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LSU has the most intimidating national environment of all college football, owns three NFL defensemen for its defense, and has committed an offense saved by quarterback Joe Burrow of the Ohio transfer station State. The Tigers are ranked 3rd in the playoffs, and this weekend host Alabama, 1st in the annual ranking of college football university football.
The bad news is that LSU has no chance of winning. After Yahoo Sports called a half-dozen coaches and scouts familiar with both programs, it quickly became clear that the Tigers were living the worst week on this side of the Maryland Public Relations Department. This is not shocking because Vegas has installed Alabama as a favorite among the two touchdowns.
But the alternating tone of fear for Alabama and despair for LSU was striking. Let's start with Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson, who suffered a 57-7 injury against Crimson Tide in the second week.
"It's physically the most complete team I've ever seen in my career," said coach Anderson for nearly three decades, including Baylor and North Carolina. "With the quarterback playing at the highest level you can play, they can beat your brains in all three phases."
Nick Saban (R) and Crimson Tide are the favorites of the two touchdowns on the road in Death Valley against Ed Orgeron's Tigers. (AP)
Anderson had not seen much of the LSU, so he could not say much about the match in question. But the tone has not changed much. Here are five reasons coaches and scouts have explained why the tide will continue to work.
The "decisive" advantage of Alabama
The most surprising part is perhaps the talent gap. For many years under The Miles, LSU has earned a reputation for having high-end guys and mediocre results in spite of themselves. The opposite can be true this year.
"I think Alabama has a decisive advantage from the point of view of talent," said a veteran NFL scout who studied both teams. "LSU has outperformed this year compared to other teams in the past, especially in front on the defensive line, where they do not have the talent of previous teams."
One of the things Yahoo Sports has gleaned from talking to scouts and coaches is that Alabama should have a distinct advantage in both the ball race and the protection of star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. This is not the 2012 LSU, which hired four defensive linemen in the first five rounds of the upcoming NFL draft.
"There are possible individual clashes against LSU," said an assistant coach who has studied both closely. "LSU is not, from top to bottom, 11 people like Alabama's defense."
LSU plays without Devin White for the first half
The most important scenario on the pitch before the match started was LSU, who had to play in the first half without linebacker star Devin White, suspended for a call to questionable targeting. This will be a big problem, according to those who studied the teams.
"It's a major loss," said an NFL scout. "I think he's a games maker for them. Whenever you lose someone who can go from one line to the other, it is a huge loss. I see no other solution. They simply do not have the talent to lose a player of this caliber. I would not say it's a marginal difference, I would say it's dramatic. "
A SEC assistant coach said, "He is one of the best defensive players in the country. He is very active and can run and is physical. For me, this is one of the best players we have faced all year long and for a very long time. I think it's the best player on their defense. "
Best on the Best: Secondary LSUs vs. Alabama WRs
The match for which the opposing coaches are amazed is that of the receivers of Alabama who will face the secondary player of LSU. If the strength of the Tigers is final, they are the playmakers of the secondary. Among them are Grant Delpit, sophomore security student Kristian Fulton and Greedy Williams, all in junior, all of whom have a resplendent professional future.
"Their side team is one of the best I've seen," said an opposing offensive coach. "They are sporty and fast, but what they do, I have not seen them much [to this level] they're attacking the ball. If you launch it, they try to get rid of it, not to break it. He added that he had the impression that Delpit was one of the best university football players, regardless of his position.
Defense co-ordinator Dave Aranda, the highest paid assistant coach in college football, is LSU's main coaching asset. His stratagems are well respected by those who oppose him.
"He does subtle things that become major problems," said an opposing offensive coach. "He will know your five best stratagems and will do little things that will give rise to offense problems."
An assistant coach pointed out that Alabama's ability to neutralize high school would be twofold. The first is that LSU should not have a lot of haste. And if Alabama can run as it pleases, the day could be long.
"I do not think LSU will be able to take Alabama out of the field, because I think Alabama will be able to score an average of four or five yards in the first try," said the coach. "They will not be in third and 12th and will be able to move the chains. That's what I really see in the game. "
Greedy Williams (29), Grant Delpit (9) and Kristian Fulton (22) are one of the most formidable players in college football, but they will have their hands full in front of the receiving body of the Alabama. (AP)
Will LSU QB Joe Burrow be on display?
Some coaches have predicted that it could be an SEC baptism for Burrow at the quarterback. He was a major asset to the Tigers, who had experienced what looked like a Biblical drought at this post. But Burrow has completed only 53% of his passes and has six touchdowns. He only launched three interceptions, as decision making and reliability were his features.
"The LSU quarterback will be exposed," said an SEC assistant. "He is not very good. It is average. He is a general and a game manager. They meditate because they have not had a good quarter in a long time. He will fight against 'Bama. He is not a talented smuggler to disassemble them and beat them in the passing game. "
The player that the coaches and scouts really appreciate for Alabama's defense – and for whom many prognoses should be a big day – is Deionte Thompson's safety.
"He can cover the field so fast," said Anderson. "No matter what balloon you put in the air, no matter where you thought it was, it has a chance to take off."
The secret weapon of Nick Saban: Tua
My colleague Pat Forde did a good job capturing Tua-mania earlier on Thursday. And there was not a source Yahoo said this week that dampened Tua's hype. A coach gave an overview of what makes him so special.
"[Jalen] Hurts was 24-2, but he does not change the deal. Tua is. I always watch when one quarterback succeeds and another does not, they are guys who can do more than full balls at their first look. Pat Mahomes, he can hit the third, fourth or fifth look. JaMarcus Russell, he has never hit anything but a first look. It was not a surprise, he could not do it. Tua can hit the second look, or the third look, or extend the room. You will not restrict or push him into a situation that he can not handle. If they protect him, he will separate you. "
What helps Tagovailoa is a set of skill recipients that a scout calls an "unprecedented" group in terms of depth of talent for Alabama. He added that the Alabama attack line is being discussed for the country's highest group. The final result? Nobody thinks that LSU even has a lot of chances to cover the gap.
"They will easily win by three touchdowns," said an opposing assistant. "One thing Bama will do is to score the football. I do not know if LSU will be able to score the ball. "
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