Tigers talking the right talk
Published 8:20 pm Saturday, November 4, 2017
Not intimidated by Tide
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — By all accounts, LSU did show up, with its football team quartered in a Birmingham hotel about an hour from Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
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So LSU made good on LSU head coach Ed Orgeron’s promise earlier in the week that “We’re getting on that plane …”
There was more to his vow, however.
“… to go win a football game.”
That might be a bit dicier against Alabama.
But that’s Orgeron’s story, and he’s sticking to it.
“We’re going in there with a mind-set we’re going to win the football game,” Orgeron insisted. “Whether that happens or not … that’s going to be our attitude.”
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It would shock the world, if not the Tigers themselves, who will be trying to break Alabama’s six-game series winning streak in a game that will be nationally televised in prime time for the eighth straight time.
“I never really understood the whole underdog thing,” said LSU tight end Foster Moreau. “We’re sending out 11 guys. They’re sending out 11 guys. All 11 are fully functional humans. Either side can get beat.”
Ranked No. 19, LSU (6-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) has some things going for it. The Tigers are healthier than they’ve been all season and come in well rested off an open date. They’re on a three-game winning streak, all within the SEC, which was a resounding rebound from an embarrassing loss to Troy that threatened to define their season.
Instead, the Tigers’ former head coach and current nemesis, Nick Saban, said “probably the worst thing that happened to all of us in the SEC was when they lost to Troy.
“They’ve really made a turnaround since then, which speaks volumes for the job Ed Orgeron had done.
“I see a team that has improved dramatically. I think this is probably the best team that we’ve played this season, certainly in terms of the way they’re playing right now, and it will be the biggest challenge we’ve had.”
That’s all relative.
Alabama (8-0, 5-0), which is No. 1 in both polls but which could be irritated that it was ranked No. 2 behind Georgia in the first College Football Playoff rankings, has steamrolled through five conference opponents by an average score of 48-8.
“They’re on top of the world right now,” Orgeron said.
The Tide defense is ranked No. 1 in the country in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense.
LSU will attack it with an offense that will have two true freshmen in its offensive line trying to free up running back Derrius Guice and protect quarterback Danny Etling.
“The whole key is protecting the quarterback,” Orgeron said. “If you can protect the quarterback, you’ve got a chance.”
Last year in Alabama’s 10-0 victory in Baton Rouge, Etling was sacked five times while completing 11 of 24 passes for 94 yards.
“I know we have a better plan this year,” Orgeron said. “Danny has to be very patient to make the right throws, the right decisions. This is his test. He knows it. But we’ve got to protect him.
“There were some throws last year that were wide open, he didn’t make them. He realizes that. There were times we didn’t protect him very well.”
On the other side of the ball, Orgeron’s mother, Coco, provided some pretty good advice — as she does every week for her son.
“She gave me a scouting report and gave me my orders for the week,” Orgeron said. “She watches. She knows we’ve got to stop that quarterback.”
That would be Bama’s Jalen Hurts, who breaks the mold of the stereotypical “game manager” at the position with the ability to affect the game as much with his legs, as he did a year ago when his fourth-quarter 21-yard run broke a scoreless tie en route to a 10-0 Tide victory.
“This quarterback is the catalyst for their team,” Orgeron said. “He makes them go.”
Yet almost lost amid the Alabama hype is the fact that LSU — as big of a long shot as it may be, Troy or no Troy — controls its destiny in the SEC race.
Simply upset Alabama, win their final three games against Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas A&M, and the Tigers will be in Atlanta for the SEC championship game.
“We’re going to be ready to play,” Orgeron promised. “We’ll be up for the challenge.”
FORGET THE TIDE, AVOID THE TSUNAMI: LSU has shown during its six-game losing streak to Alabama that it can hang with Tide — for a while. It’s not a total mismatch for the most part. But the Tide’s pattern is to turn small problems into big disasters — say, an Alabama touchdown followed by a pick-six or special teams big play, followed by a forced turnover. All of a sudden a close game gets out of reach in a matter of moments. The longer LSU keeps it close, the longer the Tigers can count on getting that one big break that big upsets are made of.
PROTECT QUARTERBACK DANNY ETLING: Easier said than done, especially because LSU had trouble giving its quarterback time to throw, even against Ole Miss’ suspect defense. The teams that have given Alabama the most trouble in recent years have been offenses with a mobile quarterback. That’s not Etling. But if LSU is to have any chance, it’s not likely to come on the ground against the Tide’s front seven, even with a healthy Derrius Guice at running back. Bryant-Denny Stadium is where Leonard Fournette’s Heisman Trophy campaign went to die two years ago. The Tigers surely can’t wait until third down to throw when it’s obvious or until after falling behind by multiple touchdowns — a clear signal to the Bama defense that it’s free to rush the passer.
GET OFF THE FIELD: During Alabama’s six-game winning streak over the Tigers, the Tide have averaged 180 yards per game rushing while the Tigers have averaged 82 per game. LSU, which goes into the game with less quality depth in the defensive line than in recent years, has to find a way to gets its defense off the field and not let Bama’s grinding run game control the game and wear them down. It’s a tall order.
PREDICTION: Don’t be surprised if LSU keeps this game close, maybe even scores first. Ed Orgeron has the Tigers playing with fire and focus. But in the end, the Tide is just too deep. … Alabama, 30-12.