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If you haven't read Smart Football's opus on Nick Saban's defense yet, you should. It breaks down Saban's most common defensive calls and gives insight into the way Saban coaches defense. As I read it, one thing really stuck out to me after seeing Richt's last few games against Saban. It starts with Chris's quote of Saban's LSU defensive playbook:
"In all situations, we will defend the inside or middle of the field first – defend inside to outside. Against the run, we will not allow the ball to be run inside. We want to force the ball outside. Against the pass, we will not allow the ball to be thrown deep down the middle or inside. We want to force the ball to be thrown short and/or outside."
The 2004 LSU game provided a perfect roadmap to counter the Saban defensive philosophy. As you will recall, David Greene threw for a school record five TDs that day. Three of them were on fly patterns down the sidelines as Reggie Brown and Fred Gibson got in single coverage against cornerbacks. The safety was either coming on a blitz or got looked off by Greene. Another of those touchdowns was on an out route in the red zone. All of these plays attacked the edges of the Saban defense instead of the interior, where Saban wants to defend at all costs.
Last year, on the first play of overtime, Richt and Bobo went right for the edge, hitting Mikey Henderson on a fly route down the sideline in man coverage. I'm convinced that the only reason we didn't see this more of those throws in Tuscaloosa was because the coaches were still uncertain about the ability of our offensive line to protect. That's also why we saw so many screens and quick slants in Tuscaloosa.
In short, the edges of Saban's defense are where the points are. Saban sets out to take the easy stuff off the table and force the other team to execute the most difficult runs and throws. In 2004, Greene was almost perfect on those throws and Gibson and Brown made great catches when Greene laid it out there. Look for the same thing Saturday, if the line can protect. In fact, I think Stafford is more capable of attacking the edges than Greene was. Staff has shown he can hit deep throws down the sidelines, but because of his arm strength, he can also hit a more difficult throw: the deep out. We've already thrown a number of these routes this year and I expect to see more Saturday. Again, attack the edges where Saban's defense is most vunerable. Stafford and the receivers just need to execute because the openings will be there.
As for the running game, I don't see us running right at the Bama front seven. I expect a number of screens of all variety in the first half because 1) they've worked well all year, 2) we'll need to slow down the pass rush, and 3) we need to move Terrence Cody and get him in space. Once those screens slow down the rush, look for those throws to the edge.
As for the running game, I don't see us running right at the Bama front seven. I expect a number of screens of all variety in the first half because 1) they've worked well all year, 2) we'll need to slow down the pass rush, and 3) we need to move Terrence Cody and get him in space. Once those screens slow down the rush, look for those throws to the edge.
So there's a sketch of a game plan. What do you think?
Quinton
