Alabama vs. LSU: Marquis Maze and the 4 Tide Players Who Must Not Fail

Alabama is a team that is lined front-to-back with stellar players, many of whom have futures in the NFL. Despite this fact, there are some that will be more prone than others to cause game-changing plays against LSU—and not the good kind, either.  

Les Miles and the LSU Tigers are a team the likes of which the Tide have not faced since they battled against themselves during the spring game.  A team with a good offense, and a bone-grinding defense.  

The game will be a team effort, and as such will require the best possible performance by every player. 

This list is not a knock on any player, but a realistic look at who could unwillingly give LSU a leg-up in the contest.  

The odds are that these players will have great games, but LSU will be certain to try and exploit their weaknesses.

While there is an entire team of players that could make mistakes, here are the Top Five players that LSU will target who's failure could be the most catastrophic.

Linebacker Dont'a Hightower

Dont'a Hightower is Alabama's best linebacker.  He is a bulldozing force in the trenches, and can stop the run better than almost any other linebacker in the nation.  

His coverage skills, however, leave a lot to be desired.  He can't rush the passer on every single passing play, and he will be called upon to engage LSU's receivers in coverage.  

He's quick for a 265-pound man, but is he quick enough?

LSU's tight end Deangelo Peterson called Alabama's linebackers "slow".  I'll go out on a limb here and say that that is a bit of an overstatement, but he's got the right idea from a certain perspective. 

He likely wasn't referring to the entire linebacker corps; I believe he was referring specifically to Dont'a Hightower.  

When he isn't blitzing, Hightower will likely be targeted by LSU in passing situations, and he will be needed to rise to the challenge and prove that he can play in coverage against much smaller and quicker opponents.  

Tight End Michael Williams

As a receiver, Michael Williams has come a long way since he became a starter back in 2010.  

His catching ability has been fairly underrated since he tipped a pass from A.J. McCarron in the season opener which turned into an interception.  

Against LSU, Williams will play a very important role.  LSU's linebackers and defensive backs are incredibly physical, and the Tide lacks a receiver like Julio Jones, who had the brute force to manhandle anyone who was covering him.  

Undoubtedly, Michael will be called upon to make some key catches, some quite possibly in the red zone.  

If a pass comes his way, he cannot drop it, let alone tip it.  At 6'6", 270 lbs, his size will be a very valuable asset to the Tide, allowing him to make catches that only he can make.  

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick

Dre Kirkpatrick is the Tide's best corner, and at his current rate he'll be a shoe-in for a first round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Those credentials, however, will only go so far against LSU. 

Kirkpatrick has had some issues in coverage, and tonight he will be going up against LSU's top receiver Rueben Randle.  

Randle is 6'4", 208 lbs, and will be a physical challenge for Dre to overcome.  Covering will not be the only problem, but jamming him at the line and him actually making the tackle could be issues as well.  

Dre Kirkpatrick has shown a penchant for going for the big hit, something that Mark Barron strayed away from due to the risk involved.

If Kirkpatrick goes for a big hit on Randle, there's a good chance it'll turn into a big play.  If he can't prevent a catch, he needs to just wrap up and bring his quarry to the turf.  

Whoever Starts at Right Guard

The right guard starting position has hosted a battle the past two weeks between senior Alfred McCullough and sophomore Anthony Steen.  

McCullough is a veteran who was never quite good enough to become the starter, and Anthony Steen was pretty much just the best available for the job when Barrett Jones moved to left tackle.  

Steen has had chronic hot-and-cold issues all season long, sometimes looking lost and whiffing on easy blocks, and other times imposing his will and rolling defended many yards off the line of scrimmage.  

Whoever starts at right guard tonight will be the weakest link on the Tide's offensive line.  

Trent Richardson makes his money running between the tackles.  Left guard Chance Warmack and center William Vlachos will most likely perform as expected, and the starting right guard will need to finish the job.  

It will only take one bad play from an offensive lineman to put either Trent Richardson or A.J. McCarron on the bench with an injury, and right guard is the most likely position to let it happen. 

Wide Receiver/returner Marquis Maze

Marquis Maze is the Tide's top receiver, but he will be meeting more than his match tonight.  

Not only will he be going up against LSU's Morris Claiborne, the top cornerback prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft, but turnover machine Tyrann Mathieu as well.  

LSU will be doing everything possible to shutdown Maze, but he must stay in the game as a valid weapon for the Tide.  Darius Hanks and 'Bama's army of good-yet-inexperienced receivers cannot do this alone without Maze.

He needs to get loose, and make plays.  

Marquis Maze is also the Tide's best return man, and he has bobbled several returns this year.  He may have been able to get by with that against weaker opponents, but LSU's special teams is full of blood-thirsty young'uns eager to prove themselves.

If Maze does not call for a fair catch (which nine out of 10 times would be foolish against LSU), he better make the catch.  

Others at Risk

LSU will be focusing on more than just these five players, but here are some others who's failure could spell disaster for the Tide.

Running back Trent Richardson:  LSU will load the box, daring the Tide the throw.  Richardson needs to have the game of his life and break through the wall of defensive linemen and linebackers, or the Tide wont stand a chance.  

Quarterback A.J. McCarron:  Though Richardson will likely get enough yards to keep LSU's defense honest, McCarron will need to make some difficult throws.  His track record of turnovers is great, and he needs to maintain that tonight.

Wide receiver Darius Hanks:  Hanks is the Tide's go-to man on third downs, and catches in the middle of the field, the "Danger Zone" for receivers, where the often take brutal hits by the safety.  He's tough and always willing to take the big hit, but he must be careful not to get himself sidelined with an injury.

Left tackle Barret Jones:  Jones is the Tide's best lineman, and the LSU defense will be poking and prodding the Tide's O-line all night.  Jones rarely ever gets beat, but if McCarron were to take a blindside hit from a 250-pound man he just might have to sit out for a while.

Quarterback Phillip Sims:  In all honesty, this will be a very physical game, and both teams will be looking to put the hurt on the quarterbacks.  The odds are stacked against McCarron for playing the entire game, and he very well may suffer an injury of some sort.  If needed, Phillip Sims needs to play like the man that almost won the starting position, but better.