Thoughts on "The Game of the Century" (LSU-Bama)

[Senser81]

*Richardson is really good. He took a pounding but was really the game's only consistent threat. Alabama was successful running up the middle, but for whatever reason Saban kept running Richardson wide, and LSU was too good for that.

*Jordan Jefferson was amazingly the best QB on the field. His speed option plays were the only thing that worked against Bama's defense. McCarron was terrible, and Lee reverted back to his 2009 form.

*Obviously Alabama's special teams were terrible. I don't know why they didn't punt and try to pin LSU deep in their own territory. It seemed like most of those FG attempts were 45+ yards.

*Offensively, I would have prefered Bama to run more on those 3rd and 6 and 3rd and long plays with Richardson. McCarron couldn't complete a pass when LSU knew it was coming. I think the play of game was when Bama's TE couldn't come up with the ball on the 1 yard line and LSU ended up with it.

*Bama was done once the game got to OT. So much of it is field goal kicking. Just another example of why the college overtime rules need to be changed.

*For people complaining that the game was boring, I thought it was interesting. It was like watching chess...some of it appeared to be in slow motion, but it was neat to see the strategies. And odd as it sounds, the teams were equal in talent, with perhaps Alabama having a slight edge on offense, but the difference in the game was Les Miles outcoaching Nick Saban.

[ZoneBlitz]

*For people complaining that the game was boring, I thought it was interesting. It was like watching chess...some of it appeared to be in slow motion, but it was neat to see the strategies. And odd as it sounds, the teams were equal in talent, with perhaps Alabama having a slight edge on offense, but the difference in the game was Les Miles outcoaching Nick Saban.

Any true football fan can appreciate that the game was really damn good. High scoring doesnt equal good football. This game was intense and lived up to the hype.

[cynismus]

*Bama was done once the game got to OT. So much of it is field goal kicking. Just another example of why the college overtime rules need to be changed.

To what? I prefer college OT to the NFL (barring playoffs). The fact that each team gets the ball is huge; it all comes down to both sides of the ball executing their game plan. If you get the ball second, you know what you have to do to win or keep the game going.

Also, mandatory 2 point conversions = badass.

[jms493]

Both those QBs are not very good and this game proved that......either run for the score or throw up a prayer and hope for a penalty or your WR makes an amazing catch.

Decent game, both teams have nasty defenses.

[Senser81]

To what? I prefer college OT to the NFL (barring playoffs). The fact that each team gets the ball is huge; it all comes down to both sides of the ball executing their game plan. If you get the ball second, you know what you have to do to win or keep the game going.

Also, mandatory 2 point conversions = badass.

The fact that they need "mandatory" 2-point conversions should demonstrate how ridiculous the OT setup is. Whats next? Mandatory dive plays on 1st down, mandatory screen passes on 2nd down, and Joe Thiesmann comes in on 3rd downs to play QB for both teams?

I prefer the NFL OT to the college OT. It would have been much more interesting in the LSU-Bama game to have the NFL OT. I think 95% of the viewership knew Bama would lose once it went to OT.

[FirstTimer]

I don't think there was anyone in the stadium or watching the game that thought Bama would make that last kick.

[NAHSTE]

And odd as it sounds, the teams were equal in talent, with perhaps Alabama having a slight edge on offense, but the difference in the game was Les Miles outcoaching Nick Saban.

Yep, and it's the second straight year it's happened. At what point can we stop pretending Miles is a buffoon? He's 3-2 vs. Saban now, and 11-9 vs. top 10 teams at LSU.

Anyway I agree with your thoughts for the most part. Crazy how evenly matched the two teams were. There were definitely 15-20 NFL players on the field that day.

I think Maze's ankle injury made a huge ifference because Alabama otherwise seems to have very little talent at WR. And letting Maze throw a pass in scoring territory was questionable at best, even before it resulted in an interception.

[DSpydr84]

I always find it more interesting to watch two great defenses play. It's fascinating to me to watch what the offenses try to do when nothing is working, or who finds the chink in the armor first. Both teams tried every imaginable formation/motion/shift on offense and simply could not find a running lane. LSU used more option than I'd seen and Alabama was using unbalanced for the first time all season.

Most people can't appreciate the little subtleties going on during each play or series, they simply see the offense "handing it off every time". Being a bit of a nerd when it comes to football, I absolutely love seeing the offense start in an unbalanced bunch left, shift it to the other side, motion the wing back into the opposite backfield spot, and have the defense adjust to every move and make the stop. If even one player gets confused, that open gap could result in a huge play. It just didn't happen in this game.

For those that want a replay of it, check it here while it still is online. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSOyeK9kXDk"]#1 LSU vs #2 Alabama 2011 - YouTube[/ame]

[Primetime]

I hated the idea of a rematch for a NC before the game, but this game was just so damn good. I don't think any other teams can compete with these two and I felt Alabama, outside of special teams obviously, controlled the game. Bama out-played LSU IMO, but this just goes to show how much of a factor special teams plays in college, especially in these kind of games.

[Senser81]

And letting Maze throw a pass in scoring territory was questionable at best, even before it resulted in an interception.

I didn't like a lot of what Saban did in the game, but I didn't have a problem with that call. The receiver was actually wide open, and Maze had time to throw. He just threw a hail mary lob when he didn't really need to. Just a halfway decent pass would have resulted in an Alabama TD. McCarron couldn't pass worth a lick.

[NAHSTE]

Bama out-played LSU IMO,

[Blade]

Maybe I missed it, but no mention of the LSU defense coming up with those crazy turnovers at the goal-line?

[Primetime]

Bama had 5 scoring opportunities, LSU had 2. They controlled the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Trent Richardson was the only threat to either team in that entire game.

[Senser81]

Bama had 5 scoring opportunities, LSU had 2. They controlled the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Trent Richardson was the only threat to either team in that entire game.

Bama's scoring opportunities were pretty bogus, especially when it became apparent that Bama couldn't kick a FG. In the 1st half, Alabama missed a 44 yarder to start, then missed a 50 yarder, then had a 49 yard FG blocked. While this was happening, LSU was electing to punt and pinning Bama at their 5 yard line and their 4 yard line.

Alabama didn't do all that much on offense, either, outside of two big plays by Richardson (neither of which resulted in a TD). They also were the beneficiaries of two terrible Jarrett Lee INTs, but they couldn't capitalize on either break.

[Sportsbuck]

I didn't like a lot of what Saban did in the game, but I didn't have a problem with that call. The receiver was actually wide open, and Maze had time to throw. He just threw a hail mary lob when he didn't really need to. Just a halfway decent pass would have resulted in an Alabama TD. McCarron couldn't pass worth a lick.

Plus it was a great play by the defender as well.