Bumper to Bumper Sports host Ben Love lays out his top five factors for LSU Saturday night in its quest to end the Bama drought and spring the home upset.
- Cause a minimum of two Tide turnovers
It’s cliché to say a team needs to win the turnover battle. Of course that’s true. But the truth is also that LSU, more than any other team on Alabama’s schedule, has a chance to disrupt freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts’ rhythm and take away the football multiple times. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda must dial up the pressure, and senior Lewis Neal has a chance to reap the benefits of all the attention Arden Key is understandably getting.
- Throw early, short and horizontally on offense
It won’t be the game plan all night long, but it’s important to butter up that Bama defense early – forcing defenders to guard LSU speedster wide-outs short and monitor backs out of the backfield and tight ends hooking up over the middle. Then, once Alabama has to defend the Tigers on multiple levels consistently (something that hasn’t been the case in years), take your pick in the passing game in the final 20-30 minutes, taking shots deep and reaping the benefits of effective, meaningful play action.
- Keep Danny Etling upright in the LSU pocket
That Alabama defensive front is outstanding, there’s no getting around it. And while LSU’s offensive line is finally back to full health, or close to it, the Bayou Bengals are without two veteran stalwarts from a year ago in Vadal Alexander and Jerald Hawkins. So there are a lot of new faces to the LSU-Bama fray up front. They’ll have to perform and give Etling time. Offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger can also help the cause with the style of pass called. More than two sacks taken by Etling on Saturday night could spell doom.
- The “other linebacker” must continue recent form
Senior Duke Riley has been playing on another level of late, finishing the month of October in style opposite tackling machine Kendell Beckwith. Aranda & Co. will require at least eight tackles from him against the red elephants from Tuscaloosa. Beckwith will get his, but it will fall on Riley’s shoulders regularly to track down Hurts when he leave the backfield or drag down bigger Bama backs. LSU needs another big game from the New Orleans native near the line of scrimmage.
- Trust your punter, not your kicker from distance
Josh Growden is growing before our eyes. After starting the campaign cold as ice on the non-frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, the Aussie import is heating up. Trust him to win field position and send out boomers from deep in LSU territory. On the other hand, while New Iberia native Colby Delahoussaye has been nails from short-to-intermediate distance, the Cajun Kicker is just 1-of-3 from 40 yards-plus. When in those type of situations Saturday night, roll the offense out there on fourth down. Go for it. That Coach O confidence is already shining through, keep instilling more buy-in and belief. It will be rewarded.
– Ben Love