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ramBRO
He took the day off.
This game was the final regular season game for Alabama. Lewis went on to skip the bowl game in January in order to prepare for the NFL draft (he went to the Senior Bowl).
So, if it looked as though he wasn't hustling in this game...it was because he wasn't (likely in an effort to avoid injury).
FWIW...I also checked out Lewis' highlights against Arkansas mid-season where he was a much more active player.
We think of that - the AD effect - as operating mainly thru the way AD gets so much attention that other guys get a better chance to shine. And of course that's true. But I also think that, especially if you're a rookie, you gotta be dead inside to show up alongside AARON FLIPPIN' DONALD and half-ass it. Also saw an interview w/Lewis in which he talks repeatedly about "being professional," w/the clear implication that he prides himself on that.
I also watched Lewis against Auburn (and LSU) - and, yes, on plays away from him his pursuit was halfhearted at best. There were 300+ lb DL showing a lot more downfield hustle than TL in that game. It was a bummer to see.
Tired? I suspect some of his teammates on defense made themselves some money in that LSU game. If I'm an NFL scout I'd surely be especially interested in how a player shows up in a big time game like that. We'll never know, but would he have lasted til #84 w/a better effort in that game?
All that said, I'll just hope it was an aberration. And that, if it wasn't altogether an aberration, that sustained good health, being an honest-to-goodness professional, and playing next to the best player in the game all make him change his tune.
