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Alabama’s defense was great vs. LSU, but was it all-time great under Nick Saban?
By Will Heath
Published:
We live in an age of hyperbole, and the comments roll off the tongue easily. “This is the best college football season in history.” “That quarterback is the worst passer ever.” “Saturday was the most exciting game in the history of (insert name of stadium or city here).”
Of course, most people think “history” just means “since I started watching,” or “since stuff started coming on television,” but it’s history nonetheless.
Bu when it comes to an expression like “best under Nick Saban” it’s a difficult statement to make, particularly for the defense. Since Saban arrived at Alabama in 2007, the Tide has ranked outside the national top-10 in total defense exactly twice — 2007 and 2014 — and finished in the top-5 every other year save one (2010).
Saturday night’s defensing of LSU and the previously unstoppable Leonard Fournette was a textbook Nick Saban game plan. The Crimson Tide spent two weeks, in essence, determined that Leonard Fournette was not going to beat them. Literally anyone else on the field would have a shot, but not No. 7.
And it worked.
By now you have heard and read the Fournette stat line a thousand times – 19 carries, 31 yards – and you could repeat it on command. If you do, be sure to remind people that the line was actually goosed a little by an 18-yard run Fournette ripped off in the fourth quarter.
There is serious reason to include this LSU shutdown among the best defensive performances at Alabama of all time, and certainly during Nick Saban’s tenure. Here are a few other contenders:
• 2008 vs. Clemson: It was the night the Tide rose again. Alabama allowed a Clemson team many thought might make a run at a national championship only 188 total yards of offense, and zero yards rushing. Yes, zero yards. The Tigers’ backfield duo of James Davis and C.J. Spiller – “Thunder and Lightning” – combined for 20 yards total on offense, and Clemson’s only TD was a 96-yard Spiller return of the second-half kickoff.
• 2009 vs. Florida: The SEC Championship Game – and effective national semifinal – was a showcase for Alabama’s defense, which avenged its previous year’s defeat to Florida by limiting the great Tim Tebow to mere mortality in a 32-13 triumph. Tebow’s stats were not paltry — he finished with 63 yards rushing on 10 carries, and 247 yards passing, with a touchdown and an interception — but Bama shut out the Gators in the second half, creating the “Tim Tebow Crying” meme everyone recognizes from the fourth quarter of this game.
• 2011 vs. Arkansas:.A forgotten gem from that season. Arkansas actually rose as high as No. 3 in the polls in 2011 under coach Bobby Petrino, but had the misfortune of sharing a division with the two best teams in the nation, Alabama and LSU. Both of them pounded the Hogs to death. Alabama limited Tyler Wilson to 5.3 yards per completion, two TDs and a pick-6, before he eventually gave way to backup Brandon Mitchell in a 38-14 Alabama win.
• 2011 vs. LSU; 2012 vs. LSU (in New Orleans): The first time these two teams met, Alabama’s defense was staunch. The Tigers managed only 94 yards passing, threw two interceptions and scored only six points in regulation. But the Tide was undone by an offense that couldn’t finish drives (3 missed FGs) and turned the ball over twice itself. LSU won 9-6.
When fate and the Bowl Championship Series brought the two teams back together for the national championship in New Orleans, Bama’s defense was virtually impregnable. LSU finished with 92 total yards (92!) and crossed midfield exactly once, as the Tide claimed a 21-0 victory and a ring. In the aftermath of the game, a narrative emerged that LSU was a “no offense” squad, but that was and is untrue. LSU in 2011 beat up everyone on its schedule … except Alabama.
• 2013 vs. Notre Dame (national championship game in Miami): Pretty much the exact game everyone expected. The Irish weren’t good enough to run with Bama and it showed — the Tide led 35-0 at halftime, and most of ND’s 302 total yards came in garbage time.
• 2014 vs. Texas A&M: The Aggies were reeling coming into this game, sure, but this may have been the game that broke them completely. A&M finished with 172 total yards of offense, no points and a new quarterback (Kyle Allen replaced Kenny Hill, who went from Heisman hopeful to transfer). Alabama led 42-0 at halftime, and that was basically that.
Will Heath is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football.
