LSU Tigers (2-0)A Beautiful Mind: Somewhere in Baton Rouge, there is a room where the original versions of this play and this play and the clock management strategies for this play and this play are tacked to a wall that looks a lot like this one. Like John Nash, Les Miles operates on a higher plane than the rest of us. Don't try to understand it. Merely appreciate it.
Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0)Forrest Gump: Gump played for the Crimson Tide from 1962-64, the first in a line of great backs that includes Major Ogilvie, Bobby Humphrey, Shaun Alexander, Mark Ingram and now Trent Richardson. Given Gump's blazing speed and slender physique, he probably would have played receiver today. In fact, a player with Gump-like speed down the sideline might be the only thing this current Crimson Tide team is missing. Another great deep threat would keep secondaries from smothering Marquis Maze and probably would keep defenses from stacking the box against Richardson. OK, OK. I know Gump is fictional and didn't actually play at Alabama, but here's a fun fact: In the film, Gump wore No. 44. The Alabama player who wore No. 44 during those years? Future Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.
Auburn Tigers (2-0)The Sting: Coordinator Gus Malzahn's offense works like a great caper movie. In The Sting, a black-gloved man with a gun follows Robert Redford's Johnny Hooker. We are meant to think the gloved man is an assassin hired to kill Hooker. Instead, in a crucial scene, we learn the man is an assassin hired to kill Hooker's assassin. Malzahn, meanwhile, takes a screenwriter's approach to disguising runs as passes. Opposing defenses still haven't figured out that when the offensive line pass-sets and the back stays home -- ostensibly to block -- that Malzahn may have quarterback Barrett Trotter sneak up behind the back, reach over his shoulder and plant the ball in his stomach. With everyone watching for the pass, the back has a five-yard head start before the first defender can reach him. Of course, when Malzahn doesn't want to call a play-action run, he isn't opposed to calling the Statue of Liberty -- the ultimate offensive con.
Why do so many people think Trent Richardson is great?
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