you know i respect your opinion,
@MikeDeTiger , so don't take this as argumentative- but....
when you're parsing your teams status, it's easy to see where you're hurting the most. In your case it's your OL. It's the same for UTk- the OL is the worst unit on the field... however, your OL compared to ours, and... uh... you look like Pro's and we're still stuck in a community college conference somewhere.... meaning: I don't think your OL is
that bad. I also think your OL just faced one of the most dominant DL's if not THE dominant DL in the nation.
Saban gets credit as a manager- and rightfully so. He is rarely recognized as a tactician/strategist... but... I think that's happening this season right under our noses... I think he's pulling a cutcliffe/FULMER/chavis move- meaning, in a mock conversation that happens on both the sideline and the planning room for games
Fulmer : Chief, we need to have fresh O players; bend, don't break. Cut, we need to be able to control the tempo; slow down the O and wear on the D linemen who we feel are inferior to our OLine and bench...
Chief : Coach Fulmer, I'll run some man zones and defend field position until they break in our territory but i'll need the O to pull their weight and hold ball for at least two sets each possession, as they have WR's and routes that will wear down our DB's even in a zone coverage.
Cut: We DO have a OLine that can protect the QB and/or open some lanes, and we'll keep the ball moving and in bounds to give the D a break, but realize this will make the game appear closer than it really could be, and, if the opponent comes out slinging on our tired DB's, this could go to a shootout with a quickness... we don't want to have a shootout with this team.
^i'm not sure if that get's my point across, but.... LSU
IS good- surprisingly so this season, and it isn't luck nor happenstance... it was well planned and executed. Bama, however, is just plain better- and likely better than anyone i've seen play
ever. now to caveat the 'ever', I don't think bama has the best RB's in the nation, but they do have the best backfield... I don't think they have the best WR's, but the WR corps is possibly the best. I don't think the LB's as individuals are show stoppers, but together and in unison with the line and db's? They are more than serviceable.
in short, I think Bama is purposely playing bend don't break D in effort to keep O fresh. I think 'as a team' they are the best i've ever seen... and i think saban is playing a supremely tactical game right now and not a lot of folks have caught on. That is NOT to say LSU sucks- but simply to say LSU is damn good and could likely play anyone to the wire~ except Bama. Banging on all 8 with a healthy (intended) starter corps,
nobody is playing the same game,
as a team, as Bama is.