TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Football team no. 15 Alabama entered Baton Rouge looking to survive Death Valley and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. The Crimson Tide ultimately did much more than survive, as they made a statement in Kalen DeBoer’s first SEC road win, defeating LSU 42-13.

Strong defense was the theme for the Crimson Tide as they turned over LSU three times and didn’t allow a touchdown until just 11 seconds remained in the game. However, much like Alabama’s game against Georgia, the Crimson Tide offense was surgical and executed at a high level as their performance buried LSU in their own backyard.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe led the way, recording his second career touchdown game in the process, joining former Crimson Tide superstar Shaun Alexander as the only men with multiple games, scoring four or more field goals in a game in program history. .

Milroe had just seven carries for 10 yards against Vanderbilt and 14 for 11 yards against Tennessee after a tough matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs. He combined for 29 more against South Carolina and Missouri for 86 total yards and two scores as speculation was rife about the quarterback’s health. The bye week and his effort Saturday night put to bed questions about his health after some challenging performances in October.

“Yeah, I think so,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said. “He probably had some good vibes from a year ago as well. I think it’s something to do with the fact that we got him off to a fast start, and again, other guys did their jobs to help him get to that spot. There are blocks that Other guys think he played physical. I think we’ve won trenches, both offensive line and defensive line, but by giving them some holes, each one has helped take some of the pressure off in the big moments where they have to convert. on a third and longer every drive And when we’re able to stay in front of the chains we can get off three yards, five yards, eight yards and then all of a sudden an explosive play yeah I felt like it was going well tonight this, isn’t it?

Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan unveiled a nice game plan Saturday as the Crimson Tide opted for the football first in a hostile environment. Sheridan’s early plays quickly got the ball into the hands of Jam Miller, Kendrick Law, Ryan Williams and Justice Haynes, forcing the Tigers to start considering more than just Milroe. In fact, Milroe’s first carry didn’t come until the eighth play of the opening drive, going for 39 yards and a touchdown to set the tone for the rest of the game.

When Sheridan finally decided to run Milroe, he opted to show LSU a play that would haunt them all evening. Alabama lined up in a drive set with Williams, Germie Bernard and Law on the outside, with tight end CJ Dippre on the weakside end.

The play is designed for the weak side or away from the receivers. It’s designed to look like a read defender, but it’s more of a duo, with the defender serving as the primary blocker.

Sheridan actually catches LSU on a bad blitz, accentuating the Tigers’ problems the first time this play is called. LSU’s inside linebacker runs to Alabama’s right side, taking himself out of the play, Kadyn Proctor and Tyler Booker double-team the defensive lineman until Proctor takes over the quarterback, and from there it’s a bad angle for the Tigers’ safety to open hole. for Milroe to rush in for the first score of the game.

Faking the pass to the running back makes the whole play work. Why? Because you’ve already spent the first seven plays of the game handing off the tailback, making the Tigers believe you can and will make any down. It works because Miller and Haynes set the tone in the contest and are dangerous enough to beat any defense. Why did the safety take a bad angle on the first touchdown of the game? Because he was playing the potential transfer to Miller, making the difference to Milroe even bigger.

It seems like the running back’s responsibility on this play is to play a fake handoff slowly and then throw the most dangerous man through the B gap first, then to the end on the line of scrimmage second. Milroe looks at the end from the line, making them think he’s reading them, but really he just wants to make the defender take a break. The hesitation at the second level allows Alabama’s offensive line to pick off opposing defensive lines and work at the second level, creating running lanes for Milroe’s athleticism to take advantage of.

Sheridan appeared to use this run action as a cheat play, only using it four times in the game, but three of them for impact plays in the game. Milroe gained 70 of his 185 yards and two of his four scores on that drive as LSU looked out of sorts whenever he was called upon.

Alabama has three games left in the 2024 regular season and now teams know this game is in the Crimson Tide’s bag of tricks. How will teams try to game plan for this tough action? And more importantly, how will Sheridan and the Crimson Tide use him over the last month to create further complications and reveal new wrinkles?