Friday, January 6, 2012

The running backs are all good...

NO BAD RUNNING BACKS IN THIS GAME...


     Richardson is the big dog but there is a pound full of good backs

Richardson could be the difference...
What else can anyone write about Trent Richardson? I can't add one single bit of information that all SEC don't already know. Trent will be the absolute best player on the field next week. Keep in mind that doesn't mean that Alabama will win. Bama does its damage with Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy.  LSU does its running by committee. All of their backs could start at any school in the SEC except Alabama.  The running backs for LSU will be fresh because of their playing rotation. Trent Richardson will be fresh because he's not actually human. He's something beyond human on the football field. He can run for power, run with elusiveness,  catch passes, and block for his quarterback. RGE III may wear Superman socks. Trent Richardson can on occasion be Superman. Backs like Richardson don't come down the pike very often. As great as he is the LSU backs are very good and are capable of turning in performances that can win the game. But Trent can make that one play which will turn the game. I expect him to do so. He expects to do so. LSU is afraid he will do so. If Trent makes 2 or 3 type of those plays the Tide will win. LSU hopes to hold him to zero explosive plays and they believe they will win the game. 

Ford hurt Bama in the first game...
     Eddie Lacy who is from Louisiana will play about 1/3 of the game if his turf toe allows.  Jalston Fowler has shown promise as fireplug type runner, but don't expect to see him get in the game unless Lacy can't play. Lacy would be starting at every other SEC school and that may include LSU.  

Lacy is a great back...
     LSU counters the Alabama running attack with a slew of downhill runners. At time it looks like the Bayou Bengal backs are simply running over people, and one who can run around the ends. Remember these names: Michael Ford, 5-10, 202 (Leesville, La.); Spencer Ware, 5-11, 225 (Cincinnati, Ohio); Alfred Blue, 6-2, 207 (Boutte, La.); Kenny Hilliard, 5-11, 230 (Patterson, La.) They will play at various times in the game. Spencer Ware handles the drudge work. He works between the tackles and is a horse. A head on collision between Ware and Chapman would be a scary sight. When the Bengals want a scat back they go to MIchael Ford. Bama fans will remember Ford from his runs off the option in the overtime. He is great player with open field ability.  But so is Alfred Blue. And then is Kenny Hilliard who is an LSU crowd favorite. Tiger fans say he is the best of the four. Here's the way that LSU uses their backs - each has individual skills for a different types of runs and plays. In a sense the Tigers tip you off about what they are doing but they man up to you and say "here we come". LSU like to batter you with Ware, they love to use Hillird on draws and delays, and they love to get Ford on the corner. 

The Tiger backs are individually good but as a collective unit they are great. They can wear you down and then outrun you. When you throw the threat of Jefferson on the option it creates loads of problems for Kirby Smart. So the question here is whether Trent Richards and Lacy are better that the corp of running backs that LSU can put on the field. The corp includes Jordan Jefferson.

I'm going to give Bama the edge but its not a "mind the gap" difference.



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