The Les and Nick Showdown in T-Town| by Chris Warner on Nov 1, 2009 at 9:05 pm |  | |
With Auburn and Arkansas inconsistent and Ole Miss struggling to reclaim its former late-season swagger, the commanding balance of the Southeastern Conference Western Division powers clash this weekend in what has become, like the inevitable changing of the autumnal leaves, an accustomed early November classic.
LSU has won national championships with each head coach in this contest-but its latest-Les Miles, is the one who last did it; and in the "what have you done for me lately" world of college football, timeliness is everything. In early head-to-head competition they have traded games, en route to becoming intense recruiting competitors.
To the frenzied LSU and Alabama fan bases, this showdown in T-Town is a decisive rubber ball game between the two highly-paid head, highly-respected coaches. This game is critical not only in terms of bragging rights-but more importantly, toward a firm edge in recruiting momentum, which ultimately ensures the continual flow of each program's championship lifeblood.
In this exclusive piece for TigerDroppings.com, the place where computer-literate Alabama fans come to get their scoop on everything LSU-Bama, we'll examine two Southeastern Conference head football coaches, Les Miles and Nick Saban, consider their varied approaches and philosophies, and make a bold game prediction based on talent and to-date tendencies. Moreover, we'll take our regular armchair quarterback tour across the nation's toughest football conference, commenting on Tim Tebow's apparent "concussion watch" and Tennessee's recent shocking scare of the Crimson Tide, as well as Georgia's unsuspecting slide.
Deconstructing Les & Nick: What Makes Them Tick?
One is seen as the quintessential player's coach; the other-a narcissistic tyrant who ostensibly breaks coaches and players, roughly conforming them to his rightful way of playing football. One is seen as goofy, affable and even a riverboat gambler when it comes to calling plays and making decisions. The other is known for his staunch conservatism, and an even stauncher defense. Both are not from the South, much less the Deep South. Both have won the crystal ball for LSU, despite their various and sundry approaches.
Miles the Misunderstood
Undoubtedly, he has a quirky, always colorful way of communicating. He is generally well-liked, but along with success, he has had his share of problems. However, Miles is the consummate program manager, a great long-term game planner and an even better recruiter, orchestrating a carefully-constructed ensemble with tact, dignity and respect. His only drawback is he is not his predecessor, as his record and accomplishments speak for themselves.
Saban the Driven
Admittedly, he's as difficult as he is ingenious. He is generally respected, but he's had his media problems related to truthfulness and unexpectedly jumping ship. His defenses, when fully stocked and trained, are always among the country's best. Nevertheless, his intensity and jagged drive tends to wear down his players and apprentices, evidenced by the fact that he's never stayed anywhere longer than five years and his assistant coaches' office has a revolving door. That notwithstanding, he is a winning commodity whose demeanor is wholly tolerable by a championship-starved, willfully overpaying fan base.
The Matchup
This matchup is in reality probably closer to Crowton versus Saban since the vaunted Alabama defense is mainly controlled by Saban and the LSU offense is supposedly mainly controlled by Gary Crowton. Crowton, known for his offensive wizardry from the 2007 National Championship Game against Ohio State's number-one ranked defense, will have to conjure similar inner strength and creativity in his approach toward circumventing the top-ranked Tide defense. Alabama has one of its strongest defenses in years, headlined by larger than life senior All-American nose tackle, Terrance, "Mount" Cody and alpha male linebacker Rolando McClain, both future Sunday players.
Alabama has been consistently strong on defense the entire season, giving little on the ground or through the air. Although, if there is one chink in the Alabama defensive armor, it's undoubtedly in their secondary, past the physical freaks that comprise the Tide front seven. It's not that the Bama secondary is subpar-that's hardly the case-it's just that they are more physically normal than their up-front teammates. It is here that LSU will have to win the ballgame, and that depends on the quarterback play of Jordan Jefferson and whomever else Crowton and Miles send in to play the position.
Alabama and LSU's defenses are statistically similar in that they both give up few scores. LSU's defense has become increasingly stingy, and this is a positive trend for the Tigers. Offensively, one could argue forcefully that LSU certainly has many more receiving weapons than Alabama, but the Tide can counter that with a far superior rushing game. LSU will try and stop the Bama running game with Mark Ingram and force McElroy to pick on LSU's defensive strength-its freakishly athletic secondary. If the Tigers can stop the Alabama running game McElroy will be forced to make the winning plays against the Tigers, and in doing so he'll have paid fully his first year dues, as the Tiger secondary is as deep and talented as anyone the Tide has played-or better.
Just as LSU will have difficulty containing the Tide running game and the pervasive home cooking of its partisan, SEC officiating crew, so too will LSU's offensive line have problems with Alabama's defensive point of attack. Cody's endless inertia creates a veritable black hole for dive plays and inside draws. The LSU offensive line will have to use excellent technique and teamwork in order to neutralize his unbridled, ubiquitous girth. LSU's likely approach will be to open up the run with the successful slant and intermediate passing game, sprinkled with the occasional play-action deep ball to keep everyone-defensive coaches and players-honest.
Predictably, this game will be like it often is-low scoring and full of good, physical defense. Both teams are certainly capable of playing that role. Which team makes the least mistakes is likely the one who wins, which is why we must again discuss the all-important topic of quarterback play. Both quarterbacks are young and fairly untested. Jordan Jefferson had his worst outing against Florida's similar, physical defense. As a result, LSU lost. Can he improve his next big-game performance? If so, the Tigers should win if they score more than 17 points, as Alabama's offense has struggled to find the end zone in recent weeks. Conversely, LSU's offense, like its defense, is improving its diversity and inherent strengths, at the perfect time-down the stretch when it really needs it. To date, the LSU offense has not played a complete game. Bama has. Although, the Tide has yet to reclaim the offensive firepower it demonstrated earlier in the year when it was posting much bigger numbers.
LSU's receiving quartet of Brandon Lafell, Terrance Tolliver, Reuben Randle and tight end Richard Dickson is about is good as it gets in the SEC. No other team has such a formidable pass-catching lineup. The Tigers are loaded and when you throw in all-purpose backs Trindon Holliday and Russell Shepard, one sees that Jefferson and Crowton have multiple options. Moreover, Bama has had limited difficulty stopping aggressive slant routes that quickly get receivers behind their sturdy, run-stopping linebackers.
If LSU can loosen up the Bama defensive front seven by moving the ball effectively through the air, it may have success running the ball. Without it, LSU's offense may prove to be inept toward breaching the vast, seemingly impenetrable great Wall of Cody and company; as if the Tigers become predictable they will absolutely become Alabama's defensive prey.
A Little Chocolate and Strawberry to go With Miles' Vanilla?
Tiger fans all season have deplored the play calling of offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. Many have speculated that the Tigers have been sandbagging all year…saving up for the Bama game. I find this as preposterous as the notion of Alabama's twelve national championships. However, I do believe that you'll see a little trickery from Crowton and/or Miles, as I believe they have both read the "Art of War" by Sun Tzu and its related writings on the inherent power of the element of surprise. This may be the game the Tigers break out a little flavor and make their offense appear more Neopolitan, if not more diversified, as the Tide's head man will surely spend his due time in the film room weighing fully LSU's strengths and tendencies. LSU giving the Tide a new offensive look or two could create problems in the form of game-time adjustments to alignment, scheme, gap responsibility and route coverages.
What Could Happen:
I see this game having a similar look, feel and turnout as the 2005 and 2007 games in which LSU prevailed in gritty, tough contests. Expect a defensive struggle highlighted and determined by big plays and turnovers. The team which makes the most and least, respectively, will win. Furthermore, if LSU is to prevail it will need to create running lanes by forming successful passing lanes while Bama will need to likewise impose its running will on the LSU front seven while successfully working their playmaker, sophomore receiver Julio Jones, into the attack. I like LSU in a close, to-the-wire victory in Tuscaloosa, leaving Tide fans pining for a late-season, undefeated championship run, coupled with a Bengal Tiger loss, in order to get to Atlanta.
Tebow on "Concussion Watch"
Florida's all-everything quarterback and supreme role model, Tim Tebow, became the SEC's all-time rushing touchdown leader with 50. So much for concussions, I guess. Tebow's effort showed no signs of weariness from head injury. The outstanding, record-shattering performance by the Heisman hopeful punctuated a 41-17 blowout of the Georgia Bulldogs in a game that may have effectively turned up the heat on the padded recliner of Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt. In a league full of great coaches and programs, Richt has found himself precariously walking that fine line between failure and success, ultimately realizing that there is little toe-wiggling room. Richt must win out if his Dawgs are to continue a record streak of 12 8-win football seasons. If the streak falls, will so too go Richt's head?
Kiffin Getting Some
Lane Kiffin's Tennessee Volunteers added another colorful feather to their growing war bonnet Saturday. By adding a garnet quill to the silver and red representing Georgia, South Carolina was added to the successful quarry bag of Lane Kiffin-undoubtedly one of the worst places for any coach, young or old. How Kiffin finishes the season will go a long way toward revealing the true nature of this team, and its controversial revamping under "Little Kiff." Mark Richt was already on the hot seat. However, could this too be the nearing end for Darth Visor, with Kiffin playing the role of the SEC's Luke Skywalker?
Nutt Gets Chizzed
This past Saturday Houston Nutt's Ole Miss Rebels ran into a pack of wounded Auburn Cats that were backed up against the proverbial wall. The upset Auburn victory made the Tigers bowl-eligible and the Rebels a virtual non-factor in the ongoing race for the conference championship, even though they were the preseason favorite to win the Western Division by all the supposed experts. With a post-season berth already secured, an upset of Alabama in the Iron Bowl (Bama struggled against Ole Miss) makes Auburn's Coach Chiz the unlikely SEC Coach of the Year.
Chris Warner is a double graduate of LSU. He is the author of numerous books, including "A Tailgater's Guide to SEC Football Volume III" and "The Wagon to Disaster: The Untold Story of HealthSouth" co-authored with Aaron Beam, founder and first CFO, also an LSU graduate. Get both books at Books-A-Million.
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