When LSU and Georgia kickoff at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the two opposing head coaches truly will display their differences.
On one side of the field there is Nick Saban. The LSU coach excels in defensive strategy, especially in the secondary, and the Tigers’ defense is ranked No. 2 in the nation.
On the other side there is Mark Richt. The Georgia coach is a quarterback’s dream teacher who tutored two players all the way to the Heisman Trophy – Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke – while at Florida State.
His newest protege, David Greene, will attempt to continue his steady successes against a stingy defense that will exhibit an array of confusing alignments, hoping to frustrate his efforts.
“They believe in what they do,” Saban said. “They execute it very well. They’re very well-coached in what they do, and [Greene] does a great job for them in terms of making good choices and decisions.”
LSU’s secondary meets its first true test Saturday. Greene ranks third in the conference in pass efficiency and the Bulldogs’ receivers make a lot of big plays.
“Their offense has great athletes,” said LSU cornerback Corey Webster. “They have a good pass attack.”
Just as Georgia will be without its top receiver Fred Gibson (hamstring), LSU may be without its most experienced defensive back – Randall Gay (arm).
Gay practiced with the team all week, and Saban said he may see some playing time based on how he feels at the time of the game.
Saban said he always asks injured players before the game, “Do you think you can do your job? I know you want to play, but can you do your job effectively in the game to help the team? That’s a decision you have to make.”
Gay fractured his arm in the first quarter of the Louisiana-Monroe game and has not played a down since. Junior Ronnie Prude has started in his absence and is tied for the team lead with five pass breakups and recorded an interception against Arizona.
“[Ronnie] has improved a lot,” Webster said. “He started in the spring kind of shaky, but he learned what to do and listened to all the older guys. Now he’s making plays, and he gets more confidence the more he’s back there.”
Saban said Prude has done a nice job filling in for Gay, and he needs to continue developing his discipline and eye control so that he can be a consistent player in the defensive backfield.
“He’s gotten better every week,” Saban said. “I thought he played better last week than the first week. I think as he gets more and more experience he gets better and better.”
Saban said Greene’s ability to read defenses and make quick decisions will put added pressure on the Tigers’ secondary.
“I think we’re going to have to disguise what we do better,” Saban said. “I think he calls a lot of ‘check with me’s’ at the line based on how you line up on defense.”
Webster said if the Tigers’ front seven puts pressure on Greene, it will be easier for the secondary to make plays. Big plays have come often for the LSU secondary as they lead the SEC with six interceptions and allow only a 40 percent completion rate.
“I don’t think you can play all zone on them,” Saban said. “I don’t think you can play all man-to-man against them, I don’t think you can blitz all the time. I think you’ve got to mix it up. Making errors, missing tackles and a lack of execution and technique are all things they’re going to take advantage of. That’s what they do well.”
Two teams, two strategies, one game
September 17, 2003