Over the years, this weekly segment would have been littered with future first-round draft picks.
Patrick Peterson versus Julio Jones. Dallas Turner versus Will Campbell. Reuben Foster versus Leonard Fournette. It was a high-profile matchup as college football boasted for a decade.
That national spotlight has dimmed a bit. Georgia and Ole Miss got the prime time slot this weekend. LSU and Alabama took a pair of losses before Halloween.
Still, this is a duel between talented rosters with a ton on the line. That part hasn’t changed. Let’s take a look at three matchups that could decide things on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.
TJ DOTTERY AND DAVHON KEYS VS. KEELON RUSSELL
Only 18 teams in the country have allowed more sacks than Alabama. Interestingly, LSU has played and contributed to the total of three of those (Clemson, Auburn and Mississippi State). This matchup isn’t about sacks. I point that out to tell you that Keelon Russell rushing numbers are severely hurt by sack yardage subtraction.
Statistically, he’s got 66 carries for 251 yards. That’s under four yards per carry. More accurately, he’s got 44 carries for 404 yards. That’s 9.1 yards per carry when he’s not taken down behind the line of scrimmage.
Russell is a smooth runner very, very capable of taking off for the 56-yard run he diced Florida State with. He can convert third-and-nine with his legs and is a red-zone threat. He’s got a rushing touchdown in five of Alabama’s eight games.
This is a familiar refrain every week as the immobile quarterback has been phased out of the game. But it doesn’t become any less important. LSU bottled up Byrum Brown of Auburn for all but one carry in its last game. That has to continue against an extremely dynamic running quarterback in this game.
LSU’S OFFENSIVE TACKLES VS. ALABAMA’S EDGE RUSHERS
Jordan Seaton has been solid in pass protection. Weston Davis has taken a step forward. Seaton has not been charged with a sack by Pro Football Focus. Davis has allowed a pair.
Alabama’s Yhonzae Pierre has 3.5 sacks and nine hurries to his name coming off the Alabama edge. Devan Thompkins has three sacks on the other side, but PFF credits him with a team-best 16 hurries.
LSU cornerback Sam Leavitt has turned a corner. He’s completing 79% of his throws over the last five games and has thrown 14 touchdowns to three interceptions. He hasn’t been picked off in 83 throws over two games.
Plus, Alabama’s pass defense ranks last in the SEC in yards per pass attempt allowed. Only Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss give up more big passing plays (20+ yards) than the Tide.
If Leavitt has time, he’ll go to work with Jackson Harris, Trey’Dez Green and Co. The blitz also hasn’t phased Leavitt much. He’d graded a 87.7 by PFF when blitzed and has nine touchdowns to two interceptions. Alabama’s pressure needs to come from four defenders.
That’s where Pierre and Thompkins come in. If they’re able, along with the Alabama defensive interior, to win up front, they could speed Leavitt up. The Tide secondary, while susceptible to the big play, has produced 12 interceptions and run five back for touchdowns.
Alabama wants the big play to silence the stadium. LSU desperately wants to avoid it.
DJ PICKETT-PJ WOODLAND VS. RYAN COLEMAN-WILLIAMS, RICO SCOTT AND LOTZIER BROOKS
Here’s the huge talent.
DJ Pickett and Coleman-Williams, who is still questionable, were famous recruits who have blossomed into stars. Scott, Brooks and Woodland are rock-solid SEC players.
Alabama’s running game has stalled with the absence of center Racin Delgatty. He’s questionable for this game. Alabama ran for 54 yards at Tennessee and 68 on Texas A&M. The offense has been put on Russell’s shoulders with this dynamic pass-catching group.
LSU has allowed the third fewest 10-plus yard catches in the SEC and no team has allowed fewer than LSU’s four passing touchdowns surrendered. Alabama is 10th nationally in yards per attempt passing.
If LSU is going to win, DBU needs to cover. Yes, Alabama’s offensive line has been leaky. Sacks have been a huge problem. I don’t know that I feel that’s a super key matchup because I think LSU is going to get its four or five sacks. I don’t think, though, that number is going to be zero or eight. The big plays may not be the sacks on third-on-seven. Rather the chunk plays Alabama can or cannot produce with its excellent wide outs.
