Rahim Alem and Al Woods are Proud to Sustain LSU’s D-Line Tradition
LSU’s defensive line has featured some of the nation’s best players since 2003, producing five All-Americans, eight first-team All-SEC selections and 10 NFL draft picks.
The abundance of talent forced last year’s first-team All-SEC performer, defensive end Rahim Alem, to wait his turn in line just to become a starter. The senior from New Orleans has started only three games in his four seasons at LSU but still managed to lead the Tigers in both sacks and tackles for loss last year.
“I was shocked when I found out,” Alem said. “I thought I had a pretty decent season, but I didn’t know it was that good.”
After redshirting in 2005, Alem was used primarily as a backup for the Tigers in each of the past three seasons. Last season was a breakout year for Alem, as he played in all 13 games and recorded career highs in sacks (8), tackles (29) and tackles for loss (11.5). However, with competition from senior defensive ends Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman, Alem was not able to make his way into the starting rotation for the Tigers.
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“You learn a lot of patience,” he said, “not playing, not being ?that guy.’ But it does help knowing that the guys playing in front of you are also really good. Everyone I ever played behind at LSU is in the NFL now.”
Another player who has had to wait his turn is senior defensive tackle Al Woods.
Woods, like Alem, has seen limited time on the first team, starting only five games in his four years at LSU. Coming out of high school in 2006, Woods was rated as one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the country by nearly every major recruiting publication.
Woods, a native of Elton, La., chose not to redshirt his freshman season and played in six games for the Tigers in 2006. He has been a constant contributor on the defensive line for the past three seasons, but competition from some very talented upperclassmen limited his starts.
Woods, however, didn’t mind.
“I took it as a learning process,” Woods said. “I had All-Americans and first-round draft picks in front of me. So while I was second-string behind them, I felt really good about my situation.”
Woods has been able to watch and learn from some of the best to ever suit up for the Purple and Gold, including two-time All-American Glenn Dorsey.
“I was second-string behind one of the most highly decorated lineman in school history,” Woods said. “I felt good about the situation. I took it as a learning process and just learned everything I could. I put some of his game into my own and made myself a better player by watching him.”
On the sideline with Woods, Alem also was able to observe and learn from the upperclassmen on the field.
“Everyone that plays defensive line here is good, so they all have something to offer,” he said. “You just have to be patient and sit back and observe what they do. You take a piece of every person’s game. I learned something from every person that ever played here.”
Alem admitted that he got frustrated sometimes, and said that is where Woods helped him the most.
“I’ve learned a lot from Al,” he said. “I’m really not a patient person. Both of us weren’t playing as much as we thought we should. But I thought if he can take it, be patient, just come in and work hard, then I can do it too.”
Both Woods and Alem’s patience and work ethic have paid off, as this season both will likely be starting the majority of games up front. Woods said he trained extra hard during the offseason in order to prepare.
“I dieted and dropped almost 20 pounds,” Woods said. “It opened up a whole new door for me. I’m a lot faster, and I’m the strongest I have ever been in the weight room. I also worked on making my technique better.”
Woods’ extra training didn’t go unnoticed by the Tiger coaching staff. He was awarded the Mike Miley Leadership Award this spring, an award given to defensive players who show outstanding leadership during spring drills.
Woods noted that he can feel the positive effects of his hard work this season.
“I can play longer, move better, and think faster,” he said.
Woods also acknowledged that Alem helped him to be more aggressive on the playing field.
“I feed off of Rahim’s energy,” Woods said. “When you see him on tape, you think ?that is one heck of a pass rusher.’ He plays fast and dangerous. So if he can go all out on every play like that, then I can go all out.”
Playing fast off the corner has become Alem’s trademark. His tremendous speed and explosive first step have helped him develop into one of the most dominant pass rushers in the SEC. His eight sacks last season led the Tiger defense and ranked third in the SEC.
“If you want to make a play, if you really want to make something happen you can’t take a play off,” Alem said. “Every play could be the play that is going to be on ESPN. I really think that. Every play could be a sack. Every play could be a tackle for a loss. If you don’t go hard, you might miss your opportunity.”
Even though 2009 is expected to be Woods’ breakout year, he’s quick to take the spotlight off of himself. Woods said that even though he’s excited to be in the starting lineup, all he plays for is his teammates. He explained that he gets his motivation from the guys that he lines up with every day at practice.
“I play for the guys on the side of me,” he said. “My teammates. There is no top player for us. We’re all equal. If I can’t get the sack, I want Rahim to get the sack. If we can’t make the play, we will push the ball to the two guys that can.”
Woods said he’s very proud to carry on the tradition of “D-Line U” and credits the success of LSU’s defensive line to the bond the players share.
“It is not one guy outshining the others,” Woods said. “It is all four guys playing at the same level working together.”