Alabama Football: Lessons Tide Can Learn from Arkansas' Performance vs. LSU

The Arkansas Razorbacks couldn’t hold an early lead against LSU, but they did become the first team to score two TDs against the Tigers since September. With a title-game rematch with LSU looking more and more likely for No. 2 Alabama, here are some take-home lessons for Nick Saban’s team:

Be ready to play for four quarters (or longer)

Arkansas jumped out to a 14-0 lead on LSU, but it became clear that the Razorbacks had too little left to withstand the Tigers’ counterattack. If it hadn’t been for one brilliant individual play by Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas might not have scored again in the game.

Even if Alabama gets off to a similarly strong start, LSU is not going to wilt. It took overtime to decide the first meeting of these two teams, and it wouldn’t be any surprise to see the rematch decided in the same fashion.

Fight speed with speed

Trent Richardson is a sensational power runner, but for pure speed, he’s merely good rather than great. For Alabama to move the ball against LSU, they’ll need to get some explosive plays on offense, and that means moving away from the conservative offense that saw Richardson carry 23 times in the first meeting.

Arkansas wideout Cobi Hamilton broke off a 60-yard catch-and-run against LSU today, and Oregon’s fleet-footed offense scored 27 points on LSU (the most the Tigers have allowed). For the Tide to win a rematch, they’ll need to create chances for big-play threats like Marquis Maze, or get Richardson—who caught five passes for 80 yards in the first meeting—into space more often.

Takeaways are compulsory

The Crimson Tide’s status as the country’s No. 1 scoring defense owes something to a low-risk approach to defending. Alabama is normally far more interested in trusting its superior athletes to stop the opposition rather than taking the ball away.

Against LSU, though, forcing turnovers is critical to any team's success. The biggest play Arkansas made all day was a 47-yard fumble return for a TD by Alonzo Highsmith.

By scoring on the LSU offense, the Tide can bypass the imposing LSU defense and swing the momentum of a close game in their favor.