LSU vs. Alabama Rematch: 5 Things the Tide Need to Improve to Win Round II

LSU dominated Georgia...eventually. It took the locker-room talk at halftime, but they came out ready to dominate in the second half.

The Crimson Tide showed us one major thing in November: They are more than capable of being the National Champions this season. They also showed us that they are capable of losing that game, as they did on that day.

These are five things they need to improve to win Round II with a margin that leaves no doubt as to who is truly the best team in the land.

Execution

A.J. McCarron is a first-year starter. I give him credit for performing as well as he has.

I understand that pressure on the national stage is a lot to handle, but it's not like he just came to Alabama never having played football in front of people before. From vocal solos to football, the pressure affects the individual equally, and I speak from experience.

Champions shut out the distractions on stage, whether it's a literal stage or a football field. (You can't completely shut out the noise, of course, but you can shut out everything but the field in your eyes.)

McCarron got to the first LSU showdown by using Trent Richardson and a balanced passing attack. It was balanced to players and balanced in distances as well. That's what got him to November.

Since November, the Auburn game is the only game that he has shown what I hope are his true colors.

He was hitting guys short and long. He was letting Richardson run the ball. He was making good decisions with little exception. (The pump fake that gave Auburn its first seven was definitely an exception; he should have guarded the ball better after contact.)

McCarron has the capability to win in January, especially with his support on the offensive line. He just needs to breathe, calm down and play his game.

Stop shooting for the end zone every time you cross midfield. We moved the ball from the shadow of our end zone to midfield extremely well. At the 50, he just stopped throwing the five- to eight-yard passes.

Get him in his own game again, and 'Bama takes LSU's defense for a ride.

Special Teams

This photo is of Vinnie Sunseri tackling Michael Dyer. This photo should be burned in the minds of anyone who wants to play on special teams.

The "tackle" is what separates the SEC from the other conferences, such as the Pac-12 and the Big East. It's how we stop people from getting into the "end zone."

These guys need to step up, stay in their lanes, hone in on the returner and make him think twice about returning the next one.

Kicking is part of this aspect of the game, but there is little you can do about a kicker who just can't get it deep with consistency. All you can do is draw a bead on the returner and drop him as soon as possible.

Under no circumstances can the special teams allow a 50-yard field goal to be a lower-risk call than a punt. We can't kick that far this year. We can, however, punt that far.

Special teams isn't allowing huge returns all the time, but just one could be the difference between National Championship No. 14 and "See, 'Bama didn't deserve the rematch, we all were right!!!!!"

Defense

We have the best defense in college football in many aspects. We have one of the best 'Bama defenses in the long, storied history of the university. There is not much that can be done to stop them from stopping you.

LSU runs the offense that has proved to be this defense's weakness. With time to prepare for the game in January, I'd like to see Saban pull out his 2009 SEC Championship DVD (you know he has it), and show these guys how it's done.

Practice with video from Florida (2008 and 2009, specifically), Georgia Southern, LSU from November and even the Georgia Tech-Clemson game if they want. I don't care.

Just get these guys up to where they can be defensively against the option.

I'd hate to see one of the greatest Tide defenses EVER be made to look like an ACC team in the BCS National Championship Game, just because the option put them on their heels.

These guys are stellar, and I don't want them heading into the NFL Draft looking like a bunch of pansies, because they're not.

They have to improve against the option, because LSU's definitely going to run it until it doesn't work.

Player Responsibility

This year's Tide have an amazing level of talent, and it has shown up very often. Nick Saban is getting a lot of attention for the wins and the loss. Jim McElwain is getting a lot of attention as well.

I know that the play-calling is an issue. I also know that McElroy was allowed to call a lot of plays on the field, even outside of a "hurry-up" offense.

I believe that no team in the nation has more heart than our Tiders from Tuscaloosa.

LSU wants it and Oklahoma State University wants it. I totally understand that. I'm not here to say who deserves to play LSU the most for the title.

I think that Saban should put a huge amount of responsibility on the players on the field. They are the ones seeing the holes open up on offense in real time. They are pumped for this rematch.

Player responsibility is part of Saban's system. Give them more, and let them rise or fall on their own. Many are headed into the draft—this is the last chance to push them out of the nest.

I believe that they have the talent and the intelligence to win this game. I also believe that LSU has the talent and intelligence to win this game. LSU has Les Miles. Alabama has Nick Saban.

I believe the difference maker is in the hearts of the Crimson Tide.

I fully believe that Saban and company gave the 2009 Tide the tools to defeat Florida, but the Tide won that game with their hearts and determination. I don't think any team could have stopped them that day.

If we place the outcome of this game in the hearts of the players, how can 'Bama lose?

Play Calling

Now, if player responsibility and the execution are both improved, then the play-calling is fine. If the execution isn't there, I would like to see the plays get called much differently.

I don't want to see another game where we try to get all cute with the trickery, just to watch it fail. If the execution isn't there for the plays you're calling, please don't just keep calling the same ones.

'Bama has the capability on offense to shred defenses, even defenses as great as LSU.

In November, we missed wide-open receivers eight yards out and threw into coverage in the end zone. LSU will eat us alive if we throw into coverage in January.

If the reins are too tight on McElwain, let them loose. Let him reconstruct the 2009 SEC Championship Game. Wasn't that Alabama's best showing against an option offense in the Saban era?

If the plays are already being called by McElwain all by himself, then take that job away from him for now. You suspend a player for breaking the rules. On game day, it's McElwain's job to coordinate the offense, hence his title.

Ultimately, stick with the game plan as long as it's working. If the game plan stops working, change the plan. There are plenty of plays to be called in Saban/McElwain's system. Call the ones that are working.

If a player is hurt, trust your instinct. This is going to be a rough game. No 72-yard punts, please.

Play your game, Saban. Everyone knows it wins. Especially Florida.