Lets nip this rant narrative in the bud

we have a tendency on short yardage plays to run the bunch formation. everyone is on the line in tight around the center. of course, the defense is bunched on the line as well. it never works, and we continue to run into that stacked box time and again. or we always have. this is what drives me crazy.

Alabama hasn’t needed to stack the box to stop LSU. They are talented enough and better coached to not need it.

LSU has no WR threats outside of Chark and so that is what people aren’t going to see LSU scoring many points on them. They don’t need their DBs to help in he running game and you’re not using Jetsweeps to outflank them because they don’t have to commit extra guys to stop the run.

I wouldn't say it never works. We have converted plenty of 3rd and shorts

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Our OL will need to win some match ups for us to win.

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Well, we all know this isn't happening.

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Also, when you run an I formation with 2 TEs, that's 8 blockers, so there is no reason to not have 8 in the box. Stacking the box is usually a reaction to offense. You put 8 in the box against 3 WR sets you are asking for trouble. LSU has historically run a lot of heavy formations.

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this is what I was saying, but you said it better. keep it spread out. I hate the heavy package. if you need more than a half yard the success rate is not that good, especially in clutch situations.

when I say it never works, that is hyperbole.

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nip

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Love a good nip

Alabama has never been scared to 'chase' blockers with their LBs because they know their DL are stout:

- Often, if a OL pulls the LB instead of sliding down the line will chase the pulling OL and because he's engaging at LoS he'll catch up to the RB.

They can do this for two reasons:
- Their LBs are athletic/good enough to make those plays and disciplined/coached well enough that they are simultaneously covering any cutbacks.

- Their S can cover. They will us the CB (up near line) as if to jam, then hand off coverage to S and the CB will have outside containment. So if you're reading S he's engaging WR while CB is coming in, from a shorter distance, to prevent from being outflanked. The LBs can focus on point-of-attack.

That's why the quick passes to WR at LoS never seem to work against them, there's always 2 of them there and WR can't make a move.

And why bring S to 'stack box' when CB is already near LoS to in effect 'stacking box' as soon as you snap. And you're not accounting for him. He'll line up on inside position so WR won't be able to prevent him from getting inside the box with a couple of steps.

Saban stacks the box often... he just doesn't do it pre-snap. He does it post-snap by having the back 8 in disguised positions (and great athletes with speed) to beat you to the point. He did the same thing at MSU; they just used to call it the 'Buddy Ryan zone blitz', which was inaccurate.

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hey have stacked the box every year, every game

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No they haven't. Go research it. The play their normal defense. Their safeties play at normal depth 90% of the time

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On passing downs, they don’t have to blitz. They can drop 7 into coverage and still destroy our o line while only rushing 4. 

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Wrong. Saban has stunted & blitzed the Tigers to death in obvious passing situations the last 5 years because the offensive line has struggled to stop it.