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THE GOOD
Zach Mettenberger
I never expected LSU to throw for nearly 300 yards against Alabama, but quarterback Zach Mettenberger got hot in the 2nd half and the Crimson Tide had no answers. Mettenberger threw for 206 yards after halftime and he was sensational on third down. LSU converted on five straight 3rd downs, and had a stretch of 7-of-8.
Jeremy Hill
Zach Mettenberger
I never expected LSU to throw for nearly 300 yards against Alabama, but quarterback Zach Mettenberger got hot in the 2nd half and the Crimson Tide had no answers. Mettenberger threw for 206 yards after halftime and he was sensational on third down. LSU converted on five straight 3rd downs, and had a stretch of 7-of-8.
Jeremy Hill
Kenny Hilliard was the freshman who burst on the scene last season, but the emergence of Jeremy Hill (above) kept him on the sidelines against Alabama. Hill had his third straight 100-yard rushing performance, as he rushed for 107 yards and one touchdown against Alabama's vaunted defense.
Brad Wing
LSU's punter has had his struggles this season, but he was big on Saturday night. The man from down under averaged 49 yards a punt, including a 64-yarder. He also had two inside the 20, which helped LSU win the battle of field position. One of his tricky punts was muffed, which resulted in good field position for the Tigers.
THE BAD
54-yard Field Goal Attempt
You can second guess a lot of Les Miles' decisions, but the one that perplexes me the most was the 54-yard field goal try at the end of the first half. It made no sense to me. Drew Alleman has been shaky this season and his career long is only 44 yards. It was 4th –and-4 at the Alabama 37-yard line. Either go for it or punt the football.
If LSU punts, Nick Saban likely decides to run out the clock and go into halftime with a 7-3 lead. But instead Miles tries a field goal attempt that comes up well short. Alabama took over at their own 37-yard line and six plays later the Crimson Tide is up 14-3.
Fake Field Goal on 4th and 12
I like the idea of trying a field goal, but not on 4th and 12.
JC Copeland
A fake field goal try would not have been needed, if fullback JC Copeland wasn't flagged for a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Copeland's costly penalty took the momentum away from the Tigers and forced them to try that low percentage trick play.
THE UGLY
LSU's defense at the end of the 1st and 2nd half
The Tigers defense played great for 58 minutes, but it's hard to explain what happened on Alabama's final drives of the 1st and 2nd halves. The Tigers allowed 135 yards on those two drives. They gave up 196 yards the rest of the game. You can say it was the prevent defense. But the prevent defense should stop a screen pass that resulted in a 28-yard game winning touchdown pass.
Photo credit: Steve Franz, LSU Athletics
Brad Wing
LSU's punter has had his struggles this season, but he was big on Saturday night. The man from down under averaged 49 yards a punt, including a 64-yarder. He also had two inside the 20, which helped LSU win the battle of field position. One of his tricky punts was muffed, which resulted in good field position for the Tigers.
THE BAD
54-yard Field Goal Attempt
You can second guess a lot of Les Miles' decisions, but the one that perplexes me the most was the 54-yard field goal try at the end of the first half. It made no sense to me. Drew Alleman has been shaky this season and his career long is only 44 yards. It was 4th –and-4 at the Alabama 37-yard line. Either go for it or punt the football.
If LSU punts, Nick Saban likely decides to run out the clock and go into halftime with a 7-3 lead. But instead Miles tries a field goal attempt that comes up well short. Alabama took over at their own 37-yard line and six plays later the Crimson Tide is up 14-3.
Fake Field Goal on 4th and 12
I like the idea of trying a field goal, but not on 4th and 12.
JC Copeland
A fake field goal try would not have been needed, if fullback JC Copeland wasn't flagged for a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Copeland's costly penalty took the momentum away from the Tigers and forced them to try that low percentage trick play.
THE UGLY
LSU's defense at the end of the 1st and 2nd half
The Tigers defense played great for 58 minutes, but it's hard to explain what happened on Alabama's final drives of the 1st and 2nd halves. The Tigers allowed 135 yards on those two drives. They gave up 196 yards the rest of the game. You can say it was the prevent defense. But the prevent defense should stop a screen pass that resulted in a 28-yard game winning touchdown pass.
Photo credit: Steve Franz, LSU Athletics
