LSU'S HISTORICALLY DEPLETED DEFENSE PULL OFF A HISTORIC SHOWING VS #2 ALABAMA

by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

Led by DT Neil Farrell Jr's massive impact up front, Butkus Award frontrunner Damone Clark's surgical precision at LB, or Safety Jay Ward's hard-hitting brilliance in coverage, LSU's 2021 defense played their best game of the season at the most unlikely time, against the highest ranked opponent on the Tigers' schedule, and without their most decorated players.

Heading into Tuscaloosa without All-American / elite level NFL talents such as Derek Stingley Jr, Eli Ricks, Andre Anthony, Ali Gaye, Cordale Flott, Sage Ryan, & Major Burns among others, somehow some way, this unexpectedly hard-nosed defense produced a throwback performance, limiting Alabama to only 20 points, 4.9 yards per play (only 0.9 more than LSU's own offense) as well as continuously giving Jake Peetz's offense multiple opportunities to win the game during the 4th quarter.