Crimson Red Sports

                                                                            LSU vs Bama

First, congrats to the Bama coaches and players on a great victory.  This was an outstanding game plan by both the offense and defense in a tough environment.   

OFFFENSE:   Bama put together 576 yards of total offense, which included 295 yards passing and 281 rushing.  This was a well-balanced attack and possibly the best offensive effort considering the defensive team LSU has.  As far as negative plays, Bama had 5 tackles for losses, 1 sack which was a coverage sack, and an interception which Tua threw into double coverage.  Bama had no three and outs the whole night even though they had a couple of 3rd and longs at the start of their drives.  Bama was also balanced on their plays covering 10+ yards as they had 13 pass plays covering that distance and 10 running plays that covered that distance.  Bama got into the red zone 4 times.  They scored 2 touchdown and kicked a field goal while they punted the other times because of penalties and tackles for losses.  There were also points left on the field that would have made the score worse than it was.

QB:   Tua played a good game.  He did force the ball on the interception but threw some good balls into tight coverage.  He also scrambled well which is obvious since he scored on a 44-yard run.  The good thing is he missed in the right place most of the day.  It looked like the game plan early was to get the ball out of his hands quickly and allow the receivers to use their athletic ability to make yards after the catch.

RB:  The running backs had a great day.  They had a combined 234 yards rushing and averaged over 7 yards a carry against what is supposed to be an elite run defense.  The backs also did a good job picking up the blitzes by LSU.

Rec:  Four different receivers had catches, not counting running back.  Jeudy led the way with 8 catches and the others all had 4 each.  Each of the receivers averaged over 10 yards per catch.  They also did a good job blocking downfield on the big runs by the backs.

OL:  I thought this was their best game of the year, especially in the area of run blocking.  The yards gained mentioned above where the results of the OL blocking.  I also include Hentges here as his did a very good job when leading on some of the plays called.  They got to the second level several times and they got a push against the LSU D line. 

Def:  The defense played very well.  LSU had a total of 196 yards which included 184 passing and 12 rushing.  For negative plays, I have Bama for 8 tackles for losses, 5 sacks, and 1 interception.  I credit Bama’s defense with 5 three and outs, 3 in the first half and 2 in the second half.  For plays that covered 10+ yards, LSU had 6 pass plays and 1 running play.  LSU had only one of those passing plays in the first half and no running plays in the first half that covered that distance.  The run for 10+ yards came on a scramble by the Qb in the 2nd half.  LSU tried to start the game with the quick passing game and continued this throughout the game.  LSU got into the red zone twice and missed one field goal and threw an interception.  One of the amazing stats I watched this game, was how many times Bama rushed more than 4.  In the first half it was 3 times and one of those was a run blitz on a 3rd and short.  In the second half I have them sending more than 4 only 4 times.  Most of the pressure and sacks came when Bama was rushing 4 or less because they only rushed 3 at times.  The only knock was the loss of contain by the end rushers.

DL:  The DL played and outstanding game because of the pressure they were able to apply by rushing only 4 most of the game.  Q Williams played a great game and was held more than once and still made plays or allowed others to make the play since he was double teamed.  They also kept the LSU OL off of the linebackers which allowed them to make plays.

LB:  They played well especially having to get to the short passes and dropping into coverage.  As I said this job was made easy for them because of the work of the DL.

DB: The DB’s played well.  Again, to sound like a broken record (many of you will understand this reference) the play of the DL aided the DB’s because of their pressure on the QB.  I will say they had a chance for a couple of interceptions which if one was made could have possibly been returned for a touchdown.  They came up and filled well and didn’t allow receivers, except on one play, to make many yards after the catch.

Special Teams:  There were a few of problems on special teams.  First, a bad hold by the holder on the first PAT.  The second was a low kick on a PAT which was blocked.  They allowed a big kick off return where they didn’t get off of blocks.  Finally, they didn’t cover a punt very well that could have pinned LSU down inside the 5.

Penalties:  I have Bama for 9 penalties but two of them were declined.  They were both offsides.  There were 2 false start penalties on the first drive which combined with a couple of tackles for losses which took Bama out of the red zone and forced them to punt.  The pass interference call, I don’t think the ball was catchable.  The unsportsmanlike conduct was uncalled for and could have been huge in a tight game because the kickoff is moved back.  The face mask was called, but they could have called holding on that play also.  As a matter of fact, there were a few times, even commented by the announcers, that holding could have been called.

Finally, as well as they played, they could have scored more.  They got into the red zone on the first drive and didn’t even get a chance to kick a field goal.  The missed two extra points and they ended up kicking a field goal when getting into the red zone.  These are points left on the field.  If added up this is 5 plus points that could have been scored.

Feel free to comment:

17and Counting

ya'll got anymore kickers out there like C. David coming along ?  :pray:

I thought our run game was outstanding. We mostly ran to the right side where Williams is outstanding but our OL has improved since D. Brown has been inserted at RG. I also thought our pass protection was good considering who we were playing.

When you review the film do you break the run game down to right side, middle and left side?

I also think the jet sweep should be considered a run play and not a pass.

Thanks hscoach. Great breakdown. I hope Najee will only be out a couple of days or maybe rest against MSU. Tua looked to me like he was throwing the ball to High a bunch of times. I wonder if his step through with the knee was affected? RTR!

Well the first one wasn't his fault, the other was low looked like a plant foot issue.  I understand Bama has the Number 1 kicker committed.

I didn't break down left or right runs.  The difference from running play to pass play is the little flip, if it is handed then it is a running play.  They are blocked the same way like a running play.

He did throw some high, but I think it has more to do with pressure or presumed pressure.  He may have rushed a couple that caused this.

Did Brown replace Alex Leatherwood and where is Lester Cotton? I thought he was healed up.



 :dunno:

Okay, I just looked at the game and saw Leatherwood. I don't think they ever called his name.

They mentioned him once I think.  Brown replaced Cotton, I think.  I also thought he played very well last night.

it was my lame attempt at a little humor Coach  :lol2:
though I must say , our kicking game ain't the best   :facepalm:

Understatement of the decade.



 :-X

 :lol: :lol: :lol:

glad as hello it hasn't mattered , so far anyway   :unsure: :unsure: :unsure:

The bad part is he has shown he can do it.  I  think it is a bit  of a confidence thing right now.  I do think  he needs some slight adjustments with plant foot and alignment.

Brown has started the last two games in place of Cotton. Cotton was dinged up but he has been the weak link on the OL. IMO the OL play has improved since Brown was inserted in the starting line-up.

Thanks for your analysis.   #+

I understand why it is considered a pass. For stat purposes it is more like a running play than a passing play IMO. For years that play was a hand-off rather than a flip. So many bad hand-offs resulting in fumbles caused teams to start flipping it because if it was dropped it was an incomplete pass and not a fumble.

Thanks coach.

If Bama can continue to play at this level on both sides of the ball I don’t see anyone with the talent to match up with them.

The defensive coach’s should be given a bonus.  I can’t remember seeing this much improvement in a season.

Roll Tide

Definitely VAST improvement since game 1.   :worship:

As per kicking, Saban said he was overkicking (see below).  Saban's knowledge of kicking seems to be golf analogies.   :lol2:

“Look, there’s no sense in being frustrated,” he said. “We just need to get it right. And I think the guys are capable. They do it in practice and they do it very well. They get out here and over kick the ball. The first extra point was not the kicker’s fault. I mean, the holder mishandled the snap. The second one he kicked low, which was an issue. But we have a guy that’s capable, and he’ll be able to do a good job of helping him technically get better and gain confidence so that he can go out there and do a good job for us. He’s kicked off well for us this year. He’s just been a little inconsistent at times on the field goal stuff, and I think most of it is when he tries to over-kick the ball.”

Good as always coach. Bama has improved week by week, which is scary. Up front, they have turned up the heat. Williams is unblockable - his push up the middle not only stones the run game but breaks down the pocket from the inside. Since Brown has started playing LG with Jonah at LT, they are a motor grader for the running game.

Outstanding analysis, Coach!

We have improved every week in all phases except special teams. Hopefully, that won't come back to bite us. With the talent we have on both sides of the ball, it may be a moot point. Let's hope so anyway.

I think he means trying too hard to kick it perfectly or maybe putting so much into the kick the ball goes astray.



 ???


 

Thanks coach!  As much as CNS and the team make my Saturday nights, you make my Sundays!  I have been wondering all season if we were as good as we have looked.  Now I know that we are.  The only team in the country that can beat Alabama is Alabama.  ROLL TIDE!!!

As always, a great analysis, Coach. I think our team, for the first time, came together in all phases at this game (except kicking, of course  :facepalm:).

Great write-up Coach.  Thanks.  I think it is interesting that when LSU is supposed to have this "other worldly" running back (Leonard Fournette) that they become worthless when they go against Bama's outstanding defense but this time Bama has an excellent running back crew while LSU's run defense was supposed to be great and they couldn't stop us.  Cudo's to Bama in all phases except the special teams.  Cudo's to you too Coach.  Have an ecred…  #+ #+ #+

Got to thinking about some things in the game and the shot on the QB on the first drive looks to be an intentional blow below the waist.  I think he was going for the knee.

Several folks on other forums have said the same thing.  I watched the hit numerous times, and it certainly looks like it could have been intentional.  No way the SEC could ever prove it from the video, but had Tua's foot been planted in the turf, he'd have been badly injured.

 >:(