Hebert faces tough task

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Nov 4, 2009

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When you take a glance at Alabama’s defensive statistics, it takes a while before you find Terrence Cody, the Crimson Tide’s nose guard.

His numbers really aren’t that attention-getting: 17 tackles, five tackles for loss, a pass breakup, two quarterback hurries, no sacks.

Flip on a game film, though, and it’s impossible to miss Cody.

Right there in the middle of the Alabama front wall, all 6-foot-5, 354 pounds of him.

And you can bet LSU center T-Bob Hebert has spent plenty of time watching the player dubbed “Mount Cody.”

“It is going to be a challenge, but that’s the kind of challenge you look for,” Hebert said.

“To go against a guy like this, a big NFL prospect, is a big opportunity for me. It’s not going to be easy. I’m going to have to work hard.”

That may be just the beginning for Hebert.

Cody doesn’t rack up big numbers. Instead, his value to a Tide defense that leads the Southeastern Conference in rush defense (64.6 yards per game) and ranks second in total defense (240.6 ypg) and scoring defense (11.4 points per game) is measured in different ways.

Understandably, Cody’s size allows him to occupy at least one blocker, most of the time two, and that frees up Alabama linebackers to roam untouched, fill gaps and make plays.

At 6-3 and 285 pounds, Hebert isn’t small by any measure, and he’s handled bigger foes well all season with 35 knockdowns, second among the linemen to left tackle Ciron Black’s 53.

But moving Cody around simply with size or raw strength won’t be an option. “Any time you’re go against a guy like that, technique is key,” Hebert said. “I’m not going to be able to beat him in the size category. Technique is how you have to win it.

“This is a good measuring stick. That’s as good as it’s going to get as far as interior linemen go. I’ve never played against a guy as good as him. … You have to use different techniques — staying low, keep your feet, drive your feet. In a situation like this, you have to get back to the basic fundamentals and do the best you can.”