Nick Saban thinks Alabama’s path at LSU starts with the same two things that have tripped the Crimson Tide up lately: keeping Keelon Russell clean and keeping the ball out of harm’s way.
On his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee show, the former Alabama coach laid out the biggest hurdles facing his old team as it heads into Death Valley for one of the toughest road games on the schedule. Russell, who has shown flashes of elite talent in his first year as a collegiate starter, has also gone through the growing pains that come with the job.
“I think the big thing with Keelon Russell is in the last couple weeks, he’s had more turnovers, gotten sacked more,” Saban said.
Those issues helped fuel Alabama’s loss at Tennessee and the close call two weeks ago against Texas A&M. With LSU up next, Saban made it clear that the Tide can’t afford more of the same. Negative plays and turnovers, in his view, are the quickest way to let a game like this slip away.
Alabama should also be getting some help back on the roster after injuries piled up over the last month or so. The team announced Friday that wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, center Racin Delgatty, and defensive lineman Terrance Green are among the players returning, with others possibly joining them.
Even so, Saban didn’t pretend that getting bodies back automatically solves the problem. Tiger Stadium is still Tiger Stadium, and he pointed to the challenge of handling everything that comes with playing there.
“Going to LSU and playing, you gotta have a special maturity as a team to be able to be, I mean, on top of your focus to go in there and be able to play, to overcome the noise, the circumstance, and LSU’s got a very good team,” Saban said.
He also tied that challenge to the mental side of Alabama’s season, bringing up the Tennessee game as a reminder of what happens when a team doesn’t handle the moment well enough.
“So you’re going to have to overcome a lot, and that’s going to take a lot of maturity on their part,” Saban said. “Now, they didn’t show they could do that at Tennessee, and to me, LSU is a little bit of a similar team in terms of they’re going to play good defense, they’re going to pressure the quarterback a lot, which Alabama’s going to have to handle, and these guys can put points on the board even better than Tennessee.”
Still, Saban believes Alabama has enough to compete if it can clean up the mistakes and get more consistent play from Russell.
“So this is going to be a big, big challenge for Alabama,” Saban said. “They’re going to get some of these players back and get some of these issues fixed, and Keelon Russell can play with a little more consistency.”
His message for the quarterback was simple: don’t force the issue.
“You know, it’s okay to punt,” Saban said. “I used to tell the quarterback all the time, ‘If every drive ends with a kick, we’re ok. Punt, field goal, extra point, but you don’t have to try and make plays that aren’t there, that turn into negative plays, that just kill you in the game.”
For Alabama, that may be the cleanest formula heading into one of the season’s biggest tests.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffins Alabama Problem Just Got Bigger In The Playoff
Lane Kiffins history against Alabama has become part of the backdrop every time he lines up across from the Crimson Tide, and it is impossible to ignore again with LSU set for a playoff matchup against No. 5 Alabama. As a head coach, Kiffin is 0-5 against Alabama, a run that has followed him through stops at different programs and kept this rivalry from ever feeling routine when his name is on the opposite sideline.
Now the stakes are even higher, with No. 14 LSU entering as the favorite and the result carrying real weight for both Kiffin and Alabamas coaching staff. For Kiffin, it is another chance to change a storyline that has followed him for years. For Alabama, it is the kind of game that can sharpen the scrutiny on every decision if the Tide do not handle business in the playoff setting. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Is Already Stirring Drama Before Alabama's LSU Test
Lane Kiffin is already adding a little edge to Alabamas trip to Baton Rouge, and not just because LSU is waiting on the other sideline. With the Crimson Tide and Tigers set for a late-afternoon kickoff, Kiffin suggested the SEC put the game in daylight to blunt the usual punch of Tiger Stadium, where LSU tends to feed off its night-game atmosphere.
He also made clear the size of the challenge Alabama presents, calling the Crimson Tide the most talented team LSU has seen this season. So even before the first snap, the stage is set for a test that carries the usual SEC weight and a little extra noise, with kickoff slated for 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets An LSU Boost But One Big Health Question Remains
Alabama got a useful bit of good news on the injury front heading into Saturdays trip to LSU, with wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, center Racin Delgatty and defensive lineman Terrance Green all cleared to play. For a team heading into one of the seasons biggest road environments, any added depth matters, especially with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. CT at Tiger Stadium and the game set for ABC.
The bigger question is how healthy the rest of the roster will be once the Crimson Tide get to Baton Rouge. Several players are still listed as questionable or doubtful, including cornerback Zabien Brown and third-string quarterback Jett Thomalla, leaving Alabama with a few important decisions to monitor as the week moves on. The return of a few contributors helps, but the final availability picture still has some uncertainty attached to it. [Read more 🡒]