Alabama Football: 4 Keys to Beating LSU in BCS Championship Rematch

Alabama and LSU's regular season meeting has been dissected more than ever. It will only continue to be so based off the recent BCS projections showing a rematch with the national title at stake. 

Since that game, both teams have had impressive wins in upset-minded games. The question for Alabama now becomes how do they shut down the Tigers? 

Alabama has been the only team so far this season to truly test the Bayou Bengals, coming within a few bad breaks and hooked kicks from being atop the polls. So how does the Crimson Tide win the game that matters for the championship?

For Alabama, there are four huge keys to containing LSU and winning the revenge game. What are they? 

Run Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson has had a phenomenal year. The Heisman favorite finished the 12-game regular season with 1,380 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging over five yards a carry. 

Against LSU, Richardson ran for only 89 yards with an average of 3.9 a carry. He also had an impact catching the ball out of the backfield, racking up another 80 yards on five receptions. Richardson showed skill and energy that LSU simply could not stop. 

LSU made the halftime adjustment to contain Richardson instead of attempting to stop him. This time around, Richardson is going to need to have another huge game. His impact in both the air and ground game will allow for Alabama to counter the overaggressive LSU defense. 

If Richardson can rush for over 100 yards and catch the ball for another 75, there's no reason Alabama should not win the game. Richardson's skill and pure game-breaking ability allow for him to do things no one else can. In a game where these two teams will be physically defensively stout, Richardson will be the X factor. 

Avoid Huge Mistakes in the Passing Game

If Trent Richardson is able to be consistent on the ground, this will open up the passing game somewhat. But LSU will be expecting and waiting for Richardson to come bursting through the line. The end result: Alabama will have to throw the ball early.

That's no easy task. As well documented, Tyrann Mathieu, aka the Honey Badger, just doesn't care (if you have not seen the video, ignore that) and will hurt you with his return skills or playmaking ability in the secondary. The scary part: he is not even the best cover corner on his team. Morris Claiborne is shutdown guaranteed, and Eric Reid scares all players with the aggressiveness he brings to the safety position. 

Needless to say, throwing on this team is difficult. As mentioned just a slide earlier, Trent Richardson can be a huge weapon out of the backfield and would allow the Alabama passing game to play it safe.

If the Alabama can then mix in safe passes that still gain positive yards, then Alabama's balance should be enough to wear down LSU's defense and give the Crimson Tide a chance. 

Shut Down the Jefferson Run Game

If you watched the LSU-Arkansas game, all you heard from the announcers was that LSU likes to run the option seven to 10 times a game to keep the defense honest. With Jordan Jefferson's running ability and the depth of the Tigers' backfield, these seven to 10 carries often result in first downs and huge chunks of yards gained. 

Jefferson is also able to use standard runs to set up the passing game, and Jefferson is just as comfortable passing as he is handing the ball off. However, LSU does not have the weapons at receiver as they do on the ground. 

If Alabama's 3-4, which did create issues for LSU in the last meeting, is able to frustrate Jefferson's option run and also shut down the Tigers' ground game, Jefferson will be forced to win the game with his arm. If giving out odds, it would be safe to say Jefferson is more likely to lose a game through the air than he would if he runs the ball all game. 

The Obvious...Better Kicking Game

This key needs little explanation. LSU has perhaps the best defense in the country. It's extremely difficult to move the ball on their defense, let alone once in their own territory. This rematch will be just as, if not more, physical and physically taxing than the last meeting.

Therefore, points will be at a premium, and Alabama cannot afford to waste drives into LSU's side of the field and not come away with something. If Alabama can have some semblance of a successful kicking game, Nick Saban will not have to adjust his playbook.

However, if the kicking does not improve, Saban will have to adjust his entire game plan around this one unit. This could very well cost Bama the championship. Moral of the story: improve the kicking game and follow through on the other keys and Bama can walk away with their second national championship under Saban.