Alabama Stopping Leonard Fournette More Crucial Than LSU Stopping Derrick Henry

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Derrick Henry doesn’t smile very often in front of reporters, but the University of Alabama running back couldn’t help himself when asked about his opposing counterpart this week.

Specifically, he was told that LSU’s Leonard Fournette admitted that he wouldn’t want to try to tackle him. Needless to say, the feeling’s petty much mutual.

“That’s a big boy to bring down,” Henry said about the possibility—and he does play on some special teams units. “I probably wouldn’t, but he runs the ball the right way.”

Whenever No. 4 Alabama hosts No. 2 LSU, it’s seemingly always the most physical game in college football, but this year’s matchup might be as tough as any due to the running backs who will be featured.

They don’t just run, but often try to turn defenders into football roadkill.

Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen calls Fournette an “angry running back” because he’s “aggressive, engages in contact instead of shying away from it.”

“It makes me angry. So we love that. Especially with the D-line and the front seven of the defense we play for; we love this. We love physical backs.”

Name	Att.-Yards	Avg,	TDs	Avg./G
Leonard Fournette	176-1,352	7.7	15	193.1
Derrick Henry	180-1,044	5.8	14	130.5

They’ll need to be fired up for the challenge, because based on how the teams use their “angry” running backs, it’s a lot more important for Alabama to stop Fournette if it wants to win this game.

For the season, LSU’s offense had executed 454 plays for 3,262 yards. Between carries and receptions Fourtnette has 183 offensive touches and 1,410 yards. That works out to 40.3 percent of LSU’s plays and 43 percent of its yards.

Year	Running back	%of plays	% of yards
2015	Derrick Henry	31.5	33.0
2014	T.J. Yeldon	20.5	17.1
2013	T.J. Yeldon	27.4	24.0
2012	Eddie Lacy	25.2	24.2
2011	Trent Richardson	36.1	36.1
2010	Mark Ingram	21.6	20.0
2009	Mark Ingram	32.0	35.3
2008	Glen Coffee	27.6	30.1
2007	Terry Grant	19.3	22.0

Having played an extra game, Alabama has executed 597 plays for 3,375 yards. Henry has 188 touches for 1,113 total yards. That’s just 31.5 percent of the plays and 33 percent of the yards—approaching the statistics posted when Mark Ingram carried the Crimson Tide offense in 2009 and Trent Richardson did so in 2011. 

That’s a big difference.

Fournette’s also been able to post big numbers despite the way defenses have keyed in on him, and LSU has used that to make plays in the passing game. It’s been so effective that quarterback Brandon Harris hasn’t thrown an interception this season.

"They've made a lot of explosive plays in the passing game, and I think they've taken advantage of what people are trying to do to stop the run, whether it's eight-man fronts and middle-of-the-field throws in coverage, when you have single coverage outside,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “I think the key to the drill is, you have to be able to stop the run, but you can't give them big plays.”

Uncredited/Associated Press

More than that, it needs to try to contain Fournette without having to take away from its passing defense, which is even harder to do than it sounds, but Alabama was able to do so earlier this season at Georgia. Nick Chubb was finally able to break a big gain off a missed assignment and post his usual impressive numbers, but not until after the game’s outcome had already been decided.

Similar to that game a month ago on Oct. 3, rain is in the forecast for Saturday.

Team	Fournette	Rank
Mississippi State	28-159	59
Auburn	19-228	98
Syracuse	26-244	56
Eastern Michigan	26-233	127
South Carolina	20-158	111
Florida	31-180	15
Western Kentucky	26-150	78

“I think that you have to mix it up a little bit, because if you always put extra guys in the box, they’re probably going to hurt you with the pass, and obviously the more guys you put into the box if he breaks the line of scrimmage, you’re going to have fewer guys to squeeze him, be able to tackle him,” Saban said.

Statistically Alabama is third in the nation against the run at 78.5 yards allowed per game, while LSU is sixth (93.7), which means that these are the best defenses the running backs have faced this season.

But Fournette has seen only one defense ranked in the top 50, Florida, and its average opponent is ranked 77.8, which actually matches its last opponent, Western Kentucky. The seven teams it’s faced on average give up 192.4 rushing yards, which would rank 98th (Auburn’s ranking).

Henry has played against five defenses ranked in the top 50, with the average ranking 51.5. Ranked Nos. 51-53 are Ohio State, Army and Southern California, respectively.

Team	Henry	Rank
Wisconsin	13-147	7
Middle Tenn.	18-96	39
Ole Miss	23-127	25
ULM	13-52	118
Georgia	26-148	35
Arkansas	27-95	20
Texas A&M	32-236	106
Tennessee	28-143	62

During last year’s showdown, Fournette had 21 carries for 79 rushing yards against the Crimson Tide, the longest gain being 13 yards. He also returned kicks, with Reuben Foster trying to knock him into another time zone just before the end of regulation with the score tied.

“It gave us momentum going into overtime,” senior linebacker Reggie Ragland said. “It was big. Everybody got hyped up and was ready to go.”

Obviously Fournette has upped his game since then and is the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, but going back to something Ragland said before the season started provides a better understanding of what this game means to the Crimson Tide.

"Guys aren't scared to play us anymore—it’s as simple as that," Ragland said. “We've got to get that back."

For Alabama’s defense to be considered one of the best ever, it has to keep Fournette from beating it—pure and simple.

So that’s the key matchup, with Fournette aided by an impressive offensive line and Alabama’s deep front seven now backed by a ball-hawking secondary. Ether Fournette will essentially lock up the Heisman, or Alabama’s defense will be feared again.

Actually, both could happen.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.