No. 9 Alabama travels to No. 15 LSU for a season-on-the-line SEC showdown in Baton Rouge on Saturday.
Both teams enter the matchup coming off a bye week where they had the opportunity to refine schemes and get players healthy.
Since the season has begun, Alabama has battled through injuries offensively and defensively.
Notably, the Crimson Tide has seen some of its veteran presence disappear due to injuries. Wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams exited the game versus Georgia with a head injury and has missed several weeks since, due to also battling a knee injury that required surgery in the middle of the season.
Alabama’s staff has focused on building around the absence of Williams while also attempting to have him on track for recovery and a potential return against LSU.
However, Williams’ health and ability to compete on Saturday is still pending as the Crimson Tide will continue to evaluate him and other players who are injured.
“A lot of these guys, from Zabien Brown to Ryan, EJ, Racin, and Terrance Green in particular, are all working into the football field. They’re not all in the same spot (health-wise), but they’re all out there going through workouts. Some are taking team reps, some are taking non-contact reps, but the progress by all of them is heading in a good direction,” said Kalen DeBoer during Monday’s press conference. “A lot of it has to do with how their bodies respond after they’re out there being pushed a little more, and that’ll continue to happen throughout the rest of the week.”
In a much-needed win, having guys return who have been absent can benefit Alabama greatly; the more of a veteran presence against a high-caliber LSU team, the better.
Both Alabama’s defense and offense will need to play at the best of their ability, but particularly on the offensive side as LSU’s defense is a force to be reckoned with as they rank No. 4 nationally in total defense and No. 1 in the SEC.
Defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s unit excels at controlling the line of scrimmage, often forcing quarterbacks into hurried throws and reducing the time receivers have to get open. The Tigers defense is statistically elite overall, ranking No. 2 in the SEC and No. 13 nationally in pass defense, allowing 172.8 passing yards per game, while only allowing four passing touchdowns through eight games.
In tough situations, Williams has been typically known as the receiver who can block, create dangerous play-making ability in space, and provide versatility across the offense, and sometimes he’s often used as a decoy while other receivers have a moment to shine. Regardless of whether Williams is game-ready, Alabama will have to depend heavily on more receivers such as Rico Scott, Lotzeir Brooks, Derek Meadows, and make sure the wide receiving corps is battle-ready.
"With Ryan being gone, it has hurt a little bit of production — just his impact; how can it not? It’s just a matter of adjusting, with different guys playing extended roles or having greater roles. Other guys have been getting even more reps in practice — guys that maybe haven’t been on the football field in the games or had the production yet, but they’re getting quality reps in practice. When those moments come, they’re even more ready than they have been. You add Ryan back into the mix, and you get guys that are more familiar and comfortable with their roles, and also even more comfortable with Keelon and operating together," said DeBoer regarding how Alabama has continued to prep in the absence of Williams.
Not only will Alabama need to be able to spread the ball effectively, but establishing a run game will be crucial against a defense that has only allowed nine rushing touchdowns through eight games. The Tigers have done a solid job at limiting offenses as they rank No. 7 nationally in opponent rushing yards per game and No. 1 in the SEC.
The Tigers' front seven routinely controls the line of scrimmage, sets the edge on early downs, and forces opponents into difficult third-and-long situations.
This season, LSU’s defense has limited rushing attacks to about 86 rushing yards per game, allowing just about three yards per rush, which is why they are among the top defenses nationally in efficiency.
Against Texas A&M, Alabama was able to establish somewhat of its run game to ultimately beat the Aggies 31-20. The Crimson Tide finished the game with 68 total rushing yards, a drop from their previous games where they accumulated 100 or more.
If the Crimson Tide would like to be successful in a hostile environment where the run needs to be a priority to get off to a great start, discipline and maintaining a run game will be crucial.
“We’ve got to run disciplined and physical. What I mean by that is, don’t pass on a four-yard run. Against a defense like this, if there’s a crack there, we’ve got to take it. We can’t be greedy and think, 'What if I bounce this one?' We just have to follow our rules, be disciplined, and run aggressively and with belief. I believe our guys can run the football on these guys like we’ve done against some good fronts this season," said offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb during media availability.
Running backs Trae’shawn Brown and EJ Crowell have been difference makers for the Tide thus far; the young pair provides explosive playmaking, red-zone efficiency, and a much-needed spark to the backfield.
However, Crowell has also battled through injuries this season, and his status is also pending ahead of LSU. The same way Alabama has had to pivot in the absence of Williams, they will potentially have to do the same for Crowell.
Should Crowell not be ready for kickoff, Alabama will have to depend heavily on rushing leader Daniel Hill, Brown, and potentially more playing time for AK Dear, who, since returning from injury, has appeared in two games and recorded two rushing attempts for six yards; in a road test like LSU, Dear will need to see an uptick in reps.
"AK has been working back through some health things even this week, so we’ll see how the week goes. If he gets healthy, there will be a chance,” said Grubb regarding why Dear has been limited.
As Alabama's status on several key players is still pending, one thing's for certain: the offense will need to start fast no matter who is on the field or in rotation.
Alabama and LSU kick off in Baton Rouge this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT.