TN held him to just 77 yards last week. ... and I can assure you, TN's defense is nowhere near the quality of the LSU defense. Don't be too overconfident that T.R. can't be stopped. ANY PLAYER can be stopped. He'll pick up yards ... but if he gets limited to 77 yrds again, I wouldn't be so certain about McCarron's pass game saving the day against LSU, as it did against TN.
Actually he's #6 and yes, Bama has an edge at running back. But you can't dismiss LSU depth that easily. Especially not when your second back is hobbled and in a game that's going to go four long quarters. LSU will have fresh legs in the fourth. Nor will a key injury cripple us. Then you cannot dismiss LSU's secondary which is also quite good. No, if you are going use statistics to judge positions, the LSU's wide receivers have a clear edge. I cannot agree. Other than the games when replacements were filing in for injured players do I remember any "struggling" by any offensive lineman. We have played damn few "mediocre teams" this year, amigo. And LSU's running game is doing just fine in a balanced offense. Good enough for LSU to be ranked #1. But LSU plays more underclassmen, who aren't being considered. It's not a fair comparison. Not as valid as LSU having more interceptions this season. I think these top-5 secondaries are even.
I'll repost my response about the secondaries for you as well....Look at the 2012 draft rankings... Dre Kirkpatrick is projected higher than *Morris Claiborne, and Menzis is projected 33rd. Mark Barron is the 1st projected SS as well... Hate to make a point like this, but I think it's a pretty valid one. We are also ranked higher statistically. I don't think the key to victory is "running it down your throats", I think it is Alabama having the more, Balanced, physical team that will out last LSU.
Well, why don't you elaborate on the advantages of field position for LSU, and how they are gained, and maybe I can try to account for it. We will be doing a lot more than that with Trent...
Tappy you have to admit that projected draft rankings for next year is a very odd way to make a point. Look at how bad the experts are at projecting draft positions a week before the draft much less six months out. I still contend that Bama has played a pretty good offensive team in Ark but no one else. And definitely hasn't played one of the top offenses like Oregon or WV. So you really don't know what you have on defense. They are good but we don't know if the Bama defense is great.
Tell that to Marquis Maze... I am not guaranteeing that he is gonna have a break away punt return, but we are ranked 18th in punt returns. You also act like you are going to be punting from the LSU 40+ every time. I can guarantee you there will be plenty of situations where your team will be punting from their own -30, and I don't see those making it to the 10 yard line every time. The kicking off more than Bama is a matter of opinion... I am certainly not sold on that. Oh, and here is another stat for you guys... We are ranked 2nd in the nation in 3rd down defense, LSU 15th... We are ranked 8th in third down offense, LSU ranked 34th. So if you really look at it, it seems as though this field position battle you guys are talking about, is going to be in favor of the Tide.
LSU has had short fields all season and their opponents have had long ones. It's why West Virginia posted so many yards on LSU and so few scores. Why? Four reasons: 1. LSU has a kickoff kicker who can put them into the endzone for no return. 2. Punt and kickoff coverage teams have been excellent, stopping returners short, forcing fumbles, and even scoring. We don't get many big returns. 3. LSU has punter who averages 44 yards, kicks them ver high, and has shown an ability to drop them consistently inside the 15. LSU is #1 in net punting in the SEC and #6 nationally. Bama is #71. 4. Morris Claiborne is the #1 kick returner in the conference, Bama doesn't have one in the top 12.
What team have you been watching... We have taken out our starters at half time twice this season. Last week, we took them all out late 3rd quarter. We are also probably the deepest team in college football, and we have a good back up QB. You aren't making much sense at all...
Agree with some of Tappy's analysis but not his conclusion. I think the Oline is a push, I dont see a decisive advantage either way to give a slight edge to either team. I dont think Bama will wear down LSU, I understand that LSU is built more on speed than size upfront on the defensive side, but LSU is too deep to get worn down, at least worn down to the point that Bama takes the game over by physical domination in the fourth quarter. I think LSU has much more play making ability, and I think this game will come down to big plays that LSU makes in the secondary, passing game, and special teams.
