LSU Grades: The Report From The Tire Store

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Whew.  That was needlessly exciting.  LSU is a good solid football team that will end the season ranked below teams that it could beat.  The combination of having an extra week to prepare,  11 months to dwell on an embarrassing loss, night time in Baton Rouge, and a Quarterback who played a game that exceeded probably even his mother's expectations (reminiscent, to me at least, of the Garcia effort in Columbia in 2010) combined with the injury bug that has bitten the Crimson Tide hard this year nearly made for a bitter gumbo for Alabama fans to swallow.  By the light of a crisp November Sunday morning, though, it seems likely to become a very tasty memory.

I am not nearly the first, but since the Michigan game I have been of the opinion that the only team on the regular schedule capable of beating Alabama was...Alabama.  The Tide nearly did itself in last night.  LSU played a heck of a game in all phases, nearly overcoming some  coaching decisions that were, to put it mildly, questionable.  But Alabama played poorly enough to lose three games.  It is tradition to give the opponent credit for "causing" turnovers.  LSU had nothing to do with Alabama's two fumbles last night.  Neither player was touched by the LSU defense.  On Yeldon's fumble Alabama was on the cusp of scoring its 21st point, at least 17th, which would have changed the complexion of the game.

In addition to events on the field, fate seemed to be working against Alabama just as it did in Tuscaloosa last November.  For example, with two minutes left the other team fumbles and you recover at mid field down by three, only to find out that the play was whistled dead because a running back was in motion before the offensive line was set for one second?  Say what?  You had to wonder if the combined voodoo , hope, wishes, and prayers of LSU, KSU, Oregon and Notre Dame fans were finally going to bring to an end a glorious run of Alabama football.

Give the players a lot of credit for not giving up.  The defense stiffened when it had to.  The offense moved down the field when LSU seemed willing to play back and trade yards for time.  One hundred and twelve seconds seemed like far too little time for an offense that was, shall we say, ineffectual in the second half -- instead, it was really twice as much as it needed. 

Some comments on the grades.

Offense:  I agree with the grade and it might even be generous.  I do not think we have heard the complete story on McCarron's back "contusion".  He did not throw the ball like he has all season, including last week before he left the game, not to return.  Lacy ran hard and true and held onto the ball last night.  You may not notice, but he is a master at stopping blitzes and helping on rushing defensive linemen.  But his ankle is NOT well.  Similarly, Cooper was running very slowly and was not even in the game at several key points.  He was missed, badly.  The offensive line, on the other hand, probably played its best game of the year against the best defense they will see.  I don't care who we play in Atlanta or a bowl game, that will still be true.  LSU's ends are ready to play in the NFL now.  Fluker, who is in my opinion playing out of position at tackle, had a good game given what he was up against.  On McCarron's TD he lunged and got just enough of the LSU end to save the day.  If the skill players can get back to matching the line's effort last night, all will be well.

Defense:  It is a difficult, difficult thing to give up 400+ yards of offense and hold a team to 17 points.  Alabama's stop troops managed it last night.  We were frequently out of position on D, but I don't fault the players (see below).  When it had to, the defense rose up and held LSU.  They get a mark up for that.  But for all the times they could not get off the field....  Our cornerbacks have been a concern since A-Day, and having survived tough tests against the likes of Tennessee, did not do well last night, especially on one side.  On the other hand, give LSU credit for good matchup schemes and some perfectly thrown balls.  Your grading was fair, Commissioner, and they should not be heard to whine about it.

Special Teams.  Again, injuries continue to hurt.  The player who fumbled the punt last night was likely third on the depth chart at that position when the season started, if that.  I'm glad that the game did not come down to time running out field goal attempt from the LSU 30, but I would have been comfortable with it.  We should have seen the on sides kick coming, no matter how unbelievable it was, and we were fortunate they misplayed it.

Coaching:  What grade to give?  You beat the #5 team on its home field at night after they have a week off with two of your best offensive weapons hobbled and your quarterback having his worst game in a year?  You keep the kids' heads in the game, down by 3 without a yard passing in the second half and under two minutes to go with no time outs.  And you win in regulation?  That would deserve at least a grade of good, probably excellent one would think.  On the other hand, coaching got us into this hole a bit.  Coming out of half time up 14-3 you go three and out in your first two series gaining about 4 yards?  Sure, some of it is execution but a lot of it is play-calling.  There is room for some discussion about our offensive choices last night, especially going away from what was working.  It is rare for Kirby Smart to be out coached, but he was last night.  We constantly had the gallant Vinnie Sunseri matched up with tall, fast wide receivers.  It is not his fault when he cannot cover that play.  Full backs and tight ends ended up with catches against our lighter dbs.  Also not good.  We never really adjusted.  You can bet TA&M's coaching staff is in a meeting room right now putting formations in their play book that look just like LSU's.  I think the grade is right.  It's like a student who was inconsistent all semester long then shows up to the final, writes the best paper in class and gets the bonus question right.  Sure can't give that effort a C.

Officiating:  At least the zebras did not decide the game as they more or less did last November.  But I missed the memo where holding along the offensive line was removed from the rule book.  It was mostly rampant and mostly uncalled last night.

Broadcasting:  Arrgh.  Not more Verne and Gary.  Please, Commercials Before Sports, have mercy on us.  "Corey" Mandell, "Steven" Fluker and I are all begging you, go mangle someone else's football experience.

Mathematically, at least, Alabama won at least a tie for the SEC Western Division Championship last night (for which our neighbors to the east would be getting fitted for rings and tossing toilet paper), and it would have to lose to both Texas A&M and Auburn, as well as have a bunch of other stuff go wrong not to find itself in Atlanta in December.  But the goals are so much higher than a tie for the Western Division of the SEC.  Texas A&M has an excellent offense and statistically played LSU better than we did just a few short weeks ago.  It is the last of three very difficult games in a row in a season where everyone wants to knock off the number one team. 

Roll Tide.  Beat the Aggies.

The Correspondent From The Tire Store

LSU Grades

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            It still seems surreal.

            This blog post by all rights ought to be about how Alabama’s quest for its 15^th National Championship ended on a wild Saturday night in Baton Rouge before a record Tiger Stadium crowd. You should be reading about how the undefeated and top-ranked Crimson Tide of 2012 which had dominated all comers, found itself dominated by a ferocious LSU defense and a quarterback having the game of his life. I should be explaining how Bama was inept in every phase of the game: a fumbled punt, 1 of 9 on third downs, 435 yards surrendered to the Tiger offense, and an offense that could only manage to possess the ball for 8:28 of the entire second half.

            The message today should be that LSU proved itself to be a superior team and once again Les Miles outcoached his predecessor. Instead, I write today about one of the most improbable Alabama victories I have ever witnessed.

            With the game, the season, the prospect of any sort of championship on the line, and his team trailing by three points with 1:21 to play in the game, AJ McCarron and the Alabama offense did something that by all reason and sanity they should never have been able to do. Something that every preceding second half possession suggested was beyond their reach. Having gained a total of only 49 yards in the previous 28:39 of the second half, Alabama marched 72 yards on 5 plays in 0:43 to score the game winning touchdown and send the stunned LSU fans into the stygian darkness wondering what they had witnessed and searching for some glimmer of meaning around which to organize the remainder of their lives…..or at least what remained of their lives before drinking themselves into a stupor, setting fire to their furniture, or telephoning the post-game radio show to rant about the obvious insanity of Les Miles.

            LSU outplayed Alabama in the first quarter but, thanks to just enough defense at just the right times, the Tigers held only a 3-0 lead going into the second period. The next 15 minutes saw Alabama assert itself with authority. The offense put together two stellar TD drives of 92 and 63 yards. The defense stymied LSU and denied the Tigers any points even when a special teams’ error set LSU up in favorable field position.

            The second half, however, was a nightmare. The offense could not convert a third down while the defense could not prevent LSU from do so. The Tigers punted only once in the second half while managing drives of 58, 90, 39 and 53 yards. Zack Mettenberger, the LSU signal caller with a checkered past and less than stellar present was virtually flawless. Time after time he withstood the Alabama pass rush to find receivers open in the secondary. These receivers not only made catch after catch, but gained extra yardage as Alabama defenders failed to tackle. Finally, the Tide managed to hold the Tigers to a longish field goal attempt which sailed wide left, giving AJ and the offense the ball at the Alabama 27.

            What happened next is the stuff of legend.

            Three complete passes to Kevin Norwood moved the ball to the LSU 28. A scrambling AJ tried Norwood once again but the pass was incomplete in the end zone. Then AJ tossed the ball on a swing pattern to TJ Yeldon who followed his blockers, split defenders and raced into the Tiger end zone for the go ahead points.

            Fifty one seconds remained in the game when Cade Foster kicked off.  LSU returned the kick to its own 20. Despite being void of timeouts, Mettenberger and the LSU offense had proved they could gobble up yards. The Tide defense, bone weary, and gassed from having played more snaps than all other teams this year could manage against Alabama in six quarters, had to preserve the win.  Two complete passes netted only 5 yards and Mettenberger was sacked on the final play of the game.

            This is a game that will be talked about for as long as Alabama plays football. It will take its place alongside the other great comebacks: The Iron Bowls of ’85 and ’09, the ’92 SEC Championship. An emotional AJ told the on-field reporter that this was a team win and that he was blessed to play with the best teammates and for the best coaches in college football. It’s hard to disagree with him.

            Here’s how I grade the game:

Offense:          C         Alabama earned 18 first downs, gained 331 yards of total offense [166 rushing] and scored three touchdowns, but could only convert a single third down opportunity in nine attempts.

            AJ completed only 14 of 27 passes for 165 yards, but he threw the game winning TD to Yeldon and continued his record-setting streak of pass attempts without an interception. He now has 19 TD passes in the season which puts him in second place all time at Alabama. Kevin Norwood caught 5 passes for 62 yards, with three of his receptions coming on the game winning drive. Christion Jones added 40 yards on 4 receptions. Seven different players caught passes, but Kenny Bell was not among them. The usually reliable Bell had some uncharacteristic drops. Also missing in action was Amari Cooper, who started the game but was covered all night by the LSU secondary.

            The running game was actually rather effective. Eddie Lacy had 83 net yards on 11 carries while Yeldon gained 76. Alabama runners averaged 6.6 yards per rush, but at times it seemed as if the play calling was too impatient. The best drive of the second half-prior to the game winner-was a 5 play, 34 yard march, primarily on the ground that ended with Yeldon losing a fumble at the LSU 9 yard line. Alabama had only three drives in excess of 40 yards [92, 63, 72] each ended with a TD.

Defense:          D         LSU shredded every statistical defensive benchmark. With 435 yards, the Tigers became the first team to crack the 400 mark against the Tide this season. The Tigers converted 10 of their 20 third down opportunities and Jeremy Hill became the first runner this season to rush for more than 100 yards against the Tide defense this season.

            Adrian Hubbard and Nico Johnson were each credited with 12 tackles. Nick Perry and Trey Depriest each made 10 and Dieon Belue made 9.  The defense recorded 10 tackles for lost yardage including 3 sacks.

Special Teams:

Punting:           C         Cody Mandell was brilliant in his punting with an average of 40 net yards per punt. He cranked out 2 punts that traveled in excess of 50 yards and twice nailed LSU deep. The down grade comes from a lost fumble on a punt return.

Place Kicking:            A         Jeremy Shelley was perfect on 3 PATs.

Kickoffs:         B         Cade Foster averaged 39 net yards per kick and the return game had few opportunities.

Coaching:        B+       It is not my custom to award a coaching grade that is a full letter better than either the offense or defense, however I believe that this game is an exception. It was very obvious that the coaches were managing the players’ emotions, keeping them in the game. Alabama was penalized only once and 51 players are listed in the participation report.

            Texas A&M and Auburn stand between Alabama and a return trip to the SEC Championship Game. The Tides’ probable opponent in Atlanta is Georgia which having dispatched Ole Miss today has only to beat Auburn in order to punch its ticket to the Georgia Dome.

            The Aggies present a significant challenge. The Tide defense was embarrassed in Baton Rouge. Receivers were open all night and made more yards after catch than any opponent the Tide has faced since the Utes in the 2010 Sugar Bowl. A&M’s quarterback, Johnny “Football” Manziel, will test the Bama stop troops.

            Champions find ways to win games. They do not fold under pressure. They exhibit strength of character, teamwork, commitment and a relentless will to overcome adversity. That is what Alabama did Saturday night in Baton Rouge. It was one for the books.

            As a wise man famously used to say, “Remember this moment.” I know I will.         

The Commissioner