The difference in Bama and LSU's defensive ranking

I agree with most of this, he does need to get some easy short throws early in the game, especially in the enviroment of BD. In the KY game he threw some catchable balls that were dropped and after that a couple of passes were to high/low. Seemed like he couldnt't get in rythm.

 

Nice work. This is pretty telling. That's not to sell bama's defense short because they are the real deal. But they've had nowhere near the tests that we've had.

I wonder how the results would stack up if you took the bama & LSU games out of those stats. In other words, you could make the argument that those teams are where they are statistically because they had one game against a stingy defense, which would therefore bring the averages down.

 

A big 'Amen' to that!

 

Well ... looking at the records of the teams.

LSU's opponents [minus FL] are 17-12
Bama's opponents [minus FL] are 16-13.

Both teams have played two teams with only 1 defeat, but IMO, Oregon and WVU > Penn State/Arkansas.

I mean .. none of this is valid comparison .. Izzy could probably come up with a much more comprehensive analysis. I mean ... what does a 5-1 Penn State [O-93;D-5] really mean?? What does a 4-1 Oregon [O-2; D-45] really mean. The layers get so deep it'd take some time to come up with a real analysis .... but like I said ... back of the hand ... it looks Like LSU has played stiffer competition.

 

Let's just hope the WR's put a little extra resin on their gloves before the game.

 

This is all good discussion, but it really doesn't matter how the defenses compare to each other. All that matters is how both defenses compare to each other's offenses.

 

One more notch on the tape measure that most don't pull out in this ongoing examination, is maturity. Bama's defense is seasoned, battle tested, as well as extremely physical. Their recognition is high. The schemes they are running and the different packages, with multiple disguises and blitzes are night and day from last year's team. Very difficult to game plan. And if you want to run the ball, count on 39.8 yards a game.

Our D-line and LB's have always been a physical, take their lunch money, group. But our DB's are very good tacklers. They love contact and as one can witness, from the opening bell, they are getting in the opponents grill and competing all the way down the field.

But as Nutt said this week in his evaluation, it's the experience, most of all, that is creating the attitude and moxie of this defense.

 

Tide .. I'm not in anyway trying to dis Bama's D .. as I said in the very first line .. they are GOOD .. .Bad GOOD.

I don't expect ANYONE to just run away with anything against Bama's D. But at the same time, I don't think Bama's Front Seven have seen the likes of the LSU O-Line. Lord knows AR's O-line isn't even in the same league as LSU's or Bama's .... like I said on another thread . Wilson ought to file charges against his O-Line for Assault and Battery, the way they let him get beat to hell. He' should get a T-shirt that says "I faced Bama's D and am still alive". You guys really planted him in the ground.

No doubt, Bama's front Seven are amoung the most experience and talented in the league. I think they said somewhere that between the 22 starters for Bama and LSU, some 17 or so destined to be top round draft picks to the pros. That's impressive.

But you know how it is for football junkies .. we want to see the best play the best. OF course .. that happens Nov 5th. There is a reason that when it comes to which team is better, they all just flip a coin each week, cause no one can say definitively which team is better.:thumb:

 

Our O-Line has to hold up because if Lee faces consistent pressure he'll fold. Unfortunately I don't see Mike Ford playing a great deal in this game on pass plays because his blitz recognition is miles behind Ware and Blue. Sacks are better than turning it over, especially when you have a guy with a boot like Brad Wing. Play field position and stop the run.

This is one year I especially love the fact that we play Fla and Bama. The addition of Muschamp means we see that same defense twice, albeit less physical on Florida's part. In no way am I suggesting we will drop 40+ on Bama, but for as much as we are predicting a low-scoring slugfest, this might be a barnburner where both defenses get torched just because the football gods say so. I don't care as long as it ends in an LSU W.

One safe bet...this will be the best teams either of us faces, even if one goes to the BCSNCG against say...Okie(St.) or Wisconsin...

 

And, Bama lost 4 first round draft picks from last year's team. I think Bama was better last year, and that they will lose 2 games this year.