Alabama found an unexpected weapon late against LSU, and the Crimson Tide made sure to use him with purpose.
In the fourth quarter, the Tide dialed up a play that put freshman wide receiver Cederian Morgan in position to score for the second time this season. Just like his first career catch, the 6-foot-4 freshman turned it into a touchdown.
Ryan Coleman-Williams helped set the stage with an explosive punt return, and the sequence quickly became the Keeon Russeel to Morgan show.
Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said the entire thing was planned, and he pointed to the trust Morgan has earned from the staff.
“We had some stuff dialed up in the red zone that we worked really hard at manufacturing, even from the personnel groupings that we were in to get the look that we needed,” Grubb said. “So Cederian (Morgan) and Derek (Meadows) in the game was very intentional, and that call was ready to go in that area, and we didn’t think we were going to get the ball there.
And then obviously, of course, Ryan makes an incredible return and gets us in that position, had to stay aggressive in the game. Just knew the team we were playing.
And certainly there were some moments there where here were some max aggression plays that we had to make. And that was maybe one of the biggest ones.
And Cederian and Derrick operated great. Keelon made about as good a throw as humanly possible in that spot.
It was a big-time play.”
Morgan has caught only two passes this season, and both have gone for Alabama touchdowns.
Given how the Tide used him against LSU, it would not be a shock to see his role grow as the season moves along.
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