Injury to key LSU offensive lineman opens opportunity for Alabama defense to attack
This week's college football showdown features the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 14 LSU Tigers. Historically, this game has been a can't-miss, and we have no reason to think that changes this year. The SEC is up for grabs right now, and both teams are fighting for a spot in the College Football […]
This week's college football showdown features the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 14 LSU Tigers. Historically, this game has been a can't-miss, and we have no reason to think that changes this year. The SEC is up for grabs right now, and both teams are fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Thankfully, both rosters are mostly healthy for this matchup. LSU is more banged up than Alabama, though, and the one key injury update from Tigers head coach Brian Kelly doesn't bode well for their offense. Kelly said star left guard Garrett Dellinger will miss the game with an ankle injury.
Dellinger picked up a high ankle sprain early in LSU’s loss to Texas A&M. The senior might be back after Saturday, just in time for the Tigers to square off against Florida next week.
This 6-foot-5, 322-pound player has really become a key part of the Tiger offense during his time at LSU. He even helped his team earn a spot as a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which recognizes the best offensive line in the country for 2023.
Over his career at LSU, he’s played in 41 games, starting in 30 of them. While he typically plays as the left guard, he’s versatile enough to step in as a tackle or center if needed.
Unfortunately, Dellinger’s replacement won’t have quite the same experience. In the game against Texas A&M, which the Tigers lost 38-23, redshirt freshman Paul Mubenga filled in for him at guard.
Playing against Mubenga is a huge opportunity for the Alabama defensive front. Star pass-rushers LT Overton and Quandarrius Robinson are the most obvious benefactors if they slide in front end to an under tackle position on passing downs. Overton is more likely to see those snaps given his size, whereas Robinson is lighter and more of an edge.
Defensive linemen Tim Keenan III, James Smith, Damon Payne Jr., and Smith will eat the bulk of the snaps against Mubenga. Keenan and Smith have taken the majority of interior line snaps and each of the four is more of a run-stopper. Thus, Alabama should look to get creative.
Considering that LSU has two great tackles in Emery Jones Jr. and Will Campbell, attacking Mubenga is the more obvious choice. Rush packages with Overton at tackle, Robinson and Jah-Marien Latham on the edge is the ideal alignment.
Will Alabama take advantage? We'll see, because this coaching staff has not done an incredible job of adjusting on the fly and maximizing their advantages.
