Another tough day for LSU against Alabama shows wide gap between them

First off, I must make sure that I tell you that I love my job covering sports in south Louisiana. Not enough people can say that.

But, I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say there are days that make you really not enjoy your job. Saturday was one of those days.

I didn’t believe that LSU would beat Alabama. Last Monday, head coach Ed Orgeron said it best. The Tigers have to play their best to beat anybody, when they do they can beat anybody.

Anybody except Alabama.

I walked into Death Valley just after noon, getting in early because of the heavy Baton Rouge traffic and hoping for an entertaining game at the very least.

When I reached the press box, I glanced out of a beautiful fall skyline above a nearly empty Tiger Stadium. “Maybe they can pull this off,” a voice said in my head. Thoughts of ‘The Earthquake Game’, the improbable win over Florida in ‘97 and just weeks ago against Georgia entered my mind.

As kickoff approached, I watched everything happening on the field below. The first observation that hit me was during warmups. As LSU came bounding out of their tunnel to stretch, Alabama trotted out in unison, moving with the precision of a Swiss watch.

The Crimson Tide ran quickly and purposefully to their respective stations, going through their drills.

LSU had shown up to play football. Alabama was in Baton Rouge on a business trip.

My optimism began to weaken.

Even as the crowd began to fill-in, some colleagues and I discussed a general feeling in the air that the “energy” was wrong.

LSU was going to have to pitch the perfect game, while facing one of the greatest juggernauts American sports has ever seen.

For the Tigers to win, they had to keep it simple. They had to block, they had to win their individual battles, they had to take care of the ball, and they had to own the clock.

My thoughts today on #LSU and Bama are pretty simple.
– LSU needs to get 40-plus rushing attempts.
– Must win the turnover battle
– Must not settle for 3 in the red zone
– Maintain assignment discipline on both lines
– Be aggressive, but not reckless
– 3rd downs are critical

— David M. Grubb (@DMGrubb) November 3, 2018

Not long after the game started, it seemed as if Bama had taken that script for themselves. Instead of the explosive offense that was averaging more than 50 points per game, Nick Saban controlled the ball with a calm and steady approach.

The Tide picked up four first downs on their first five plays. Though LSU eventually forced a punt, Alabama had already run 11 plays that took more than five minutes off of the clock.

LSU would have five first downs in the entire half.

By the end of the first quarter it was clear which was the better team. Though the Tide were only up 6-0 after the opening stanza, they had set the tone.

They were going to whip LSU physically. The Tigers needed to run the ball, but Alabama’s defense never gave them a chance. LSU didn’t average half of a yard per rushing attempt.

Saban didn’t have to call a blitz as his defensive line was often able to collapse the pocket on its own.

“We got beat at the line of scrimmage,” Orgeron said. “I gotta recruit better defensive linemen. Gotta recruit better offensive linemen. Same old thing. Gotta beat Alabama at the line of scrimmage.”

Yeah, Coach. We saw. We know.

Each quarter seemed worse than the last. As Bama continued to dominate, you could feel the hope escaping even the most die hard fans.

By the midway point of the fourth quarter, the fans began their escape.

After eight straight losses, LSU and Alabama isn’t a rivalry. The rivalry effectively died that night in the Superdome back in 2012.

Last night was without a doubt the most stinging loss to the Tide since then.

Alabama posted season bests in points allowed (0), rushing yards allowed (12), total yards allowed (196), yards per play allowed (3.3), total rushing yards (281), yards per carry (7.6), and pass attempts (42).

Legion Field was Alabama’s home away from home for decades. At least for now, the Crimson Tide seem to be feeling quite comfortable in Death Valley.

Bama has outscored LSU 70-30 in their last four meetings in Baton Rouge. Alabama now has more wins in Tiger Stadium (29) than LSU does in the entire series combined (25).

The divide between these two programs hasn’t narrowed.

In hindsight, the criticism of Bama’s schedule seems foolish.

Alabama’s 2019 football schedule just released. pic.twitter.com/HOdHf6SDAR

— Jeff (@goldend55) November 2, 2018

At this point, the question isn’t who has Alabama faced, but who has played anyone like the Tide?

The season isn’t over for LSU. They will be favored in every game the rest of the season. The Tigers could finish with as many as 11 wins. That would be an extremely successful season for any team.

Even if that happens, LSU and its fans will still have a bit of a hollow feeling inside. One that won’t be filled until the Tigers can walk off the field victoriously against the Crimson Tide.

Today, it feels like that day is too far away.