Whose Special Teams Dominate, LSU or Alabama?
Special teams making a difference
By RANDY ROSETTA
rrosetta@theadvocate.com
Advocate sportswriter
Advocate staff photo by BILL FEIG LSU's Skyler Green (5) follows the block by teammate Jonathan Zenon (19) on Auburn's Steve Grandy (26) to score on a 66-yard punt return. Chris Jackson won't spend nearly as much time on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday as most of his higher-profile teammates.
But each time the LSU punter and kicker takes his turn with the ball, it's likely those handful of moments could be the difference between winning and losing.
The No. 5-ranked Tigers (7-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) and No. 3 Alabama (9-0, 6-0) square off in the most anticipated game of their series in years at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. And with two of the country's top defenses and offenses that have struggled at times this year, this battle for the SEC West championship doesn't figure to escalate into an offensive shootout.
Alabama's defense is the main reason the Tide is still unbeaten. Alabama's defense ranks first nationally in scoring defense (8.2 points per game), leads the SEC and ranks third nationally in total defense (244.4 yards) and is allowing only 93.8 rushing yards per game.
LSU stands sixth nationally in scoring defense (13.9 points) and is permitting only 107.3 rushing yards (fourth SEC, 16th nationally), 188.2 passing yards (sixth SEC, 23rd nationally) and 295.8 total yards (fifth SEC, 12th nationally) per game.
"Every offensive possession is going to be a battle in this game," LSU fullback Jacob Hester said. "Every yard you gain or give up is going to be huge."
While the opposing defenses will get plenty of attention as they slug it out, the hidden heroes will be on special teams and that's why Jackson is thrust into the spotlight.
Jackson has blossomed into one of the SEC's top punters this season, averaging 42 yards a kick. He leads the league in net punting average at 39.8 yards per kick and has mastered the art of pinning foes inside the 20-yard line with 17 of 37 punts landing inside the 20.
Equally as important, Jackson has also become a valuable weapon on kickoffs. Anchored by an SEC-best 46.2-yard average on kickoff coverage, Jackson's kickoffs have equated into an average starting field position of the 18-yard line.
If Jackson and the Tigers keep that pace against an Alabama offense that has produced only one touchdown in the its last three SEC games, Jackson may be LSU's most valuable player in the program's biggest game since the 2003 National Championship Game.
"Special teams can swing the momentum either way in any game, but in a game with two great defenses, we can play an even bigger role," Jackson said. "We always focus a lot on the kicking game during the week, but there might be a little more focus this week."
Hidden yards, of the field position gained and lost when teams exchange the ball, could be a major factor as well when the Tigers and Tide collide. And while Jackson will be a key in starting the process, the LSU coverage teams are also on the spot this weekend.
Jackson has forced 19 touchbacks this season on kickoffs and LSU leads the SEC in kickoff coverage. Likewise, the Tigers are permitting only 1.5 yards on 39 punts, second to Florida (1.1 yards). On kicks that have been returned, foes are advancing the ball only 5 yards.
"We've been able to have a huge impact in some games on special teams by affecting field position and the tempo an offense is able to get in," said Hester, who leads the Tigers special teams with six tackles. "We lead the SEC in a lot of special teams areas and that's a big pride thing for us. We feel like we changed the Arizona State and Auburn games on special teams and that's something we may have to do this week."
For all the hidden yardage and field-position jockeying that could underscore Saturday's game, the one special teams weapon that could trump all others is Skyler Green.
The LSU senior is averaging 12.9 yards every time he touches the ball, including an SEC-leading 16.8 yards on punt returns and 24.9 yards on kickoffs, which ranks fourth in the league.
But Green hasn't been a major factor recently because teams have gone to extreme lengths to keep the ball away from him. Since rambling 66 yards for a punt return touchdown in the first quarter of a 20-17 overtime victory against Auburn, Green has recorded only four more returns for a total of 26 yards.
The difference this week may be Alabama's ability to match the Tigers speed for speed and talent for talent. Though the Tide doesn't compare to LSU statistically in any special teams category, many of Bama's starters and top athletes also play special teams.
If the Tide decides to kick the ball to Green, it would be huge if the Tigers could generate some fireworks in the kicking game.
"Every time he touches, the ball we've got a chance for a humongous play," Hester said. "If we can put him in position to make something happen, we know it's only a matter of time before he busts a big play."
Likewise, Jackson could play a more of a role in LSU's offensive special teams.
Although LSU ranks second in the SEC in scoring offense (31.8 points per game), the Tigers have attempted only 13 field goals in eight games -- fewer than six other league teams.
LSU has made only seven kicks, with Jackson hitting 5-of-10 and Colt David 2-of-3. Jackson is designated as the Tigers' long-range kicker (generally outside of 30 yards), but is only 2-for-5 outside of 40 yards this season.
Besides all the other plaudits the Alabama has accumulated this season, the Tide has also been stifling in the red zone, allowing opponents only four touchdowns in 20 chances.
If that holds up, Jackson's ability to connect from long range could be magnified in a game that probably won't feature many trips to the end zone. "If that's the situation I'm in, the big thing is to just stay calm and think about what I need to do on every kick," Jackson said. "I know I can make long field goals and that may be what we need against a defense like Alabama's."
Special Teams
