Kalen DeBoer starts the second half of his first season as Alabama’s head football coach next week.
He takes the Crimson Tide to Tiger Stadium to face Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. National media sees this matchup as a must win for Alabama to get into the College Football Playoff and calm some people down on DeBoer.
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Alabama has not been consistent in finding an offensive balance. Nick Sheridan has his best scripted moment versus Georgia; however, the play-calling and execution have struggled since then. A flicker of hope happened last week against Missouri, especially in the second half, as the Tide’s offensive line wore down the Tigers’ defensive front with the rushing attack.
Alabama totaled 271 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Justice Haynes recorded a thunderous, 35-yard touchdown run that made DeBoer say the Tide brought a ‘different level’ of physicality. Jam Miller rushed for two scores and Jalen Milroe had a rushing touchdown too. Richard Young, a redshirt freshman, ripped off a 62-yard run late in the fourth quarter. The Tide showed it can run the football, but can it fully regain its swagger in the ground and pound game? It starts with the offensive line setting a physical tone from the beginning. Alabama’s unit of Kadyn Proctor, Tyler Booker, Parker Brailsford, Jaeden Roberts, and Elijah Pritchett has to be the enforcer against the LSU Tigers.
LSU has good pass rushers, but its defense has problems stopping the run. The Tigers have allowed 130.8 rushing yards per game and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Milroe, Haynes, and Miller combine for 24 of Alabama’s 28 rushing scores.
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Haynes and Miller average over six yards per rush attempt.
If Alabama gets LSU’s defensive front off the ball on first and second down, the Tide should be able to put itself in manageable situations on third down. It can also take shots in the passing game if the offensive front and tight ends control the line of scrimmage. Sheridan has to trust the front line to give Alabama’s backs a chance at least four yards per carry next week.
Parker Brailsford, a transfer from Washington, is the Tide’s starting center. He spoke on Thursday during the media availability for players in the bye week. He told reporters it was a ‘good sign’ that Alabama had success running the football against Missouri.
“I feel like we can run the ball on anyone,” Brailsford said.
The Tide can find its swagger in the run game again by keeping LSU’s offense off the field, and the communication of the offensive line being in tact.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
