BAMA ON3 SHOW: Previewing No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 10 LSU
The Bama On3 Show is back for Episode 116, which includes Clint Lamb and Jimmy Stein breaking down all the latest happenings surrounding the Alabama football program. Today’s list of topics include the following:
- Previewing Alabama’s upcoming game against LSU
- Can the Tide win on the road in back-to-back weeks against top-11 opponents?
- What are some key matchups to look out for?
- How will Alabama contain Jayden Daniels?
- And more!
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Matchups to Watch – ALA OLBs vs. LSU OTs
If Alabama wants to take hold of this game early, it needs to be able to generate pressure on LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and create some negative, drive-killing plays. Some of that will need to come from the interior, but I think this is the perfect opportunity for the outside linebackers to make a statement.
Last season, Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner combined for six tackles for loss and 3.5 of Alabama’s five sacks in this game. That was with the Tigers fielding a veteran duo at offensive tackle in Austin Deculus and Cameron Wire, too. This year, that tackle duo looks drastically different, especially when it comes to experience.
LSU is starting two true freshmen on the outside, after all.
That includes Will Campbell at left tackle and Emery Jones at right tackle. To be fair, both players were top-100 prospects, according to the 2022 On3 Composite rankings, coming out of high school. Campbell even ranked amongst the top 40 with ESPN going a step further and tabbing him as a five-star recruit.
They’ve both managed to get some valuable experience through the first two months of the season with 14 games played and 13 starts between them, but there’s still some youth here. And in those 14 games, they’ve collectively allowed 27 pressures (19 hurries, three hits and five sacks).
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Jones has been responsible for a majority of that (18 pressures, four sacks). But Campbell didn’t have a great outing against Florida and Brenton Cox, as the now dismissed pass rusher had four total pressures and a sack. Really, a lot of sacks allowed by LSU this season have come from edge players.
Two weeks ago, Ole Miss posted four sacks against the Tigers.
Three of those were by defensive ends Cedric Johnson and Jared Ivey. Of the five sacks given up to Tennessee, 4.5 came from edges Byron Young, Roman Harrison and freshman Joshua Josephs. Auburn generated three sacks against LSU, and all of them came from defensive ends who either play on the edges part time or full time.
So what’s my point here?
Well, if those guys can generate a consistent pass rush against the Tigers, then surely Alabama’s dynamic edge trio of Anderson, Turner and Chris Braswell can get something going. Granted, we thought the same thing when they played a youthful offensive line against Texas in Week 2, and that didn’t exactly work out.
Either way, keep an eye on this matchup.
For more key matchups to watch between Alabama and LSU, click here.
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