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The Tuscaloosa News
Will LSU's pass defense be able to limit Ty Simpson and the Alabama football offense?
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Will LSU's pass defense be able to limit Ty Simpson and the Alabama football offense?
Frank Wilson knows how important Ty Simpson is to the success of Alabama football's offense.
As the LSU interim coach plans for Saturday Nov. 8's prime time matchup against the No. 4 Crimson Tide , Wilson's attention fixates on "the director of the team."
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"(Simpson) orchestrates it," Wilson said. "I think he can make every throw. He's accurate at every level. I think he does an outstanding job of reading the defense, throws into windows with great anticipation, but also can throw receivers open. You lose sight of the athlete that he is because he can tuck it when need be to gain yardage for his football team"
But Wilson is not intimidated by Simpson or the Alabama passing offense, especially knowing what LSU has at its disposal.
"I think we have guys back there that will compete," Wilson said, highlighting his defensive backfield's length, speed and understanding of what Simpson could do.
"I like us in the back end. I like our ability to contest passes and our ability to match up."
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Alabama may have the second best passing offense in the SEC. But LSU , led by defensive backs A.J. Haulcy and Mansoor Delane , have the fifth-best pass defense in the SEC and the No. 31 pass defense nationally, allowing 191.1 yards passing per game. The Tigers have allowed seven passing touchdowns and generated 10 interceptions.
What Ty Simpson has done against top pass defenses
Simpson is no stranger to above-average pass defenses.
LSU will be the fourth pass defense the Alabama quarterback has seen that is ranked in the top-50 nationally, joining Florida State , Missouri and South Carolina . Against each, Simpson has surpassed the average passing yards allowed by at least 44 yards.
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Against each of the eight passing defenses Simpson has faced, he has recorded more passing yards than those defenses have allowed on average seven times.
The only team to force Simpson to less was Louisiana-Monroe. But while the Warhawks limited Simpson to 226 yards passing overall on 17 straight completions, the defense allowed 145 more yards combined from Austin Mack and Keelon Russell .
What Ty Simpson sees in LSU pass defense
When Simpson thinks of LSU, he doesn't think of a team that has lost three of its past four to ranked SEC teams. He sees a Tigers team that has "been in every game," one with the "same players" despite a new regime.
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And he sees "one of the best defensive back ends in the league."
"These guys play hard," Simpson said. "They're in your face, right? They got good coaches. It's going to be a challenge, right?"
What the LSU defensive backs do best poses an opportunity for Simpson.
Oct 4, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws under pressure from Vanderbilt defensive lineman Jaylon Stone (92) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama downed Vanderbilt 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Yes, the Tigers have 10 interceptions and 35 pass deflections as a unit that specializes in man coverage. But in LSU, Simpson sees one-on-one shots for receivers like Germie Bernard , Ryan Williams , Lotzeir Brooks and Isaiah Horton .
According to Pro Football Focus, Simpson is one of the best deep-ball passers in college football, completing 15 of 32 attempts of 20 yards or more for 431 yards, five touchdowns and his only interception. Simpson is even better between 10 and 19 yards with a 62.1% completion rate on 66 tries, 732 yards and six touchdowns.
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LSU may bring a challenge. But all Simpson needs is a sliver of daylight. And that's what he is banking on.
"I need to give the guys a chance, right?" Simpson said.
Alabama kicks off against LSU at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What Alabama football QB Ty Simpson could do vs LSU pass defense
