I watched his highlight video and really like the way he attacks the ball.  He finishes with his lef thru the ball. Also, I am not sure I saw him using a block on field goals.

Why did they not review the flagrant foul by Honey Bonger?

Some people have expressed that CNS got outcoached the other night.  I for one don’t believe it.   Let me put it this way, if the trick play had been thrown properly then it would have been a TD.  Also it was the perfect time to call it.  Did you see how wide open MW was?   I know the throw was not perfect, but how do we know the rec that Reid came off of did not run the route too deep?  If it had worked everyone would have been saying what a perfect call at the perfect time..  Also, did CNS throw the block in the back?  I can guarantee that player has be taught numerous times, not to make attempt that block in that situation.  As a coach I know the players don’t always do what is taught.  The D dominated LSU and the O was more effective than LSU.  The only thing is the kicking game was not executed.  Yes, you can second guess about punting, but if those FG’s had been made, then it again would have been a great decision.  I have to believe that CF has made kicks from that distance in practice or it would not have been an option.  CNS is my coach of choice and I don’t want anyone else.

What do UA (1972/1978) and LSU (2003) have in common? They all won National Championships with one loss. I can also list other examples of teams who won National Championships with one loss.   By the way Coach Nick Saban was the Head Coach at LSU in 2003.  What I am telling you here the quest for the prize is not over unless you want it to be over.   How do you want to be remembered?  Do you want people to call you winners or the team who gave up?  I, like most Bama fans, feel you can still attain the top prize.  However, it will be up to you and only you to prove to the rest of college football you deserve that shot. 

We know that the superior team did not come away with victory the other night.  Mistakes were made, but now it is time to put that behind you and prove to everyone else who the true champions are.  All I know is I and hundreds of thousands of Bama fans believe in you.  The question is do you believe in yourself enough to go out and prove it.

The major question is can these great high school kickers make the transition to college without the use of a block?  By Colt David's Sr year he was using a 1 inch block and practicing without one when the season was over.  I think this is something all college coaches should, and probably do, address with incoming kickers.

He had been playing after he was hurt.  The punter nailed one and probably could not use the plant foot needed to push off and get to the ball.

Also, let me just say this.  Bama beat LSU in 2 out of 3 phases of the game.  They lost because of special teams and untimely penalties.  I still believe Bama is the better overall team.

Let me put this out there.  What if Ark upsets LSU, what happens then?   I do think OSU will lose to OU.  Oregon can beat Stanford.  What happens then?

I really couldn't say if he is over rated or not.  I know MM beat him a couple of times.  He did effect one play when he came of on the blitz.  The field was so full of good athletes evey time someone wins and someone loses on every play. 

Glad you all enjoy the notes.

OSU will lose to OU and Stanford could really lose to Oregon.  They will climb if they take care of business the rest of the way out.

I can see your side.  However, he was lucky another ball wasn't picked.  What I really base it on was what he missed on the field, not all his fault.   However, forcing the ball  into double coverage and late on check downs.  That is why I give him the grade I do.

No clue, I guess it would be considered part of the field.

I am not sure I buy this.  If it was me and it hit the wire I would have been pointing at it coming off the field.

First let me say this was a hard fought game that Bama let get away.  They had opportunities and did not take advantage of them.  The players played hard on both sides of the ball.  If my count is correct each D came up with 7 negative plays included in these plays were 2 ints by both teams.   I will say #7 should have been ejected for the hit on DK.  It was a flagrant foul.  I would not be surprised to see the SEC review the play. 

Offense:  Yardage was tough all night.  Bama did out gain LSU 307 to 235, but they didn’t put points on the board when they needed to.  Also, the 3 points that tied the game came from the int. 

1.    The miss throw in OT to TR was huge.  As was the penalty for too many men in the huddle. 
2.   I thought play action on first down would have been effective with the safeties playing so tight and filling so quickly. 
3.   Bama use the unbalanced look with BJ and DJF and ran the ball effectively. 
4.   It was obvious that LSU game plan was to tackle TR low and they did a good job of it. 
5.   The OL did give AJ time to throw the ball, but I am not sure he saw the field well.
6.   Bama’s O had long fields most of the night.  The int’s and the first kickoff return gave them short fields.
7.   Didn’t get any points off of the first TO and started on their own 47.
8.   Maybe should have tried more play action of runs to the edge with a boot action.
9.   MM throw out of the wildcat was high and to the inside.  If the throw is downfield and outside it is a TD.
10.   At the end of the first, I think AJ went to the wrong rec.  The inside rec had room to make a catch and possibly score. 
11.   The rec’s didn’t work back for the ball when AJ was scrambling late in the game. 
12.   I didn’t see any medium routes on the 3rd down play in overtime.  Basically put the field goal out of range.   

QB:   In my opinion AJ did not have a good game.  He missed the deep throw to TR in overtime.   I will not blame him for his choice to throw the fade, if it had been on target it would have been a TD.  I don’t think he thought he would have time for the other routes  to develop with the blitz coming.  On the ball he threw to MM, where there should have been a pass interference call he had a long throwing motion.  What I mean here is it looked like the dropped the ball below his waist on a kind of a wind up throw.   He floated a couple of balls.  I also thought he was late on a couple of reads.   He tried to force a ball into double coverage after the int.  There had to be a check down rec. In overtime AJ cant’t take that sack, he must throw it away for a chance for the FG. 

RB:  TR played a good game against a tough LSU D.  The rushed for 89 yards and also had 80 yards rec.  You can add 23 yards on the kickoff return for a total of 192 total yards.   I also thought EL ran hard when he was in there.  They did a good job running after the catch.

REC:  The rec’s did a good job with the opportunities given to them.  DH again makes a diving catch.  I think they could have done a better job on working back to the football when AJ was scrambling.

OL:  The OL played fairly well.  For the most part they gave the QB time to throw the ball.  LSU did a good job filling the holes with safeties and LB’s.   I do think there were a few busted assignments by the TE’s.  I am not sure, but I thought DJF played well.

Defense:  The D played a solid game, with a couple of bust.  The O put them in bad position with the TO and they held them to a FG.  Also, they busted a coverage, which was huge, but again the D made a stand, even after the holding penalty on DK.

1.   I did notice NJ getting the calls along with DH and relaying them to the team. 
2.   Angles and assignments on the option hurt Bama.
3.   Bama lost contain a couple of times with JJ in the game.  Also, on one stunt, one D lineman did not complete his and allowed a  hole for JJ to scramble thru. 
4.   JH played a very good game in my opinion.
5.   JC made a very good play when LSU ran the QB lead.  He pressed the blocker into the hole and forced JJ to run to him and then made the tackle.
6.   On the bad side the penalty by JC on the int cost Bama 35 yard in field position and took the ball from the 3 going in. 

DL:  They played well and made it tough for LSU all night.

LB:   Again they filled the holes and played sideline to sideline. 
 
DB:  They came up with 2 big picks.  They didn’t really allow the rec to get loose except on the busted coverage.  This was huge and cost Bama  3 points.  I don’t know if LSU could have gotten close enough to score in the little time left on the clock.

Penalties:  One gave LSU a first down without having to run a play.  This was on the drive before half time.  Another big penalty was breaking the huddle with 12 in OT.  Finally, the worst penalty was the block in the back that took the ball off the 3 going in.
 
Special teams: Bama has got to have a kicker that can make 45-50 yarders.   This cost Bama the game.  I know 50 yards is a long field goal, but in this day of specialty kickers you need one who can do it.  The block was all on JS.  His trajectory was too low and the D linemen hardly had to jump to block it.   

I truly feel Bama has the better team.  They lost the game and allowed LSU to win.  I am not taking anything away from LSU, but Bama had and blew opportunities which could have won the game.
 
Please feel free to comment.

Good Luck and Roll Tide Roll

According to Mel Kiper and Kirk Herbstreit, if AJ can't throw the ball against the LSU DB's, it will make Bama one dimensional and LSU will win the game.  That was my interpertation of what they said.

If you have read many of my post, you know what my song is for LSU.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY_I6doz6Qk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY_I6doz6Qk</a>