No. 1 Alabama can punch its ticket to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game this week as it travels to Baton Rouge, La. to take on LSU for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff Saturday. The Crimson Tide can clinch the SEC West with either a win or a loss from No. 5 Texas A&M, which takes on Auburn this weekend.
Alabama (8-0) is currently a 29.5-point favorite over LSU (3-4) and will look to avenge last year’s 46-41 defeat to the Tigers.
Today we will dive into some of the matchup’s storylines by providing three observations, two questions and one prediction.
THREE OBSERVATIONS
Saban discusses the plan with Smith at punt return
The sight of DeVonta Smith returning punts has been a point of contention among Alabama fans in recent weeks. On one hand, the senior’s ability to slip defenders has seen him average an impressive 17 yards on four returns. On the other, the potential for injury is especially concerning considering the Tide has already lost Jaylen Waddle to a fractured ankle.
Waddle began the season as Alabama’s punt returner and was replaced by Slade Bolden after injuring himself during a kickoff return against Tennessee. With Bolden, banged up the past two weeks, Smith has taken his spot on punt return duties.
During his Wednesday night Zoom call with reporters, Saban was asked whether or not his star receiver would continue to return punts when Bolden returns to full health.
“I look at it a little different. I think we have confidence in both guys,” Saban said. “Losing Jaylen Waddle, Slade having to do it, Smitty having to do it, has just created more depth at the position. We even had Patrick (Surtain) back there for one.
“It’s forced us to develop other guys at that position which I think is healthy long term. And I think we’re always going to put the guy back there that gives us the best chance to A secure the ball and B make an explosive play on a punt return.”
Earlier in the day during the SEC teleconference, Saban spoke about the importance of special teams, stating that he tries to get all of his players involved in some way. The head coach pointed out that most players who move on to the NFL will likely be called on to take up some sort of special teams role during their career.
Still, it’s understandable why Alabama fans would hold their breath while watching charge in on one of its biggest stars. Smith has been one of the cornerstones of Alabama’s offense this season, recording a team-high 72 receptions for 1,074 yards and 12 touchdowns. His role has increased even more following Waddle’s injury as he has recorded 27 receptions for 518 yards and eight touchdowns over his last three games.
Saban still fully expects to coach against LSU
Saban continues to remain on course to coach Alabama on the sidelines this weekend. During the SEC teleconference, the head coach provided another positive health update while still in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.
“I’m feeling great, and I’ll be evaluated by the medical staff on a daily basis,” Saban said. “I still fully expect to be able to coach this game on Saturday.”
SEC rules state that individuals with a symptomatic infection must isolate at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms. Later Wednesday, Saban was asked about his timeline to when he’ll be able to return to in-person activitiy with the team. The head coach did not reveal an expected date, only stating that he expects to “be back shortly.”
“That’s a medical decision. When I can come back, I’ll be totally 100 percent with the team,” Saban said. “And that’s something that’s going to happen in the very near future.”
In other COVID-19 related news, Saban was asked about the possibility of lowering the isolation period for contact tracing from 14 days to 7-10 days. The head coach said he’d be in favor of such a reduction.
“Everybody’s felt from the beginning that when you get quarantined, and you may not even get sick, that 14 days was a pretty long time to be quarantined,” Saban said. “But we’ve always respected the science. I think now that there’s more testing, maybe they have evidence of what really is safe for the players relative to the quarantine time and the testing, the combination of the two of those things and how it affects the science.
“I’m no doctor, so I’m not trying to say it’s right, wrong or indifferent, but we do have a lot of respect for whatever the science is, and obviously the people in the CDC certainly have all the information they need to make a good decision about what’s safe.”
Tough tight ends ahead
A theme in Alabama’s early struggles on defense this season was its inability to cover opposing tight ends.
During back-to-back weeks in October, the Tide was exposed by Texas A&M’s Jalen Wydermyer (eight receptions for 82 yards) and Ole Miss’ Kenny Yeboah (seven receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns). Alabama hasn’t completely moved on from that trend, allowing Kentucky’s Keaton Upshaw to catch three passes for 44 yards before giving up two receptions for 44 yards to Auburn’s John Samuel Shenker last week. However, the problem seems less dire now than it was before.
“I’ve said this before, but tight ends are really difficult mismatch guys because of who ends up covering them most of the time,” Saban said earlier this week. “You have your best corners covering wide receivers. But when these guys are lined up close to the core and they’re run-pass options are more difficult to define relative to how they line up and who ends up covering them and who ends up matching up on them, I’ve always said that a tight end and a great running back are hard to cover.”
The next few weeks will serve as a litmus test toward Alabama’s improvements against tight ends as the Tide will take on LSU’s Arik Gilbert this weekend before potentially going up against perhaps the nation’s most efficient tight end in Florida’s Kyle Pitts in the SEC Championship Game.
Gilbert, a former five-star recruit and major Alabama target, has reeled in 30 receptions for 339 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman this season. Pitts, a junior, leads all tight ends with 11 receiving touchdowns while pulling in 29 passes for 513 yards.
TWO QUESTIONS
Is Mac Jones the embodiment of Saban’s process?
Mac Jones waited on the bench for the majority of three seasons before finally getting called upon to replace injured Tua Tagovailoa late last year. That patience has paid off as the redshirt junior now finds himself as one of the frontrunners for this year’s Heisman Trophy award.
Wednesday, Saban was asked if Jones’ willingness to wait for his turn at Alabama instead of transferring served as the epitomy the head coach’s famed processed approach.
“I think he does because has always been a guy that has taken coaching really, really well,” Saban responded. “I think he’s a guy that looked at his career more, ‘I need to develop physically, emotionally, mentally in terms of learning how to execute at my position on a consistent basis.’ So, his expectation was never about result (or) about outcome. It was about, ‘What do I have to do to get better every day?’... That’s one thing that Mac was really, I think, special when it came to, ‘I’m gonna focus on what I can control, and I’m gonna work hard to try to improve.’
“That’s where his mindset has always been, and I think it’s paid tremendous dividends for him.”
Who will LSU start at QB?
Ed Orgeron still hasn’t decided on a starting quarterback for this weekend’s game against Alabama. When asked about the decision between T.J. Finley and Max Johnson, the LSU head coach responded, “It’s only Wednesday,” before stating that both freshmen quarterbacks will likely play against the Tide.
Finley got the start while splitting time with Johnson during the Tigers’ 20-7 loss to No. 5 Texas A&M last week. Finley completed 9 of 25 passes for 118 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-six. Johnson finished 14 of 22 for 113 yards and a touchdown.
"Probably both of them will play," Orgeron said. "The one thing I wanted to give them confidence on was it's about all 11, it's about all 11 players protecting the football. I told them I can't put anything on the young quarterbacks, we gotta protect them better."
PREDICTION
Alabama keeps LSU out of the end zone
Earlier this week, we examined Alabama’s two-game shutout streak inside of Tiger Stadium. While it might be hard to completely keep LSU off the scoreboard, don’t be surprised if a depleted Tigers squad fails to find the end zone against an Alabama team that has allowed just one touchdown over the last 13 quarters.
Alabama (8-0) is currently a 29.5-point favorite over LSU (3-4) and will look to avenge last year’s 46-41 defeat to the Tigers.
Today we will dive into some of the matchup’s storylines by providing three observations, two questions and one prediction.
THREE OBSERVATIONS
Saban discusses the plan with Smith at punt return
The sight of DeVonta Smith returning punts has been a point of contention among Alabama fans in recent weeks. On one hand, the senior’s ability to slip defenders has seen him average an impressive 17 yards on four returns. On the other, the potential for injury is especially concerning considering the Tide has already lost Jaylen Waddle to a fractured ankle.
Waddle began the season as Alabama’s punt returner and was replaced by Slade Bolden after injuring himself during a kickoff return against Tennessee. With Bolden, banged up the past two weeks, Smith has taken his spot on punt return duties.
During his Wednesday night Zoom call with reporters, Saban was asked whether or not his star receiver would continue to return punts when Bolden returns to full health.
“I look at it a little different. I think we have confidence in both guys,” Saban said. “Losing Jaylen Waddle, Slade having to do it, Smitty having to do it, has just created more depth at the position. We even had Patrick (Surtain) back there for one.
“It’s forced us to develop other guys at that position which I think is healthy long term. And I think we’re always going to put the guy back there that gives us the best chance to A secure the ball and B make an explosive play on a punt return.”
Earlier in the day during the SEC teleconference, Saban spoke about the importance of special teams, stating that he tries to get all of his players involved in some way. The head coach pointed out that most players who move on to the NFL will likely be called on to take up some sort of special teams role during their career.
Still, it’s understandable why Alabama fans would hold their breath while watching charge in on one of its biggest stars. Smith has been one of the cornerstones of Alabama’s offense this season, recording a team-high 72 receptions for 1,074 yards and 12 touchdowns. His role has increased even more following Waddle’s injury as he has recorded 27 receptions for 518 yards and eight touchdowns over his last three games.
Saban still fully expects to coach against LSU
Saban continues to remain on course to coach Alabama on the sidelines this weekend. During the SEC teleconference, the head coach provided another positive health update while still in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.
“I’m feeling great, and I’ll be evaluated by the medical staff on a daily basis,” Saban said. “I still fully expect to be able to coach this game on Saturday.”
SEC rules state that individuals with a symptomatic infection must isolate at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms. Later Wednesday, Saban was asked about his timeline to when he’ll be able to return to in-person activitiy with the team. The head coach did not reveal an expected date, only stating that he expects to “be back shortly.”
“That’s a medical decision. When I can come back, I’ll be totally 100 percent with the team,” Saban said. “And that’s something that’s going to happen in the very near future.”
In other COVID-19 related news, Saban was asked about the possibility of lowering the isolation period for contact tracing from 14 days to 7-10 days. The head coach said he’d be in favor of such a reduction.
“Everybody’s felt from the beginning that when you get quarantined, and you may not even get sick, that 14 days was a pretty long time to be quarantined,” Saban said. “But we’ve always respected the science. I think now that there’s more testing, maybe they have evidence of what really is safe for the players relative to the quarantine time and the testing, the combination of the two of those things and how it affects the science.
“I’m no doctor, so I’m not trying to say it’s right, wrong or indifferent, but we do have a lot of respect for whatever the science is, and obviously the people in the CDC certainly have all the information they need to make a good decision about what’s safe.”
Tough tight ends ahead
A theme in Alabama’s early struggles on defense this season was its inability to cover opposing tight ends.
During back-to-back weeks in October, the Tide was exposed by Texas A&M’s Jalen Wydermyer (eight receptions for 82 yards) and Ole Miss’ Kenny Yeboah (seven receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns). Alabama hasn’t completely moved on from that trend, allowing Kentucky’s Keaton Upshaw to catch three passes for 44 yards before giving up two receptions for 44 yards to Auburn’s John Samuel Shenker last week. However, the problem seems less dire now than it was before.
“I’ve said this before, but tight ends are really difficult mismatch guys because of who ends up covering them most of the time,” Saban said earlier this week. “You have your best corners covering wide receivers. But when these guys are lined up close to the core and they’re run-pass options are more difficult to define relative to how they line up and who ends up covering them and who ends up matching up on them, I’ve always said that a tight end and a great running back are hard to cover.”
The next few weeks will serve as a litmus test toward Alabama’s improvements against tight ends as the Tide will take on LSU’s Arik Gilbert this weekend before potentially going up against perhaps the nation’s most efficient tight end in Florida’s Kyle Pitts in the SEC Championship Game.
Gilbert, a former five-star recruit and major Alabama target, has reeled in 30 receptions for 339 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman this season. Pitts, a junior, leads all tight ends with 11 receiving touchdowns while pulling in 29 passes for 513 yards.
TWO QUESTIONS
Is Mac Jones the embodiment of Saban’s process?
Mac Jones waited on the bench for the majority of three seasons before finally getting called upon to replace injured Tua Tagovailoa late last year. That patience has paid off as the redshirt junior now finds himself as one of the frontrunners for this year’s Heisman Trophy award.
Wednesday, Saban was asked if Jones’ willingness to wait for his turn at Alabama instead of transferring served as the epitomy the head coach’s famed processed approach.
“I think he does because has always been a guy that has taken coaching really, really well,” Saban responded. “I think he’s a guy that looked at his career more, ‘I need to develop physically, emotionally, mentally in terms of learning how to execute at my position on a consistent basis.’ So, his expectation was never about result (or) about outcome. It was about, ‘What do I have to do to get better every day?’... That’s one thing that Mac was really, I think, special when it came to, ‘I’m gonna focus on what I can control, and I’m gonna work hard to try to improve.’
“That’s where his mindset has always been, and I think it’s paid tremendous dividends for him.”
Who will LSU start at QB?
Ed Orgeron still hasn’t decided on a starting quarterback for this weekend’s game against Alabama. When asked about the decision between T.J. Finley and Max Johnson, the LSU head coach responded, “It’s only Wednesday,” before stating that both freshmen quarterbacks will likely play against the Tide.
Finley got the start while splitting time with Johnson during the Tigers’ 20-7 loss to No. 5 Texas A&M last week. Finley completed 9 of 25 passes for 118 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-six. Johnson finished 14 of 22 for 113 yards and a touchdown.
"Probably both of them will play," Orgeron said. "The one thing I wanted to give them confidence on was it's about all 11, it's about all 11 players protecting the football. I told them I can't put anything on the young quarterbacks, we gotta protect them better."
PREDICTION
Alabama keeps LSU out of the end zone
Earlier this week, we examined Alabama’s two-game shutout streak inside of Tiger Stadium. While it might be hard to completely keep LSU off the scoreboard, don’t be surprised if a depleted Tigers squad fails to find the end zone against an Alabama team that has allowed just one touchdown over the last 13 quarters.
