Bo Scarbrough scored a touchdown -- his third in the last two games -- but even after another Alabama win over LSU, the talented running back wasn't thrilled with the Crimson Tide's offensive performance.

Alabama rushed for only 116 yards on 36 carries -- both season lows -- as the Tide couldn't get the running game going against a tough LSU defense. Quarterback Jalen Hurts led the way with 44 yards and a touchdown but Alabama's two-headed running back monster of Scarbrough and Damien Harris managed only 72 yards on 20 carries. It was the Tide's worst offensive rushing output since the season opener against Florida State (173) and more than 200 yards less than its average over the last five games (334) headed into LSU.

"We have to run the ball because that's what Alabama do," Scarbrough said. "We gotta be able to run the ball in these kind of games especially against LSU. They are very physical. We know it's going to be a hard game."

Scarbrough laid the blame on not being better prepared and ready for the Tigers Saturday night. "They did a way better job than we did," he said, "a lot of mental errors we have to fix." LSU had been gashed through the run multiple times this season including giving up 206 rushing yards in a loss to Troy. Holding Alabama to only 116 rushing yards was LSU's run defense's best statistical performance of the year. Scarbrough had some success in Alabama's first drive that resulted in a touchdown, with runs of 10 and 5 yards, but the rushing attempts weren't consistent.

In the second quarter, Alabama didn't call a single run for its running backs during its last two drives to close out the half. There was a little more effort in the second half to run the ball but neither Scarbrough nor Harris had much success finding space given the largely non-existent running lanes available to them.

"It's frustrating we can't move the ball like you want to," Alabama center Bradley Bozeman said. "We had too many three-and-outs tonight. We definitely need to eliminate those and get better next week."

Alabama head coach Nick Saban was succinct in his description of the Tide's run game: "It wasn't good."

Saban assessed part of the blame on Alabama being unable to capitalize on man-to-man opportunities in the passing game with LSU going with eight-man defensive fronts. Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts was 11 of 24 for 183 passing yards and a touchdown though receivers again dropped multiple balls and struggled at times getting open.

"I think we beat man-to-man at times, and at times we had two or three balls that we could have caught that we didn't catch," Saban said. "You have to be able to execute in those kind of situations, and being able to execute is the most important thing."

The next test for Alabama will be next week against Mississippi State, one of the better run defenses statistically in the SEC. The Bulldogs give up the third-least rushing yards per game in the SEC though both Georgia and Auburn rushed for more than 200 yards against MSU earlier this season. It then has Auburn (giving up 126 rushing yards per game) left for the Iron Bowl and is on path to face Georgia, one of the top run defenses in the country, in the SEC Championship Game.

If Alabama is to have success against those teams, it'll have to listen to Scarbrough's advice and be able to run the ball.

John Talty is the college sports editor for Alabama Media Group. You can follow him on Twitter @JTalty.