re: How many RB's in the NFL are better (more talented) than Leonard Fournette?

quote:

---

I love when people speak in absolutes. That's a 200 pound cornerback stoning him in the gap by the way

---

First off, the Tide have 7 defenders committed to the box on that play. There's actually 8 if you count #24 who comes charging in late.

Secondly, the cornerback makes the tackle but the 2 interior lineman ruin the play from the snap. I can't tell all the numbers on the jerseys from the gif but the lineman who was over center Pocic jumps the snap count, pushes Pocic back into the backfield instantly causing Fournette to have to make his decision on where to run almost as he is receiving the handoff.

Lastly, this was a predictable, off tackle run look to the strong side where TE Desean Smith was lined up. The defense knew where the direction of the play presnap because it was predictable as frick. The corner makes the tackle but every defender who was in the box squeezes down the right side C gap on this play because every defender knew the direction the run was headed before the ball was even snapped. The corner even knows its a run to the C gap from his alignment presnap. There's 2 things this gif shows.

One, it shows the Tiger's offensive line losing at the point of attack. Pocic gets shoved back at the snap, Vadal Alexander gets stonewalled providing no push whatsoever & Desean Smith allows Denzel Duvall to squeeze the C gap causing Fournette to have to slow down as he nears the line of scrimmage. I don't care who the running back is, they will not have success trying run with that much penetration & lack of a running lane.

Two, it shows just how predictable & outdated the Tiger's offense truly was. In the battle coaching minds, this was a mismatch. No misdirection, no other threats option wise from the look of the formation, no zone read. Had this been a zone read option for Harris, he has room to run for days with the defense keying on Fournette. All you did was prove just how simple this offensive scheme was to prepare for. I guarantee it didn't take the entire 2 weeks before these matchups for Saban & his staff to derive a game plan, install & have his players executing in practice what it was going to take to stop the LSU ground game.