I just rewatched last year's Bama game. Holy sh!t. Obviously, I knew how it all turned out.

But as I watched I had to convince myself that we really did win that game in the end.

Bama sucked last year. How they didn't beat LSU after all those penalties and turnovers and just crappy play is beyond me.

One reason, of course, is LSU's defense played very well except for two (maybe 3) breakdowns that led to big plays.

Other takeaways for this year:

Yes, the DL really is THAT good, especially against the run.
Chevis Jackson and Zenon will be missed for the first couple of games at least.
Carnell Stewart - you were the weakest link. But he wasn't bad.
Matt Flynn's biggest asset was his composure after screwing up. He screwed up a lot against Bama...
Chad Jones = BEAST! Holy crap. (Except on punt returns )

If the QBs step up even a little (Flynn wasn't THAT good last year) and the CBs play as well as the coaches are spinning it right now, then we are going to surprise some folks.

Assuming we have less than 14 penalties per game...

I take exception to that. He might not have had the numbers of some All-American QBs, but he performed when the pressure was the greatest and he knows how to win. I'll take that over pure stats any day.

Believe me, I gave Flynn respect all year long and still do. And I have always thought he'd surprise some in the NFL because he only started one year at LSU, and with a bit more experience has the tools (leadership, arm, wheels) to be a good NFL QB.

But last year, Matt Flynn was a solid QB. Nothing more. And by Auburn, Hatch or Lee may be capable of approaching that - solid QB.

Anyway, Bama sucks. They need at least one more year, probably two. That's really my point.

You're certainly entitled to take offense...and you make some good points. Flynn was incredible at bouncing back after a letdown, such as the TD pass to Hester called back against Arky.

However, you're not being honest with yourself if you can't admit that Flynn wasn't sharp after his ankle injury. He overthrew consistently after that...granted, probably because he couldn't plant very well. We was not the same QB after that injury.

But again, tough as nails...able to control his emotions with the best of them.

How the pass to Early on 4th down didn't get batted down, I'll never know. That pass had maybe a half-inch to spare before getting knocked to the turf.

I was curious, so I watched it too. Man was there a major major 2nd quarter meltdown by LSU.

Edit: this turned into a post of my thoughts as I re-watched the game.

Penalties.. Scott had a late hit and a holding called on him on the kickoff.... of course both of these were not replayed, but I could not find either of these.

What was surprising was that after Flynn's second INT, Crowton had several passes lined up in the next drive... leading to Flynn's third INT.... leading to that personal foul on Hester after the Alabama team mobs him.

Jessica Parker Wilson was 2-10 passing, and then the roughing the passer call. Bama had 135 yards and 20 points at halftime.

It was obvious in the 3rd quarter Flynn was bothered. He had the near-INT off Herman Johnson's head, and then a simple pass way over Hester's head the next play.

Next drive, screen to Murphy, nearly over his head, dropped.
Pass over the middle, caught for 5 yards.
Tolliver drops a pass (broken up).

And it was not shocking at all to heard Gary Danielson say "Watch Keith Brown fake out McCray.."

Then Carnell Stewart got the crappy end of a false start (on that trick "play") and then took his helmet off. Then the punt return. Special teams coverage.... Awful. Period. Gunners assume that Arenas will try and go around them, so he goes right in between them....

5 minutes to go, and it's clutch time for the Tigers. Nothing spectacular. Just simple, good plays, mostly slants... Flynn/Crowton loved those slants and screens, and I expect to see more of the same this year with Lee/Hatch.

4th and 4, Flynn to Doucet... CLUTCH... not just the catch, but the broken tackle and the juke for the TD. That gave Alabama time to give us the ball again... :wave:

Good ole JPW, very reliable for the opposing team. :lol: There should have been a very clear holding call on Bama, but surprise surprise... no call...

I am not sure that LSU could have done anything worse in the 2nd/3rd quarters. Missed tackles, penalties... ugh. I'm not sure they had played that poorly since Georgia 2004.

If Tyson Jackson didn't have that roughing the QB it would've been a blowout.

Secondary question...

Why was it that late in the year there were calls that LSU nearly lost to South Carolina?

It was 28-10 with under 4 to play. They didn't make it 28-16 until 1:40 left.

I wonder that a lot, myself.

LSU thoroughly dominated that game after SC had a 7-0 lead.

LSU simply sat on the football and took the air out of it b/c of the rain, but the outcome was never in doubt in the 2nd half.

Same question applies to the Tulane game. If we had not been so tight at halftime, nobody would have questioned the drubbing.

As it is, all anybody seems to remember is "it was 10-9 at halftime!"