Alabama Football: 3 Bold Predictions for Showdown at LSU

3. Big game for Josh Jacobs

A lot of the non-Tua focus for Alabama’s offense will be on the likes of Damien Harris and Alabama’s spectacular group of young wide receivers led by sophomore Jerry Jeudy, who leads the nation in yards-per-catch at 25.1 yards per. Jeudy will likely be shadowed by star LSU cornerback Greedy Williams all game long.

LSU will be creative in their coverages and pressures, hoping to get home with four or five rushers so they can commit as many guys into coverage as possible. That could make things complicated for Tua Tagovailoa in terms of throwing down the field.

It will be interesting to see how healthy Tua’s knee is coming off the bye week and if Alabama will be comfortable calling some designed QB runs to take advantage of some soft spots that should open up in the LSU front.

Williams gets the most press, and deservedly so, but his running mate on the opposite side of the field, junior Kristian Fulton, has been every bit as good. That gives the Tigers a pair of lockdown cornerbacks to go along with one of the nation’s top safeties in sophomore Grant Delpit.

If Alabama can hold up in pass protection without keeping running backs and tight ends in to block, then the Tide has enough offensive weapons to make plays, even against the stingiest of defenses.

A big way they could take advantage early, and potentially open up some downfield shots later in the game, is to utilize junior running back Josh Jacob’s ability in open space as a receiver.

We’ve seen it a few times this season where Alabama has utilized two running backs sets with one of Damien Harris or Najee Harris on the field with Jacobs. Expect to see that numerous times as they look to keep LSU’s defense off-balance, and with the Tigers having to keep so many defenders committed to covering Alabama’s receivers, a guy like Jacobs could slip out and make a lot of plays in the open field.

Jacobs hasn’t been utilized as a receiver as much as he could be; part of the reason for that could be trying to save that for a game like this when his production is needed.

Against Texas A&M, Alabama sent Josh Jacobs out of the backfield on a slant route that Tua hit for a gain of 25 yards. That play disappeared after that – don’t be surprised to see it and others broken back out on Saturday night.

Josh Jacobs seems like the Alabama back most capable of making plays against this LSU defense, so look for him to be a big part of the offensive gameplan.