Alabama vs LSU Recap: 3 Things we Learned

The Alabama Crimson Tide were pushed to the brink this week but they found a way to win. Here’s what we learned in their 21st straight victory.

This SEC matchup was a game full of adversity for both teams, but it was a defensive battle. The LSU Tigers managed to hold the Alabama Crimson Tide scoreless in the first half for the first time since 2007. But the 0-0 halftime score didn’t go unassisted.

The LSU Tigers went scoreless in the first half after kicker Colby Delahoussaye had a 49-yard field goal blocked on their first drive of the game. The blocked field goal came after LSU safety Jamal Adams intercepted quarterback Jalen Hurts on a third down play.

Alabama went scoreless due to a 42-yard missed field goal by kicker Adam Griffith. It was Griffith’s fifth miss of the season. His misses have largely come on field goals longer than 40 yards. He is 2-5 on field goals 40-49 yards on the year.

The Alabama Defense rules supreme.

The Alabama defense had their hands full all game with running back Leonard Fournette but they managed to make the star running back a non-factor all game long. Fournette rushed for 35 yards on 17 carries in the game after rushing for a school-record 284 rushing yards against Ole Miss two weeks ago.

The Crimson Tide defense held the LSU offense to just six first downs in the game, their lowest total all season. To put that in perspective, the Tigers punted eight times in the game. They were 4-15 on third down conversions and 0-2 on fourth down conversions in the game. After the offense put points on the board in the fourth quarter, this Crimson Tide defense really put the clamps on the LSU Tigers.

It is Alabama’s 19th shutout under head coach Nick Saban.

The Alabama Offense is unfazed by adversity.

Alabama turned the ball over twice in the game but seemed largely unfazed when the game was on the line. They had 316 total yards of offense behind Hurts’ 112 rushing yards and 107 passing yards. Hurts ran for the games only score with his rushing touchdown.It’s a good sign for a young and developing offensive unit led by their freshman quarterback. The Alabama offense outgained the LSU Tigers 196 to 25 in the second half.

Hurts led the Crimson Tide offense on a 12-play, 90-yard drive to put his team in position to win the game when in counted the most. His 21-yard scramble to put Alabama up 7-0 with 13 minutes remaining in the game was the difference.

The LSU Tigers Need a Quarterback.

The LSU Tigers really need to figure out their quarterback situation. Coming off three wins, much of that credit came off the 13 rushing touchdowns their backfield produced. Quarterback Danny Etling was 11 for 24 in the game with 92 passing yards and an interception. Their 92 passing yards on offense were the lowest output all season. It is also Ed Orgeron’s first loss as LSU’s interim head coach.

Etling was pressured by the Crimson Tide defense all night long. He was sacked five times on the night and looked uncomfortable facing the nation’s number one defense. The Tigers have to do something, as running back Leonard Fournette couldn’t seem to be a factor all night despite his good game two weeks ago.

Highlights

The Crimson Tide are now 9-0 on the season and 6-0 in the SEC. They face Mississippi State next week. The LSU Tigers face Arkansas and are now 5-3 on the season and 3-2 in the conference.