It's been almost 12 hours since "The Game of the Century Part Deux" ended.
And let me say that, as an LSU fan first and foremost and a SEC fan second, Alabama was the better team in the first matchup, and they were definitely better in the second matchup.
First off, kudos to Coach Nick Saban and their defense's execution all night long. Proof positive that if you give a defensive-minded head coach like Saban that much time (40+ days) to prepare for a team like LSU, they will ultimately get the job done...IF their offense can do any work.
And that is where a lot of my kudos will ultimately go. Alabama's offensive gameplan was sheer genius, unlike last time. They allowed their quarterback, A.J. McCarron, to throw on early downs, starting with short passes and working their way downfield to deeper crosses and post patterns. This gave Alabama balance, and while Trent Richardson didn't have a phenomenal game by his standards, the pass set up the run late, which is unusual for this Alabama team.
Now for the complaints...what the hell was LSU doing on offense? You want to know why the defense, and the team itself, looked lifeless? Look no further than its quarterback for the game - an ill-equipped young man with maturity issues and serious lack of quarterback skills in Jordan Jefferson.
I read the stats on Jarrett Lee against the Tide. Yes, he has stunk it up. Yes, he did throw two interceptions against Alabama in their matchup earlier this season. So, for the LOVE of all that is holy, WHY do you leave a quarterback out there that is clearly lost his confidence in Jefferson and not TRY something different?
Would the outcome have been different? Probably not, with the way the Crimson Tide played all game long. But at least give your defense some hope. Tyrann Mathieu was dead on the sidelines midway through the third quarter. The defense as a whole was gassed, having been out on the field a majority of the game thanks to inept offensive execution and playcalling.
Jordan Jefferson, meanwhile, is without a doubt one of the worst quarterbacks I have ever seen. I watched him in person his junior year against Louisiana-Lafayette. I have NEVER played a down of football in my life. I knew exactly who Jefferson was throwing to on every pass play, and if not for some softer hands by ULL cornerbacks, that game would have been on ESPN as the upset of the year. I personally rank him right up there (and higher now, in honesty) with another abysmal quarterback I got to watch a lot of, sadly - Aaron Brooks. Both looked like the bright lights of the BCS Title Game (in Jefferson's case) and ANY NFL game (in Brooks' case) got to them.
Jefferson looked rattled all game long, and especially after his bonehead interception. A quarterback has to constantly carry his team emotionally, even in losing times. He has to be that steadying force that says with both body language and voice, "Forget about that mistake. We'll get them next time. Just get me the ball back."
Jefferson's body language said, "Take me out. I'm done. This game is over. I can't win."
Why LSU head coach Les Miles did NOT take Jefferson out and put Lee in, no one will ever know truly. But LSU's coaching mistakes, and Jordan Jefferson's inability to be mature and LEAD his team, cost LSU this game in some form or fashion.
Alabama won the game and went out and took control of it from the start until the end. LSU lost the game because they just did not want it as bad. And in sports, if you don't want it, you definitely won't get it.
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