Sadly we were outcoached again...

[Special K]

And our defense held on each subsequent drive.

And then LSU's fantastic punter immediately flipped the field on us every time. You can't deny it could have been a very different game with improved field position in the first half.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Look, we made enough execution mistakes to cost us the game, no argument there. But those are 18-22 year old guys.

Coach makes 5 mil a year. He can take a little (well deserved) criticism when he makes some bad decisions as he did tonight. We tried multiple low percentage FGs with kickers that have no consistent track record of making long distance kicks -- and we did it with the best defense in college football on our side. We repeatedly put ourselves behind the chains with slow developing, edge running plays on early downs. At arguably the most critical point of the game, we get cute and allow a WR to throw a pass instead of riding the best offensive player in the stadium to almost certain points.

I'm sorry, but we coached "tight" tonight instead of playing to our strengths and riding our horses. The execution mistakes were bad enough, but we compounded the problems from the sideline with guys who are paid extremely well to perform better. Blind defense of our coaches is not a requirement to being a good fan, sorry.

Thank you. perfect summary of the game.

 

[cbi1972]

And then LSU's fantastic punter immediately flipped the field on us every time. You can't deny it could have been a very different game with improved field position in the first half.

Meh he kicked a 22 yarder and one over Maze's head when he was hobbled.
Not buying it.

 

[TideFan in AU]

truthfully, did you really feel that foster was going to nail those FGs from 53, 50 and 47??? I didn't. the coaches and Saban should have punted and pinned them in the redzone. our defense was outstanding, give them an opportunity to create turnovers in the RZ.

First of all Foster's first miss was from 44. Secondly, the missed FG's had nothing to do with outcome of the game. Their first FG was scored off of the kickoff after we made the first FG. Their second FG was scored off of the interception by AJ that was returned to our 15 yard line. They scored ZERO points off our missed FG's. If we made either of them, we win the game.

 

[Special K]

Meh he kicked a 22 yarder and one over Maze's head when he was hobbled.
Not buying it.

Both in the second half. Go back and look at what happened after the FG attempts in the first half.

 

[BamaSC]

Look, we made enough execution mistakes to cost us the game, no argument there. But those are 18-22 year old guys.

Coach makes 5 mil a year. He can take a little (well deserved) criticism when he makes some bad decisions as he did tonight. We tried multiple low percentage FGs with kickers that have no consistent track record of making long distance kicks -- and we did it with the best defense in college football on our side. We repeatedly put ourselves behind the chains with slow developing, edge running plays on early downs. At arguably the most critical point of the game, we get cute and allow a WR to throw a pass instead of riding the best offensive player in the stadium to almost certain points.

I'm sorry, but we coached "tight" tonight instead of playing to our strengths and riding our horses. The execution mistakes were bad enough, but we compounded the problems from the sideline with guys who are paid extremely well to perform better. Blind defense of our coaches is not a requirement to being a good fan, sorry.

Thanks...this.

 

[Special K]

First of all Foster's first miss was from 44. Secondly, the missed FG's had nothing to do with outcome of the game. Their first FG was scored off of the kickoff after we made the first FG. Their second FG was scored off of the interception by AJ that was returned to our 15 yard line. They scored ZERO points off our missed FG's.

One last time. Field position, field position, field position, field position. I don't know why no one seems to get this. If we could pin them back a couple of times early in the game, especially while "Pick 6" Lee was still playing, who knows what happens. His eyes were as big as silver dollars, one mistake and we take one to the house. First team to the end zone wins this game and we gave our D no shot to make a big play early.

 

[Gallowglas]

And then LSU's fantastic punter immediately flipped the field on us every time. You can't deny it could have been a very different game with improved field position in the first half.

It could have been. It also could have been a win if we made any one of those three FG's. In a tight game like we expected, I think it's reasonable to take your shots for points where you can get them. There's no guarantee that punting puts you in a position to have a better shot on the next drive. It's a judgment call either way. Frankly, I can see the reason for the attempts.

 

[Special K]

It could have been. It also could have been a win if we made any one of those three FG's. In a tight game like we expected, I think it's reasonable to take your shots for points where you can get them. There's no guarantee that punting puts you in a position to have a better shot on the next drive. It's a judgment call either way. Frankly, I can see the reason for the attempts.

And in a tight game like this, I'm playing the odds all the way. Can anyone deny (especially after this game) that our kickers are iffy at best from anything greater than about 40 yards? I would have tried the 44-yarder, but other than that the odds were much more in our favor to punt it, hopefully pin them inside the 10, and let loose the hell hounds against Lee and company.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

First of all Foster's first miss was from 44. Secondly, the missed FG's had nothing to do with outcome of the game. Their first FG was scored off of the kickoff after we made the first FG. Their second FG was scored off of the interception by AJ that was returned to our 15 yard line. They scored ZERO points off our missed FG's.

splitting hairs, are we?? 47 o 44, huh?

again, if we punted and pinned them inside their 10 or 15 and the way our defense was playing, they would have punted from their endzone or close to it. thus giving our offense a shorter field to work with. that is my point. it has nothing to do with our defense stopping them and forcing them to punt, but the fact that they started their drives on their own 35 or 40 which was good enough for their punter to booted into our redzone when he was called upon.

 

[WalkaboutSean]

<<allow a WR to throw a pass instead of riding the best offensive player in the stadium to almost certain points>>

"Almost certain points" is more than a little optimistic. I love TR (and was shouting for him to get the ball in the 4th Q), but also remember him getting dropped for multiple yardage losses tonight. LSU's D ate up TR on several occasions and there was nothing "almost certain" about getting a first down, much less points.

The wildcat pass was a ballsy call that almost worked - after viewing the instant replay I'm still not convinced it shouldn't have been Bama's ball on the 1.

 

[Special K]

<<allow a WR to throw a pass instead of riding the best offensive player in the stadium to almost certain points>>

"Almost certain points" is more than a little optimistic. I love TR (and was shouting for him to get the ball in the 4th Q), but also remember him getting dropped for multiple yardage losses tonight. LSU's D ate up TR on several occasions and there was nothing "almost certain" about getting a first down, much less points.

The wildcat pass was a ballsy call that almost worked - after viewing the instant replay I'm still not convinced it shouldn't have been Bama's ball on the 1.

I hear what you're saying, but I think you have to look at it in the context of that moment in the game. I think we had LSU's D a little on their heels at that point. It's conjecture on my part, sure, but I just think Trent was ready to take the game on his shoulders and go win it. Considering the circumstances at the time, I just don't think it was a necessary risk.

 

[TideFan in AU]

One last time. Field position, field position, field position, field position. I don't know why no one seems to get this. If we could pin them back a couple of times early in the game, especially while "Pick 6" Lee was still playing, who knows what happens. His eyes were as big as silver dollars, one mistake and we take one to the house. First team to the end zone wins this game and we gave our D no shot to make a big play early.

I think points, points, points, points would have better. I can't see why you don't get that. We had drives start from the 47, 35, and 25 yard line, and were in their 35 seven times (including OT), never scored a TD and only scored 2 FG's. Their defense was equally as good as our's. They were inside our 35 three times, and scored three. Field position, at least times in scoring territory greatly favored us. We just didn't capitalize. They may have made a mistake deep in their territory, but if we score on just one of those FG's, win it in regulation.

 

[redrock]

The block in the back after we ran the interception to LSU's 5 yard line was big.

I agree with an earlier poster - field position in a game like this with two strong defenses is huge. You are not going to drive 80 yards for a TD; but with good field position you may drive 40 yards and put your kickers in position to make field goals from reasonable, 25-40 yard, distances.

Our punter, although not a long distance punter, has had success angling his kicks and placing them around the 10 yard line. LSU was not going to take chances deep in their territory and we had the opportunity of playing on their side of the field for most of the night.

Coaching does play a role in these decisions and our staff was outcoached for 2 years straight by LSU. Two penalties on braking the huddle with 12 players, one of those in OT, not good.

 

[TideFan in AU]

And in a tight game like this, I'm playing the odds all the way. Can anyone deny (especially after this game) that our kickers are iffy at best from anything greater than about 40 yards? I would have tried the 44-yarder, but other than that the odds were much more in our favor to punt it, hopefully pin them inside the 10, and let loose the hell hounds against Lee and company.

If Foster didn't make the 46 yarder, we lose 6 - 3.

 

[Special K]

I think points, points, points, points would have better. I can't see why you don't get that. We had drives start from the 47, 35, and 25 yard line, and were in their 35 seven times (including OT), never scored a TD and only scored 2 FG's. Their defense was equally as good as our's. They were inside our 35 three times, and scored three. Field position, at least times in scoring territory greatly favored us. We just didn't capitalize. They may have made a mistake deep in their territory, but if we score on just one of those FG's, win it in regulation.

That's because we drove it down that far. Starting field position, especially in the first half, belonged to LSU in a big way.

 

[Special K]

If Foster didn't make the 46 yarder, we lose 6 - 3.

Dude, he was 1 for 4. Not exactly the thing that inspires confidence to keep trying.

 

[jrob]

Although I also didn't like the low percentage field goal attempts, I didn't think that showed a lack of confidence in our defense. If anything, it suggested that CNS was very confident in our defense. He thought even if we miss and lsu starts with good field position, the probability that they'll score is very low.

 

[Special K]

Although I also didn't like the low percentage field goal attempts, I didn't think that showed a lack of confidence in our defense. If anything, it suggested that CNS was very confident in our defense. He thought even if we miss and lsu starts with good field position, the probability that they'll score is very low.

I agree, I don't think it had anything to do with lack of confidence in the D at all. I just think it could have helped our offense with starting field position, especially considering LSU conservative play in general.

 

[TideFan in AU]

I just think it could have helped our offense with starting field position, especially considering LSU conservative play in general.

I understand your thinking, I just don't know if it would have helped. LSU was smothering us when we got on their side of the field. You said it yourself, LSU had better starting field all through the 1st half than we did, but it didn't help them. With the way the 2 defenses were playing, I have no problem with trying for the points. Like I said, even after 2 misses, Foster's 46 yarder kept us in the game. We needed those 3 points in the worst way. We were forced to kick the one in OT because of Trent dropping an easy catch for at least a 1st down, a substitution penalty, AJ missing Trent on the wheel route, and AJ taking a sack. We had excellent starting field position on that play, didn't we?