Alabama Football’s Keys to the Game against top ranked LSU Tigers

The Alabama Football team faces its toughest test of the year so far on Saturday and must be firing on all cylinders to defeat top ranked LSU Tigers.

Offense:

The Alabama football team’s offense will need to be its best defense against the Tigers. LSU’s offense is equally as productive and fast-paced as the Tide’s, and one of the keys will be to keep Joe Burrow and his litany of wide receivers on the sidelines. As counterintuitive as it sounds, Sarkisian will need to slow the Alabama offense down Saturday afternoon. Tua Tagovailoa – assuming he plays – and company will need long, sustained drives.

The offensive line will need to play their best game of the year thus far. This seems to be likely as they have grown tremendously and achieved some much-needed continuity as of late. Their top priority has to be to keep Tua’s jersey sans grass stains for the entirety of the game. Tua likely will not be 100% and cannot afford another injury.

The offensive line will also need to set up Najee Harris for productive run plays to extend and slow down the pace of the game. While I would take a less than 100 percent Tua over anyone in a shootout game any day of the week and twice on Sundays, that should be avoided if possible. Najee Harris will also be a key component of the pass protection for Tua.

Defense:

Alabama Crimson Tide linebackers have to step up in this game. They have also grown substantially since the start of the year, but they will need to have their best game of the season as well. Terrell Lewis and Anfernee Jennings need to be the X-factor for the defense. Their ability to affect Joe Burrow will be pivotal. Even if they cannot get all the way home for sacks, pushing Burrow out of the pocket and forcing panicked decisions will be important.

Lewis and Jennings forcing Burrow out of the pocket is necessary to set up Xavier McKinney and Trevon Diggs to make big-time plays and secure turnovers. The Alabama defense currently leads the country in turnover margin and will need to continue that pattern Saturday.

First Down:

The team that wins first down will win the game. 67 percent of Burrow’s total passing yards this season have come on first down. Burrow has an 83% completion percentage on first down. His combined second and third-down completion percentage is 74 percent with far fewer long pass plays. The Alabama Football Defense will need to bring the house on first down to force Burrow into second and third and long.

This game is as good as a coin toss at this point. With a lack of quality opponents thus far, it is hard to say how good the Alabama Football team really is. That said – Alabama is 78-4 at home over the last 11 seasons with the four losses by only a combined 15 points. I’ll take those odds any day.