re: So the guys in the secondary will be

Good stuff. Thanks man!

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LSU has been working on zone principles all season FOR THIS EXACT GAME and I cannot understand why so many people think they're going to abandon that now and change their philosophy.

This is the game they've wanted the zone for more than any other.

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I don't think they will abandon it. But given they haven't been particularly good playing zone all season AND they will now have a lot of inexperienced players in the secondary, they may be more apt to alter their approach to some degree with the front 6-7 to create pressure to help out the secondary. Alabama hasn't been a great passing team by any means. But if you give even an average QB time to throw to good WRs he's going to hit at least some of those passes.

While LSU wasn't quite in the dire straits they are today with the secondary, the 2021 defense didn't have a great secondary (at the time) going in to the Alabama game. In fact, the 3 opponents LSU faced ahead of that game scored 42, 42, 31. LSU took the bye week and completely changed their defensive philosophy. They attacked and blitzed Alabama, with Bryce Young, up the middle all night. It didn't completely shut Alabama down, but it was the best defensive effort of the year and gave LSU a chance to win.

The good news for this defense is they may have the largest margin for error of any defense outside of 2019. I think LSU can at least score 30 in this game. So why not take a few more chances trying to apply some pressure? If Milroe hits a big pass while under heat you tip your cap and consider it more time that your offense can be on the field. Alabama is likely going to have roughly 10-12 meaningful possessions in the game. Can you keep them off the board on 5-7 of those possessions?

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Can Yaites or Toviano serve as nickels or dimes?

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Yaites has been playing in Dime off an on this season already. Toviano played CB late in the Army game. You might see him or a couple of others play Nickle when Perkins moves to Jack on a passing downs. I would bet we stick with the 4-3 and have Perkins in that role more often than not against Milroe, though.