As usual, we got our coordinator interviews yesterday leading into LSU week. First up, Ryan Grubb:
At less than 6 minutes, Grubb kept this presser pretty short.
“You gotta run disciplined, and you gotta run physical,” Grubb said. “What I mean by that is don’t pass on the four-yard run. Against a defense like this, if there’s a crack there we’ve got to take it. We can’t be greedy and think about ‘what if I bounce this one.’ Just gotta follow their rules, be disciplined, and run aggressively and with
belief. I believe our guys can run the football on these guys.
…”For us it’s going to be staying disciplined with the read and keeping the ball moving forward and being patient for the big one.”
Both I and the Bama Hammer author immediately noted Grubb’s comment here about wanting his RBs to stay patient with 4 yard gains. But can Grubb stay patient with his running backs only getting 4 yards? To this point, he hasn’t proved he’s willing to stick with a running game that’s not getting 5+ per carry.
The other question is, do we WANT him to stay patient? Because I’m also not sure this offense has the capability to be one to win with slow, plodding drives. They need the explosive plays, one way or another.
Wommack on LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt: “Think this quarterback is playing at a really high level right now. Very impressed with his arm talent. He’s got a lot of toughness and moxie and has got a lot of weapons that he can get the ball to. Obviously has probably had some throws that he would want back, but he’s also very very dynamic. I’m impressed with his decision making in the quick game RPO world. I knew he was a talented quarterback, and you’d watch some things in the off season, but watching him right now, the ball delivery, his arm strength right now and accuracy is at a really really high level.”
Leavitt’s growth as the season has gone on really worries me, and his ability to either get the ball out quick or take off running is going to make things really tough on the Alabama defense. I don’t think this is a game we can expect the defense to totally take over, so we REALLY need the offense to be ready to outscore LSU somehow.
“Yeah, it’d be very important, it will be, for us to execute. Everyone doing their job, being on the same page, and that helps Keelon [Russell] out, grabbing some momentum, staying on the football field. Keeps their offense off the field as well. So, it all plays into doing what it takes to win there. A completely different team, but a couple years ago, that was a big part of us going down there. Learning from playing in an environment at Tennessee and guys adjusting and being better because of the hardships we had. Very similar is what you’d hope for this year. We struggled at Tennessee with some things, and different team, again, that we’re obviously facing. But taking those moments and learning from it, and being better because of it. So, that’s what we gotta do, and the run game will be a very strong part of that.”
DeBoer raises an interesting point here how the 2024 squad and this team both had to take on LSU and Tennessee on the road. Here’s to hoping Keelon Russell can pull a Jalen Milroe against LSU to really complete the circle.
In injury news, DeBoer is playing things close to the vest:
Alabama ‘headed in good direction’ for key players to return from injury vs. LSU
The No. 9-ranked Crimson Tide saw star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, preseason All-America cornerback Zabien Brown, center Racin Delgatty and defensive tackle Terrance Green sidelined by injuries last month. But after having last week off, coach Kalen DeBoer sounded optimistic on Monday about their recovery and possible return, saying they’re all “headed in a good direction” in advance of the game vs. the No. 15 Tigers.
“A lot of these guys from Zabien Brown to Ryan Coleman-Williams, EJ [Crowell], Racin [Delgatty], Terrance Green in particular — those guys are all working onto the football field,” DeBoer said. “They’re not all in the exact same spot, but they’re all out there going through workouts. Some are taking team reps, some are taking noncontact reps.”
Here’s to hoping most, if not all, of these guys are ready to go Saturday. That would be huge.
DeBoer also mentioned the Dez Umeozulu is still a few weeks out.
Kiffin was also asked about the costs and benefits of the bye week, and he said he thinks he feels overall that the topic is often overrated.
He went on to talk about how LSU was in a good rhythm before its bye, but it did provide a chance for LSU to get some rest, especially with how banged up the Tigers are.
In terms of either team having an advantage or disadvantage for coming off the bye, Kiffin said there isn’t really one, as both LSU and Alabama will be coming off of one.
I don’t know about LSU’s roster status, but Alabama was in desperate need of a bye week with so many players injured. So that part alone was a major benefit for the Tide.
Finally, here’s the SEC Shorts skit for the week:
This might have been one of their better ones with political ads and the “paid for by…” lines under each one. As usual, no one was spared.
