Alabama’s defense is just flat out better than the LSU defense.
They are better statistically, they are more physical and they are just nastier than LSU’s defensive unit.
This is not to say LSU’s defense isn’t great. Alabama’s is just on another level. For comparison’s sake, Alabama will be big brother and LSU will be little brother.
While little brother has shown signs of brilliance, he still has a long way to go before being on big brother’s level.
The one thing that separates big brother from little brother this season is big brother’s linebacker corps.
You know you’re good when you can lose a player like C.J. Mosley and not miss a beat. When Mosley went down, Nico Johnson and Jerrell Harris stepped up and took their games to another level.
You know you’re good when Courtney Upshaw and Dont’a Hightower’s only competition at their position is each other. Upshaw and Hightower take turns terrorizing opposing quarterbacks and pounding the poor ball carriers that try to run on them.
Linebackers aside, Alabama also has the best secondary in the country. Both Dre Kirkpatrick and Mark Barron are finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award. DeQuan Menzie, Dee Milliner and Robert Lester would all be on that list if they were at any other school.
Last but not least, Alabama has the most under appreciated defensive line ever. Josh Chapman, Damion Square and Jesse Williams don’t get the press clippings because of the talented back half of the defense, but all three will have a chance to play in the NFL.
Alabama’s defense has multiple players who will play on Sundays. They also don’t lack leadership, because you wouldn’t see an Alabama defensive starter suspended for being involved with the police.
 
____
Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at [email protected].