LSU vs. Alabama: 10 Things We Learned in the Tide's Win
Top-ranked Alabama survived another slugfest with rival LSU and emerged with a critical 38-17 victory.
Alabamaโs defense forced two pivotal fumbles that helped them stave off the Tigers' early momentum.
Nick Sabanโs successful fake punt call sparked the Tideโs offense to score 21 unanswered points to finish the game.
For Les Miles, the Tigersโ early miscues were too much to overcome in an upset bid that had moments of promise heading into the second half.
What are the biggest takeaways from the Tideโs hard-fought win over LSU?
10. Mettenberger Valiant in Defeat
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Until around midway through the third quarter, it looked as if LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger was destined to make the Alabama defense sweat until the final whistle.
However, the Tideโs defense was able to turn up the pressure on Mettenberger, sack him four times in the second half and pressure him on numerous occasions.
Mettenbergerโs final numbers (16-of-23 for 241 yards and one touchdown) look decent, but several of his passes nearly ended up in the hands of players wearing crimson.
Ultimately, the Tigers' inability to sustain a rushing attack left Mettenberger with little chance to keep his club in the game.
9. Secondary Struggles Again vs. Tigers
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Alabamaโs defense has acquitted itself well since it allowed Texas A&M to explode for more than 600 yards of total offense and 42 points back in September.
However, the argument could be made that LSU presented the Tideโs secondary with its stiffest test since they left Kyle Field.
Although the defense settled down in the second half, the secondary, particularly corner Deion Belue, struggled to disrupt LSUโs receivers in the early going.
The pass rush helped their efforts considerably in the second half, but the secondary still has room to grow as the season comes to a close.
8. LSU Defense Playing Below Tigers Standards
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The biggest difference in this yearโs LSU outfit is the subpar play of the defense.
John Chavisโ unit is clearly a few levels below the outfits heโs produced in recent years. Gone are feared pass-rushers such as Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo.
The secondary, which has featured game-changing talents such as Morris Claiborne, Eric Reid and Tyrann Mathieu, failed to slow down Alabamaโs passing attack.
Against the Tide, the Tigers were unable to make McCarron uncomfortable and failed to make tackles in open space against Alabama's backs and receivers. ย
For the Tigers, replenishing the defense with talent and depth should be a top priority for Miles and Chavis to address heading into 2014.
7. O.J. Howard Blossoming
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Alabamaโs passing game was largely stuck in neutral in the first quarter. After earning its first third-down conversion of the game via an LSU defensive penalty, freshman tight end O.J. Howard provided the Tideโs first big play on offense.
The 6โ6โ, 237-pounder took a slant pass from AJ McCarron and outraced the entire LSU secondary 52 yards for the Tideโs first touchdown.
That reception ended up being Howardโs only catch. However, it was a pivotal play that changed the tone of a game that had largely been dominated by the Tigers up to that point.
6. Self-Inflicted Wounds Will Haunt Tigers Again
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LSU had several miscues that cost it against Alabama in last seasonโs 21-17 defeat in Baton Rouge.
Two first-quarter fumbles, especially fullback J.C. Copelandโs muff as he was crossing the goal line on the Tigers' first drive, gave Alabama time to recover from a sluggish start.
The Tigers dominated for portions of the game, but their inability to get out of their own way at times led to another painful defeat at the hands of the Tide.
5. Landon Collins Becoming Dominant Force at Safety
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Since stepping into the starting lineup in the place of injured safety Vinnie Sunseri, Landon Collins has gotten stronger with each week that passes.
Against his home-state school, Collins was all over the field making plays on special teams, in pass coverage and in run support.
As Alex Scarborough of ESPN noted, this win has to be especially sweet for Collinsโwho was the subject of an intense recruiting battle between Alabama and LSU.
Getting Collins to settle in at the spot opposite Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is huge for the Tide's secondary moving forward.
4. AJ McCarron Delivers Again vs. LSU
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In a game that represented AJ McCarronโs final chance to perform in front of Alabamaโs home crowd on a prime-time stage, the Tideโs most prolific passer in school history delivered a performance that is a microcosm of his career at the Capstone.
McCarron was efficient, gritty and executed the game plan almost flawlessly. He went 14-of-20 for 179 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. The victory also marked his third win against LSU in four career meetings.
While his stats arenโt the type to make Heisman voters light up, it was a performance that was good enough to put him in the race for college footballโs most prestigious individual award heading down the final stretch of the season.
3. OL Meets the Challenge in the Trenches
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Despite Alabamaโs recent stretch of strong play along the offensive line, there were still some skeptics, considering the Tideโs weak October slate of opponents.
However, after paving the way for T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake to rush for a combined 198 yards on 35 carries with two scores, the questions surrounding that unit are beginning to subside.
Itโs worth noting that Alabama also allowed just one sack to LSU, and the line gave McCarron ample time when he dropped back to pass throughout the game.
Against an opponent, such as LSU, that prides itself on playing physical, Mario Cristobalโs troops answered the bell in an emphatic performance that fueled the Tideโs strong showing on offense.
2. Tide Solves Third Down Woes
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One of the biggest areas where Alabama struggled against LSU in last seasonโs meeting was converting on third downs. Last year, Alabama was unsuccessful on 14 of its 18 third down attempts.
Alabama continued that trend by coming up empty on its first three tries against the Tigers on Saturday night.
However, the Tide kept the chains moving on five of its final seven third down attempts.ย
Given their third down struggles against the Tigers in recent meetings, it was a pivotal hurdle for the offense to clear.
1. Saban One-Ups the Mad Hatter
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Les Miles has a reputation of being unafraid to gamble with a trick play when the game is on the line.
However, Nick Saban has shown the same tendency, but without nearly the fanfare of his successor in Baton Rouge.
Saban made a critical gamble early in the third quarter that helped his team secure control of a game that was deadlocked at 17-17.
On his own 41-yard line, facing a fourth down, Saban opted to run a fake punt with Jarrick Williams taking a C.J. Mosley pitch, getting six yards and a crucial first down that led to a go-ahead touchdown by T.J. Yeldon.
Considering the stakes, it was a gutsy call that helped the Tide capture the momentum and score the game's final 21 points.
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