Ahead of the biggest matchup of the season, a game that could decide the SEC West title just as it did a year ago, both teams have a preparation advantage.
The schedule makers handed LSU a bye week at a favorable point of the season this year, with extra time to prepare to take on an infamous Alabama team.
Like always, the matchup has the potential to be razor-thin, so the extra time can’t hurt, especially against Nick Saban and Alabama, known for out-preparing opponents, even though Alabama also gets a bye heading into the game.
Especially on the defensive side, which head coach Brian Kelly has characterized as still building, LSU has things to work on before facing the top 10 Crimson Tide. Here are the three most prominent areas for improvement:
Continued focus on defensive line fundamentals
Kelly said during his press conference after the Army win that LSU would be focusing on specific technique and scheme fixes before getting into Alabama preparation, and, as one of the most important units on the team, the defensive line is likely included in that.
The LSU defensive front has improved greatly since a concerning showing against Ole Miss, with impact plays in crunch time versus Missouri and thorough domination against Auburn and Army.
The performance against Army was perhaps one of the greatest examples of how far the group has come. Against a team that runs the triple option, discipline and technique is paramount. The defense pitched a shutout
However, against Alabama, the defensive line can’t slip. The Crimson Tide has controlled games recently with its run game.
With the secondary’s struggles and Alabama’s propensity for the deep ball, the defensive line will need to get pressure quickly and snuff out the Alabama offense’s longer-developing plays downfield.
As far as fundamentals, the defensive line’s work has been aided by analyst Pete Jenkins. The players and coaches have spoken glowingly of him ever since he joined the team.
“Different little things, like attacking the tip of the pad, having good eyes, being able to have good block recognition, we was lacking at the beginning of the season,” defensive tackle Maason Smith said. “With Coach Pete being an addition to our room, it’s been very helpful.”
Going forward, the unit will continue to work on being consistent.
“We got to double down on our process,” Smith said.
Improved health
Unfortunately, heading into perhaps the biggest game of the season, LSU has been enduring one of its most challenging stretches in terms of player availability.
Right tackle Emery Jones Jr. missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. Though replacement Lance Heard has flashed ability, he’s had his growing pains. The first-team offense struggled to establish the run against Army, although Kelly noted that the team didn’t place too much emphasis on running the ball, seeing the pass as the more effective way to move down the field against Army’s defense.
Jones Jr. coming back healthy would be a lift for the offensive line against an Alabama defense that’s been steadily improving. Kelly said Jones Jr. will likely play against the Crimson Tide.
Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo’s status is up in the air after he sat last week against Army. He hasn’t practiced due to his lower-body injury, and his contribution as a third team All-American last year will be missed if he can’t play.
Most pressingly, though, the LSU secondary looks particularly thin. That’s especially concerning given the issues the group has had with performance all year.
Zy Alexander has been the closest thing to a sure thing in the cornerback room all year, and he suffered an ankle injury after recording an interception against Army. While it’s not out of the question for him to suit up against Alabama, it doesn’t seem at all like a safe bet.
Compound that with Duce Chestnut and Denver Harris’ ongoing, unexplained absences, and LSU could be rolling out a cornerback group of Sage Ryan, Ashton Stamps, Jeremiah Hughes, Javien Toviano and Laterrance Welch. Those players have seven combined starts in their college careers.
The bye week will be important for these injured players to potentially get back to a place where they feel they can play against Alabama. At the very least, LSU will have more time to prepare the players behind it for the roles they might play if the starters can’t go.
Solid technique from the boundary corners
“Those are the guys we got,” Kelly said. “We’re down to playing two corners that are true freshmen. You guys got anybody else?”
The rhetorical question from Kelly, in reference to Hughes and Toviano, echoed what we’ve heard all year: No one else is walking through the door for the LSU cornerbacks.
With the aforementioned injury and availability issues, Ryan, Stamps and Hughes will likely play large roles against Alabama. Ryan has transitioned to the position over from safety this season.
“We moved Sage, he didn’t complain about it, went straight to work,” safety Andre’ Sam said. “Glad to see him growing playing corner.”
With Stamps and Hughes both as true freshmen and Ryan playing a new position, technique will obviously need to be worked on.
The cornerbacks have had issues all year with giving too much cushion to opposing receivers, getting beat off the release and not getting their head around when the ball is in the air.
Those things can’t continue against Alabama. Even with a receiving corps that isn’t up to the level of previous years, the LSU secondary will face elite athletes.
Although the toughest test lies ahead, the team has expressed confidence with who it has, and Kelly was complimentary of Hughes’ performance against Army.
“He did a really good job. His eyes were good,” Kelly said.
