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The ninth-ranked Tigers are averaging 141.5 yards rushing. Not a terrible number, but that's 25 yards per game below their pace from a season earlier and 73 yards below their average during their 2007 national championship campaign. Some good games against bad teams have helped LSU pad its stats, too.
The only time LSU has had a 100-yard rusher in a single game this season was when Charles Scott managed 112 yards last weekend in a 42-0 victory over Tulane.
The question to be answered when LSU visits No. 3 Alabama this weekend is whether LSU's 267 yards rushing against the Green Wave was a sign of real improvement or simply a case of steamrolling an overmatched opponent.
Tulane doesn't have any run stuffers quite like Alabama's 6-foot-5, 365-pound nose tackle Terrence Cody, who has played a sizable role in the Tide allowing only 64.6 yards rushing per game.
"Our guys will certainly look forward to that challenge," LSU coach Les Miles said. "In terms of establishing the run, it's always important in every game with significance. If you don't, you become a one-dimensional team, and that's an issue and certainly will be for me."
With LSU and Alabama both fielding first-year starting quarterbacks, both teams are expected to make a serious effort to establish the run.
Success won't come easy against either team's defense.
"Stopping the run is always good and that's what we pride ourselves on," Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain said. "This week is obviously a tough game for us. They have good running backs and a strong offensive line."
While Scott and Keiland Williams have been LSU's primary backs, the Tigers also may mix in a couple of emerging young players. Freshman quarterback Russell Shepard has touchdowns of 69 and 19 yards in the past two games, averages 8 yards per carry and is now LSU's second-leading rusher.
"His ability to be on the field in different spots is greater, and hopefully, we'll be able to call his number more often," Miles said.
Sophomore Stevan Ridley, who had eight carries for 73 yards and a touchdown against Tulane, could see more action as well.
In any event, LSU will still have to block Cody, placing the spotlight on first-year starting center T-Bob Hebert (son of former NFL quarterback Bobby Hebert).
"It's going to be a challenge blocking Cody, but it's the challenge you look for," said Hebert, who gives up about 2 inches and 85 pounds in the matchup. "Blocking against a guy like this, technique is the key. If you're going to win the battle, you have to win it with technique. Cody is as good as you get as far as defensive linemen go. I've never played against a guy as good as him."
For LSU's defense, Alabama's running game will be the toughest test they've faced since allowing 193 yards against Florida.
The Crimson Tide averages about 218 yards rushing, slightly better at this point than even LSU's 2007 team. Alabama running back Mark Ingram already has surpassed 1,000 yards this season.
Increasingly, the Tigers' defense has been their biggest strength. They allowed only 13 points to Florida and limited Auburn to a field goal until giving up a meaningless touchdown with 3 seconds to go in a 31-10 win. LSU is allowing an average of 114.4 yards rushing this season after allowing Tulane only 26 last week and Auburn 112 a week earlier.
So while LSU defenders clearly appreciate Alabama's running prowess, they don't sound the least bit intimidated.
"They are a running team and we're a run-stopping team," LSU safety Chad Jones said. "The mentality of our defense is to play very violent and very physical. The defensive backs and the linebackers have to read their keys. We have to get the backs to the ground on first contact."
LSU may have a recipe to follow. Tennessee loaded up to stop the run and held Alabama to a relatively low 136 yards in a tight 12-10 Alabama win that came down to Cody blocking a field goal in the final seconds.
If LSU takes a similar approach, Alabama guard Mike Johnson said the Crimson Tide still should be able to run if the line blocks well.
"One of the main things we focus on is we're just trying to get the running back through one gap," Johnson said. "They can have all the people they want to up there, but they can't fit nine people into one gap. If we can get the running back that one seam then we can be successful."
