What a dominating performance in all phases of the game.
Going into last night's game, I was concerned about special teams play, particularly the kickoff coverage unit, and the defense's ability to defend LSU's option game.
No problem.
For those who want to whine about Alabama not winning their conference championship or for the Oklahoma State apologists, check out "No Doubting Saban, Alabama" by Gene Wojciechowski, an esteemed sports writer. In regard to Oklahoma State, as much as I like Iowa State as an institution and I'm happy their football program is improving, a college football national champion does not lose to the Cyclones. The two best teams in the country played last night.
But back to the game.
These numbers bear repeating:
- First Downs: Alabama, 21; LSU, 5
- Net Yards Rushing: Alabama, 150; LSU, 39
- Net Yards Passing: Alabama, 234; LSU, 53
- Total Yards of Offense: Alabama, 384; LSU, 92
- Time of Possession: Alabama, 35:26; LSU, 24:34
- A. J. McCarron: 23 completions of 34 attempts, 234 yards
- 5 field goals made out of 7 attempted by Alabama
- 1 rushing touchdown by Trent Richardson
- Number of Times LSU passed mid-field: 1
- Number of Touchdowns Alabama Gave Up This Season: 9
This year's defense rivals the defenses of the 2009, 1992, and 1966 seasons, and the offense moved the ball well in the game. It just didn't convert their drives into touchdowns, unfortunately.
On ESPN today they're already picking the top 5 for next season.
Alabama is not in that conversation since they'll lose a lot of folks to graduation and early entries into the draft. Below you'll find a list of players who will not be on the squad next season:
- Trent Richardson, RB (early entry)
- Dont'a Hightower, LB (early entry)
- Courtney Upshaw, LB/DE
- Mark Barron, S
- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (early entry)
- Dequan Menzie, CB
- Marquis Maze, WR
- Darius Hanks, WR
- Josh Chapman, NT
- Jerrell Harris, LB
- Nick Gentry, NT
- Alex Watkins, DE
- William Vlachos, C
- Brad Smelley, TE
- Chris Underwood, TE
Regardless, congratulations to the Crimson Tide on its 14th national championship.
2 comments:
That was a hell of a defensive show. Personally, I would have preferred a non-rematch, but I would have to agree with a radio guy I heard today (can't remember which one) when he said you could argue for OK St being in the championship game, but there was no way to argue against Alabama being there.
Sooooo.... is that list enough of the defensive starters such that Mizzou has a prayer of winning at Alabama next year? :) Or do the odds go from 2% to 4% of that upset happening?
Roll Tide
A plus-one system would have pitted LSU vs. Stanford and Alabama vs. OK State based on the top four final BCS rankings. I think this will be what they move to eventually, which is fine by me. But even those pairings would have created grumblings since Oregon is the Pac 12 champ, and the Ducks beat Stanford.
With Alabama having a young defense, Mizzou has a legit shot. I remember wake-n-baker Garcia carving up the young Alabama DBs in Columbia, SC in '10. Lots of holes to fill on the defense, and we'll lose a lot of leadership on that side of the ball (Barron, Hightower, and Upshaw). Alabama's schedule also has them opening against Michigan (in Dallas at JerryWorld) and visiting Arkansas and LSU next season. Rough.
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