Should be a pretty good game. Although I think that Arky has nothing BUT the run...Saban is a good enough defensive mind to stop McFadden and Jones--I just hope that the players can do it on the field. Also, the Arky D has to stop Terry Grant...Now, he's no McFadden, but he's no slouch either. He will show the SEC nation what he's got this weekend!
Last time i checked Saban isnt allowed to go on the field and play defense. His eligibility was used up at Kent St or whatever school he went too.. If he does i am sure we have faster receivers than him and will score many touchdowns . He may want to come over to our sideline during the game and take credit for all of LSU players. He might even go over to Ark. sideline and take credit for their players too. I think after Carr gets let go Saban will leave Bama and take the Michigan job. He is tired of Bama already.
If some of you guys took take your dislike of Saban out of the picture, I think you would look at this game differently. Last year, the game was lost by Bama at Arkansas. We outplayed them, but due to 4 missed kicks and the HC not willing to put in the other kicker, the outcome would have been different. No excuses, just bad decision making. That isn't the case last year. Last year, the defense was just as young as the one we are fielding this year. And, that defense held the tandem of Jones and McFadden to around 175 rushing yards, combined. I see no reason to expect anything less this year. It's about the same scenario, yes? Now, there is a difference on the other side of the ball. A difference that can be credited to the coaching. While I understand the notion of "the coach isn't the one on the field," the coaching does make a difference in preparation for the game. You frequently mention the affect of playing games at night in Tiger Stadium with many references to the crowd. Saban's first SEC game in BDS, with the loss last year to Arkansas fresh on everyone's mind? Yes, that'll make a difference. Arkansas played Troy. We've played Vandy and Western Carolina. I'd say, Vandy is the strongest of the three. (I still recall many talking about how Vandy was going to beat Bama.) Taken those games as references one should favor Alabama to win. I do find it interesting that you have a ranked team, Arkansas, vs what is now an unranked team, Bama, and you find most of the prognosticators saying Bama. Heck, even Vegas has the game leaning to Bama. We'll see come Saturday evening. Bottom line, as a fan base, we'll all have a better gauge on what Bama is fielding this year.
Like I said in another thread – they are both in our division – this is like picking the Mich/ND game – you would just a soon both of them lose. I think Bama fans are going to experience some tense moments before it is over, but someone will have to win it so I pick Bama in a close one. Anything that helps LSU win the division – One question for any Bama fans surfing by – since this is Bama’s first home game against an SEC East Division school, McFadden facing a Saban defensive unit, Bama coming off a road win against an SEC school, etc – what are tickets going for ????
Hey Terry-- I really don't care who wins this game. I am just enjoying the Tigers' start and hope that I don't have to worry about any other team's record. But was McFadden at full strength last year when you played them? I thought he was just barely over the ankle problem.
All good points. The one thing you have left out, is that you didn't analyze Arky's play against you guys last year. Did they play a particularly good game, about their norm, or below their norm. If they were below their norm, you can improve, and if they improve also, you still may not beat them. A year out, many things can change. Can Bama stop the run, we'll see. A lot of folks tried against their 2 great backs, and failed. I see a close good game.
Toe injury, and it certainly didn't seem to have any effect on his cutting ability. Good question. Last year, if I recall correctly, they were in their third game of the season. There is no doubt the team got better as the season progressed. One of the keys I see in this game is Arkansas losing 7 starters on defense, and just returning (this week) Harrison who is the best player they have on defense. Robinson (I think that's the guys name) plays the other DT position so they are strong up front. I see that situation breaking down like this... They'll get a push up the middle, but that's going to be counter acted with one thing the game film hasn't shown this season. We worked a lot on the quick, true screens in the spring and fall, and that is the quickest way to get the DL tentative in their rushing. Add to that we have the speed with Grant to get to the corners as long as our tackles can contain the DE's. There is no doubt Smith can on the left side. The question is the right side. But, I suspect on those plays we'll see one of the three TE's in rotation helping along those lines. Their secondary is questionable, at best. John Parker Wilson hasn't been his "old self" the last few weeks, but has had a good week in practice, isn't making mistakes, and knowing him like I do he'll come out this weekend. Last year, his rating was some unheard of number in this game. Something like 231. So, it now comes back to the defense. I don't have a doubt that our DE's and OLB's can contain the outside lanes. Now, I'm not saying we'll stop the Arkansas running game, but it can be contained. The question mark I have is in the middle, and that is if the NG/DT's can at least take up a few bodies to allow the MLB's to hit the gaps in the middle. Our ILB's can contain the run, it is probably their best talent trait. My thoughts on who wins... IF we can keep them around the 200 yard mark rushing, and make Dick throw the ball 20-25 times, we can come out of this with a win. While part of me thinks that it'll be a close game, I can't help but think this very well may be a lot like the '99 game in T-town. Last week, we were able to get into Nickson's head on the second play they had from scrimmage. Can we with Casey? We've been able, the last two weeks, to score very quickly on the first snap. If we do against Arkansas, score quickly that is, I see it a lot like the game in '02. One thing I'll add. While this game has depicted the season in the last few years for both squads, it didn't when Stallings was on the sidelines. Even with a loss, I don't see it the same way this year because we don't have a DuBose or Shula on the sideline. (fRan never lost to them)
