LSU vs. Alabama: a BCS Championship Review Session

by Billy Gomila on Jan 4, 2012 10:12 AM CST in Football

When your bowl game is a rematch, the familiarity as an analyst can serve as both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand, you certainly have some understanding of your opponent -- a feel for the personnel/scheme, how the players match up, etc...But on the other, you've already written about those things extensively, and unless either team has changed substantively since the first matchup, finding something interesting to say about the matchup can become if you don't want to repeat yourself. So, with that said, I thought it would be a good idea create drop some of the previous pieces we've had, or links to others that are relevant to the BCS Championship game, just for a little review:

For starters, here's the game preview and recap of Game of the Century Part 1.
Jim Kleinpeter of the New Orleans Times-Picayune has had an strong series of film studies from each of LSU's games this season. Here's the one from the Nov. 5 game.
Back in August, in preparation for the massive Jerradome opener with Oregon, I broke down the Ducks' explosive offense in three parts. Here's part two, which focuses on zone-blocking, something Alabama does extensively as well.
Chris Brown of Smart Football wrote this primer on the Alabama defense for ESPN's Grantland.com.
He also wrote this breakdown of the speed option, which we all remember as a key play in the Nov. 5 matchup.
This link is in the game preview, but Brophy Football was able to break down Alabama's 2008 defensive playbook, with some Google doc links. For the extreme X and O dorks.

Below the jump, the LesMiles.net highlights, and a segment from ESPN's always-enjoyable Sports Science series on the two defenses...

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The LSU Hype video reminded me that the talking heads are at it again...

last night, during the Sugar Bowl, Herbstriet, was talking about Bama having left more on the field in the first game (and thus had a greater likelihood of substantially improving). To support his position he referenced how the Gumps “drove down the field” their first three drives only to go backwards with false starts and a botched reverse play and then missed their field goal attempts. One would think he was a Gump the way he was making excuses for their non-win. How about giving our defense a little credit for the sacks, TFLs, and the pressure that caused the false starts by their players and the gimmicky play calls by their coaches? Bama didn’t just fail to win, our players and coaches won that game.

Also, what about our numerous missed plays…like all of those blown coverages on Richardson coming out of the backfield that resulted in the majority of his yards? Since Saban is not our coach, I guess it would be too much to even suggest that our coaches would fix that problem.

I can’t wait for this game! While I agree with Poseur’s earlier post that OSU was robbed, I can think of few things more satisfying than beating the Gumps twice in one season for the national title.

by Displaced Tiger on Jan 4, 2012 11:09 AM CST reply actions 2 recs

definitely caught the phrase "repeated drives deep into LSU territory"

I’m pretty sure they had one red zone drive all game, not really a totally accurate picture

I always keep a supply of alcohol handy in case I see a snake, which I also keep handy.

by Yail Bloor on Jan 4, 2012 5:53 PM CST up reply actions

You are correct, only 1 Red Zone Trip

1 QTR: Bama has 3 drives to our 27, 33, 31
2 QTR: Bama has 1 drive to our 18
3 QTR: Bama has 1 drive to our 35 (after an INT)
4 QTR Bama has 1 drive to our 27

by WhoDatSaintsLSU on Jan 4, 2012 6:38 PM CST up reply actions

LSU had 2 Red Zone Trips

1 QTR: LSU has 1 drive to their 42
2 QTR: LSU has 2 drives to their 39 and 2
3 QTR: LSU has 2 drives to their 38 and 13 (after an INT)
4 QTR: LSU has 0 drives in their territory (best drive ended at our 45)

by WhoDatSaintsLSU on Jan 4, 2012 6:46 PM CST up reply actions

also got real close in OT

I always keep a supply of alcohol handy in case I see a snake, which I also keep handy.

by Yail Bloor on Jan 4, 2012 10:27 PM CST up reply actions

The only stat is the final scoreboard. LSU by a touchdown.

by lsufanfrommobile on Jan 4, 2012 2:20 PM CST reply actions

Minor recommendation

The header on this place has been “LSU Blog of the Week” for some time. Apropos of the Game of the Century™ and the upcoming Rematch of the Century™, I suggest you change it to Blog of the Century.

Don't Panic.

by 4.0 Point Stance on Jan 4, 2012 3:26 PM CST reply actions

Billy, I'd like to hear some analysis based on personnel

specifically – players for both teams who did not play at all because of injury, or who played very little because they had not emerged as big time players at the time, who have now. I’m specifically thinking of Kenny Hilliard, obviously. But I think we had a couple of Olinemen out in that game as well. And I imagine Bama was missing a player or two.

Any thoughts on that?

It seems like Hilliard is basically our 1A at this point, with Ware, Ford, and Blue all bunched up just behind him depending on the package. I assume when we go option that Ford will be the main guy. I’m hoping Ware can get his mojo back with the break. But I’m really excited to see what Hilliard can do. If he can pop open some runs straight down the middle that opens up a lot of possibilities.

by GeauxTiger on Jan 4, 2012 7:17 PM CST reply actions

We were reasonably healthy.

Lacy has been dealing with turf toe for awhile and supposedly will be healthy. Most important injuries we had last time were Barrett Jones and Maze, who both played on sprained ankles.

'There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you'll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment,'- Nick Saban

by J Tadpole on Jan 4, 2012 8:24 PM CST up reply actions

As I recall, off the top of my head

And Tadpole seems to echo it, Bama was only missing a few backup linemen and linebackers, whom I think are still out. LSU wasn’t totally healthy — PJ Lonergan was battling a nagging thing but was still able to play, and had the suspended players back in their first game. But those aren’t the kind of things you really list in an injury report. Either way, both teams should be at full health, more or less.

As far as Hilliard, that’s something I’ve been thinking about, and I’ll try to have some thoughts in the game preview. He actually played a solid amount in game 1, mostly as a lead blocker on some of the option plays.

Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook

by Billy Gomila on Jan 4, 2012 8:39 PM CST up reply actions

thanks Tadpole and BIlly

I remembered Maze’s injury – that was during the game, right? Forgot about Jones.

And I knew Hilliard played some as a blocker, but he didn’t touch the football much, if at all. Was Blackwell not out?

by GeauxTiger on Jan 4, 2012 9:24 PM CST up reply actions

Blackwell was in. Lonergan is the only lineman I remember being banged up

and he at least still played in a limited role. Far as I know, both teams should be healthy.

By the way, just an FYI to anybody, we’ll have a gamethread tomorrow for the Under Armor all-star game.

Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook

by Billy Gomila on Jan 4, 2012 10:35 PM CST up reply actions

Watching West Virginia spank Clemson.

Glad we had a better defense than Clemson has. Makes our victory even more impressive.

by lsufanfrommobile on Jan 4, 2012 10:04 PM CST reply actions

70 points in a college football game is rather uncommon.

70 points in a BCS bowl?

Damn.

Even if it is Clemson.

"LSU's ability to eat the other team's soul is unparalled in my memory." -Aaron Chastain via Twitter
"Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it."
--Sir Thomas Beecham to a lady cellist.

by MuddyBayou on Jan 4, 2012 11:22 PM CST up reply actions

They pointed at the 533 yds that UWV gained on us and questioned our defense.

LSU vs UWV. UWV gained 533 yds and scored 21 points
Clemson vs UWV . UWV gained 589 yds and scored 70 points
Difference of only 46 yds and 56 points.
Take away lesson?

by lsufanfrommobile on Jan 5, 2012 8:18 AM CST up reply actions

Clempson sucks?

Don’t turn the ball over four times?
Yes, red zone defense matters tremendously but giving up 500 yards is bad no matter how you slice it.

by J Tadpole on Jan 5, 2012 9:45 AM CST up reply actions

500 yds through the air is comparable to 300 on the ground...wouldn't you say?

and West Virginia is a much stronger opponent than Georgia Southern.

by Zandor435 on Jan 5, 2012 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Are you saying the Big East champion is comparable to an FCS school?

Because otherwise…no, not really.

Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook

by Billy Gomila on Jan 5, 2012 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

The defense clearly had their worst game of the season against GSU.

I actually watched that game online and participated in the game thread at RBR- noted several times that the staff wasn’t even trying to scheme to stop a triple option team. Kept seven in the box and played zone the entire game, which is exactly the opposite of scheming against that offense. With the athletes we have outside, they could have single covered the two wideouts all day and played eight or nine in the box. Guessing the staff was content to just let talent win out in that one, probably had something to do with the fact that they were using that game to get snaps for some youngsters in the base defense. May have also been a severe case of underestimating an opponent, which probably played a huge role.

by J Tadpole on Jan 5, 2012 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

Biggest difference:

They gained the majority of their yards after we had the game in hand. Running up and down the field isn’t anything but a waste of energy unless you score points.

by lsufanfrommobile on Jan 5, 2012 12:16 PM CST up reply actions

Plus, WVU really DIDN'T run up and down the field

Their average drive went about 20 yards and the majority still ended with a punt.

Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook

by Billy Gomila on Jan 5, 2012 1:05 PM CST up reply actions

Difference of only 46 yds and 56 points.

ROFL, Clemson sucks!

Reporter: What would you say a Greg Studrawa offense is like? Stud:

"Attack and be very physical…fly around…attacking, come after you and come after you and come after you…." Me: I love this answer.

GET TO THE RIM HEAT (and SKY)! ATTACK THE PAINT!

by mjtig on Jan 5, 2012 1:23 PM CST up reply actions

Very good thread.

I especially liked the LSU/Bama D contrast. Be nice if they also examined the Bama DB’s and LSU D-line, as well. Hell, might as well through in the LB’s, as well.

Good analysis of the first match, too.

Hopefully, everyone is healthy for both teams next week.

"The same things win today that have always won, and they will win years from now. The only difference is the losers have a whole new bunch of excuses why they don’t win or can’t win."-Bear Bryant

Robot Chicken Star Wars should be canon.

by the thin red line on Jan 5, 2012 12:52 AM CST reply actions

Still love your Bear quote. Can't wait till Monday.

by lsufanfrommobile on Jan 5, 2012 12:11 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks.

Hope it’’s it a nailbiter, as usual. Let the rest of the nation see what Eddie George calls ″’Real Man’s Football″ in a video at Rivals. He also predicts LSU by 14.

Robot Chicken Star Wars should be canon.

by the thin red line on Jan 5, 2012 8:41 PM CST up reply actions

*it’s

Robot Chicken Star Wars should be canon.

by the thin red line on Jan 5, 2012 8:42 PM CST up reply actions

I think that is a definite possibility.

Our greater speed will be so much more apparent on the turf of the Superdome and that seemed to be a major issue for you guys in the last game. Ok… Major might be blowing it out of proportion, but it certainly caused problems. Ford is gonna have a big game on Monday. And probably Hilliard too as long as we can get into the red zone. And you better tell somebody on the Tide to NEVER KICK IT TO MATHIEU! Honestly I hope ya’ll do, but it would be pretty ill advised.

24-10 LSU :)

"The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes." – Winston Churchill

by Swangahouse on Jan 6, 2012 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

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SEC Baseball Standings

Final Standings

# - SEC Tournament Seeding

~~Team Name~~ = Eliminated from SEC Tournament

West	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
~~1 LSU Tigers~~ And The Valley Shook	19	11	42	14
~~6 Arkansas Razorbacks~~ Arkansas Expats	16	14	39	17
7 Mississippi St. Bulldogs For Whom the Cowbell Tolls	16	14	34	21
~~9 Mississippi Rebels~~ Red Cup Rebellion	14	16	34	22
~~10 Auburn Tigers~~ Track Em Tigers	13	17	30	26
~~Alabama Crimson Tide~~ Roll 'Bama Roll	9	21	21	34

East	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
~~2 South Carolina Gamecocks~~ Garnet And Black Attack	18	11	39	15
4 Kentucky Wildcats A Sea Of Blue	18	12	41	15
3 Florida Gators Alligator Army	18	12	40	16
5 Vanderbilt Commodores Anchor Of Gold	16	14	29	25
~~8 Georgia Bulldogs~~ Dawg Sports	14	15	31	24
~~Tennessee Volunteers~~ Rocky Top Talk	8	22	24	31