Alabama’s defense came up with the biggest play of the first half, and it came at the perfect time.
With 28 seconds left before halftime, Luke Metz picked off an ill-advised throw from LSU’s Sam Leavitt and turned the Tigers away, preserving a 10-3 Crimson Tide lead at the break. LSU moved the ball well enough to pile up 209 first-half yards, but the scoreboard told a much harsher story.
“We have to do a better job against blitz zero down there,” Kiffin told ABC at halftime. “Obviously, Sam made a poor decision there, and we’re in field goal range (there).”
The Tide have done enough defensively to keep LSU in check, especially on the ground. Alabama limited the Tigers to 41 rushing yards in the first half, a number that helped blunt several drives that had some life before stalling out.
“You want more,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer told the Crimson Tide Sports Network at halftime about his defense’s performance. “We want to get off the field earlier. They are doing a great job, finding ways to make those plays.”
Kiffin pointed to the same issue from the other side of the ball: LSU has been able to move it, but not finish.
“Our defense settled down a little bit, but we have to finish drives on offense,” Kiffin said. “We’re moving it, but we’re stalling.”
For DeBoer, the concern wasn’t just what Alabama was doing well - it was what the Tide were giving away. Alabama was flagged five times for 40 yards in the half, and an offensive pass interference call at the end of the second quarter wiped out a chance to add more points before the break.
“We’re executing, but the penalties are hurting us right now,” he said. “We’re doing a good job in the red zone.
Can’t foul start. The pre-snap ones really hurt you. ...
“We’ve had good situations. Got to execute and find a way to get third-and-1 and stay on the field to keep drives alive.”
LSU will open the second half with the ball.
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