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Hours before then-No. 4 University of Alabama handed then-No. 2 LSU its fifth straight loss to the Crimson Tide on Saturday, ESPN’s College GameDay host Rece Davis characterized the winner of the vaulted rivalry.
“You know what wins this game?,” Davis asked during his intro to the LSU-Alabama pick ‘ems. “Squaring your shoulders pads, getting down in the dirt, sticking your face in the fan and imposing your will.”
As Alabama junior running back Derrick Henry broke through arm tackles and senior running back Kenyan Drake gashed through LSU’s defense time and time again in the second half, there was no doubt the Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) imposed its will on the Tigers (7-1, 4-1 SEC) during Alabama’s 30-16 win Saturday.
LSU coach Les Miles put it simply: “We have to improve,” Miles said. “This football team is much better than showed tonight.”
Throughout 2015, the Tigers’ defensive talent overshadowed blown coverages and miscues with timely sacks and stellar individual plays on the outside.
But Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin exposed the root of the Tigers’ defensive inconsistency — their lack of focus.
“At times, we lose focus,” sophomore safety Jamal Adams said. “But, we’re going to get better. [There were] a lot of miscues. We did a lot of great things as well.”
LSU displayed communication and detail-oriented shortfalls in a myriad of ways against the Crimson Tide, starting with its season-high yards allowed on the ground and ranging to Alabama’s countless third-down conversions on underneath routes.
Before the top-5 showdown, LSU allowed 93.7 rushing yards per game, relying on its elite defensive line to disrupt the running lanes and manhandle the opposing offensive line.
Throughout the first seven games of 2015, the Tigers’ big men along the defensive line led the push against the opposing team, resulting in 18 sacks and 43 tackles for a loss. The most yards LSU allowed to a single back this season was 66 yards to Eastern Michigan University’s junior running back Darius Jackson on Oct. 3.
But Henry, with his 6-foot-3, 242 pound frame and skill set, doesn’t resemble any running back LSU faced before, which he made abundantly clear against the Tigers with his first 200-yard performance of 2015.
The Yulee, Florida, native, took over the role typically ruled by LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette in 2015: grinding the opponent down in the second half.
After turning in 90 yards on 15 carries in the first half, Henry found another gear in the second half, notching 120 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns.
“[Derrick Henry is a] big physical back,” senior safety Jalen Mills said. “You’ve just got to tackle him. That’s it. … He’s the same guy he was last week that he was today. We’ve just got to play better.”
Drake complemented Henry’s power with a simplistic, but dynamic running style, utilizing his speed to allow the Tide to control the clock in the second half to reverse the Tigers’ usual formula for victory.
In 2015, LSU’s combination of a dynamic passing and run game allowed them to out possess their opponents, 113:34 to 96:26, in the second half.
But Alabama outscored the Tigers, 17-6, and limited their time of possession in the second half.
“It hurt, but we’re a team,” Adams said. “We’re not going to sit here and blame the offense. But we’re going to get better as a team.”
As Alabama lined up for play after play, the exhaustion of the Tigers’ defense took center stage on third downs with missed tackles, which Mills called “not the LSU football way.”
After converting two of eight third down opportunities in the first half, Alabama epitomized efficiency in the second half, notching five of its seven third down attempts.
“We have to capitalize on our third downs,” Mills said. “We have get off the field that was a big part of the game.”
Despite the loss, the Tigers still have plenty to play for during a grueling November schedule, including a possible berth in the College Football Playoff.
“We’re fighters,” said junior defensive tackle Christian LaCouture. “This determines where we go from here. We’re going to fight. We’re going to work our tails off to make sure we’re going to make the best out of the season. … Just keep working hard and see what happens at the end of this year.”