The latest “Game of the Century” between Alabama and LSU will have a different feel when the two teams kick off Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Gone are the days of Power-I football in Baton Rouge. No more 3 yards and a cloud of dust in Tuscaloosa.
No, this will be different.
The keys for the Tide, ranked No. 3 in the CFP, and the Tigers, ranked No. 2 in the CFP were laid out this week by SEC on CBS’ Gary Danielson and Brad Nessler.
"Alabama has to continue to be diverse on offense and make sure their three or four receivers are used the way they’ve been used so far this season.
“That means they have to have a healthy quarterback triggerman who is able to do that.”
All reports indicate Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will play Saturday for Alabama, but he isn’t the “wildcard,” Danielson said.
“In this game, the biggest wild card is LSU comes in with a quarterback, period,” he explained. "They all have good players. The biggest difference this time is the tilt of the game is not in favor of Alabama because of that. No one can say it is a dominant position as it has been the past eight straight wins by Alabama. That position has been owned by Alabama.
“This year, if Joe Burrow’s been playing like he’s been playing, it’s a toss-up at that position.”
Which leads Danielson to the one area “of doubt” for Alabama: Tagovailoa.
“Is Tua 75 percent?” Danielson asked. “Is he 85 percent? No matter what percentage he is, will he remain that way through the whole game?”
While Danielson said the difference at quarterback is minimal, Nessler said the same goes for the receivers.
“I think Alabama by a shade,” Nessler said of the receivers. “But, I think Thaddeus Moss, the tight end, is becoming part of LSU’s explosive group. With the four receivers straight up, I’d go Alabama. If you add the tight end for LSU, I’d say it is a toss-up.”
Danielson said Alabama’s offensive line is better, and the defensive line is “coming on.”
How the defensive lines get to the quarterback Saturday isn’t as big a factor in this series as it used to be because of the RPO, though.
“Both teams will be throwing the majority of their passes where the defensive line has no chance of getting them,” Danielson explained.
"The strategy of the game has changed a little bit. Linebackers and safeties have moved back. Even when they have a full box, the box isn’t as tight as it used to be. Defensive coordinators are telling their safeties and linebackers they can give them a minus on a play for making a tackle of the running back at the line of scrimmage. You’re committing too early because of the RPO. You have to give it time. We’d rather you make a tackle 2 yards down the field than at the line of scrimmage."
The idea, he said, is to keep everything in front of the defense and force the offense into a "third and medium or long."
“Alabama has more pure pass rushers on the inside than LSU," Danielson said. "They are really coming on now with their edge rushers. The question is can either team put the other in that many third and mediums where it is a factor?
“In the situation, I give the slight edge to Alabama.”
Danielson and Nessler will call the game Saturday night on CBS. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.
https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2019/11/sec-on-cbs-gary-danielson-brad-nessler-talk-keys-for-alabama-against-lsu.html
2019-11-07 11:57:00Z
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