It’s getting late in the Alabama football season. Here you can see how this affects the preparation of the game

Nothing is secret after eight games. Alabama football can watch as much tape as he wants his upcoming opponentsalmost everything is on film and there is no guessing what the strengths and weaknesses are.

For Alabama players, the presence of so much film can be helpful in preparing for games.

“You can go back and watch multiple games,” defensive lineman Jah-Marien Latham said Tuesday. “You can see how they play against different schemes. This part of the year it is useful to know what teams like to do and what we can do to stop them from doing what they like to do.”

Of course, that also applies to teams like LSU, who will face the Crimson Tide on Saturday. UA coaches downplayed how the presence of so much film could affect game preparation as the season gets later.

According to defense coach Maurice Linguist, this is the time of year when more ‘copycat football’ is seen. If something hurt Alabama in the season opener against Western Kentucky, or in the first Power 4 game at Wisconsin, it could resurface later in the season.

“You also have a story about yourself,” Linguist said Wednesday. “What really comes alive in the football of November, December and January are the details. There’s a lot of identity, like, you’re not necessarily going to implement a new plan this time of year. You try to do what you do and do it better and apply what we do well to someone else’s plan.

The Crimson Tide cannot afford to lose another game this regular season. UA was ranked No. 11 in the first College Football Playoff top 25 of the 2024 season, and a third loss would likely eliminate it from contention for the 12-team field.

According to defensive line coach Freddie Roach, the strategy for late-season games will not change.

“You have more information, but the most important thing is the most important,” Roach said. “What can you do to put guys in the best position to be successful? Again, you’re six, seven, eight games at this point in the season and you’re seeing more things. There are things that teams did at the beginning of the year that they don’t do as much anymore. That’s part of preparing and getting guys where they can play.”

Wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard said the staff will look back at every available piece of LSU film. He also pointed out that this strategy is not unique to late-season games.

There are plenty of ways to scout a team, even in the beginning.

“We always will,” Shephard said. “I think with the invention of PFF (Pro Football Focus) you have a lot at your disposal to really be able to find the information you really need to make sure you’re prepared for game day. So no, not much has really changed.”

Alabama and LSU will kick off Saturday at 6:30 PM CT in Baton Rouge. The game will be broadcast on ABC.