Tigers bringing renewed physicality to Tuscaloosa

By Hunt Palmer

On paper, LSU is soft.

That’s not a challenge to LSU’s ability to lift weights or play through pain. It’s simply an examination of what the team does well and where it struggles.

The Tigers rank 132 of 146 FBS teams in rushing attempts and 106 in yards per carry on the ground. Meanwhile, LSU ranks second in the SEC in completions.

On the other side of the ball, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M ripped through the LSU defense on the ground for 465 yards on 85 carries for 5.5 yards per rush.

Interim head coach Frank Wilson has preached LSU desire to run the football for two weeks, and defensive coordinator Blake Baker approached him during the bye week and suggested more physicality in practice so that his defense could rep against the run game.

That happened Tuesday.

“(Tuesday) we had a drill called 9-on-7 which is basically inside run,” said senior linebacker West Weeks. “I like that drill a lot. It’s basically good on good. You know where they’re running the ball. They know where you’re going to be. So, it’s who can beat a block and make a play.”

The drill was as physical as any LSU has run in two months. Even the defensive backs, who aren’t involved, noticed.

“We’re hungry right now,” said senior cornerback Mansoor Delane. “During inside run (period), I’m over there in individual, and I hear pads popping. Really, just emphasizing that physicality has been big this week.”

Delane mentioned that the number of scuffles had increased in practice during the week. He saw it as a positive. Junior center Braelin Moore even found it “fun.”

“That was probably one of the funnest(sic) periods that I’ve had this year, because that’s real football,” Moore said. “Nine people on defense, seven on offense, so we’re outnumbered. So, it’s harder on us, but I love the challenge.  Pads were popping (Tuesday), and there was just such a high energy. It made it so fun.”

Alabama has mirrored LSU’s style this year. The Tide has just been more effective with it. Alabama is tied with LSU for second in the SEC in completions. Meanwhile, Alabama ranks 114 in the nation in rushing and 15 in the SEC in yards per carry allowed. Only Arkansas’s putrid defense has been gashed more than Alabama on the ground.

“There’s a point of emphasis on playing physical and running the ball,” Moore said. “Everything starts at the line of scrimmage and the run game. If we can run the ball, it opens everything else up. Our offense has been the most successful when we’re able to run the ball. We need to do that.”

Florida State mauled Alabama on the ground for 230 yards. Vanderbilt’s Sedrick Alexander busted a 65-yard touchdown run to open the scoring in Bryant-Denny Stadium for the Commodores.

The Tide is rushing for just 105.6 yards per game on 3.3 yards per carry against Power Four opponents. Ty Simpson, unlike Marcel Reed, Diego Pavia and LaNorris Sellers, is not a huge threat with his legs. His long run of the season is 20 yards, and he’s gained 26 yards per game on the ground removing sacks from his total.

LSU has struggled with maintaining discipline on defense and allowed ballcarriers to get to open spaces too often.

“I think the last two games it’s come down to we start pressing,” Weeks said. “We look up at the scoreboard, and we might see that we’re down. Alright, we’ve got to go make a play. Somebody’s in the right gap and pops the gap. Then the ball is going to end up right there. So, I don’t think it’s a lack of physicality. I would say it’s a little bit more execution-wise. All of us need to trust each other instead of chasing plays.”

LSU enters Tuscaloosa a 9.5 point underdog. If the Tigers are going to spring the upset, it’s going to start my winning the line of scrimmage.

LSU knows it.

“I think it’s a mindset,” Moore said. “If you’re just like, ‘we need to run the ball,’ no, we’re going to run the ball. It’s just a little different in the way you say it. I think we go about practice in that way. We’re putting a lot of emphasis on running the ball, and I look forward to going there and going up against Bama.”