Alabama Football: Despite player losses Bengal Tigers not toothless

Oddsmakers and Crimson Tide fans expect Alabama Football to run over LSU Saturday night. There are multiple reasons why the game is not expected to be close. Some in the LSU program, especially the lame-duck head coach, may not be fully motivated. Even at his best, Ed Orgeron has never been included in lists of top in-game coaches.

Other than recruiting, Coach O has, not surprisingly, proven to not be good at any component of being a head coach. It is difficult to follow a National Championship with a 9-9 record as Coach O has. Another LSU National Championship coach, Les Miles was also fired by LSU. Miles was the beneficiary of Nick Saban’s program build in Baton Rouge. Most of the top players on LSU’s 2007 National Championship team were signed by Saban. Miles even got LSU to another National Championship game, with a roster solely of his recruiting and development. That 2011 team was devoured by the Crimson Tide in the National Championship game.

Alabama Football at home – not where Coach O wants to be

There are surely many places Orgeron would rather be than in Bryant-Denny Saturday night. Will the Bengal Tigers play harder for their fired coach or do some of them wish he had already exited? How LSU plays in the second half will provide the answer.

The LSU defense is seriously short-handed. Depleted might be a better description. Defensive ends, Andre Anthony and Ali Gaye are out. So are cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr., Eli Ricks and Sage Ryan (nickel back). Defensive tackle Joseph Evans and safety Major Burns will also miss the game.

LSU Defensive Coordinator, Daronte Jones still has roster weapons. While LSU is not close to the defenses under Dave Aranda, it is better than it was during the one-season run of Aranda’s replacement, Bo Pelini. Jones coached under Aranda at Wisconsin and has NFL experience.

Jones has a few healthy guys who can play with anyone. Glen Logan and Neil Farrell are good defensive tackles. His ends, Maason Smith and B.J. Ojulari are a bit short on experience but very talented. Ojulari is tied for third in the SEC with six sacks. Linebacker, Damone Clark leads the SEC in tackles.

Statistically, LSU is 11th in the SEC in passing yards allowed and 10th in rushing yards allowed. LSU is 12th in the SEC and No. 86 among FBS teams in Scoring Defense. The five LSU players referenced above have some help, but not enough. Holding the Alabama Football offense under 500 yards is likely an impossible task.

LSU fans hoping some unexpected defensive scheme surprises the Crimson Tide should not hold their breath. An Ed Orgeron team cannot win on scheme. Nothing LSU does – will befuddle the Tide.

There is also a respect issue for some Crimson Tide players. The behavior of some LSU players and Coach O after the 2019 game in Tuscaloosa is still remembered – vividly.