Rewatched the game.........

I know, most of you studs can instantly watch, recognize, process, and remember every snap of every game live, but some of us tards have to rewatch to really get an understanding of how a game played out. This thread is for those that like to actually know what we're talking about, so all the Madden dynasty coaches, GTFO.

I admit I kind of half arse watched the game at a party so I was prepared for the worst.

What I saw was just a great football game between two very good teams in a great bowl environment.

The first half was very competitive and both teams showed that they were prepared and motivated to win this game.

Clemson was successful at moving the chains on long drives against a fierce pass rush by LSU throughout the half and put together a great drive to answer our score, but after that didn't have a whole lot of success in the red zone. Boyd was composed under duress and Deandre Hopkins was fricking great snagging everything thrown his way. Very impressed with both of them.

LSU's gameplan was to attack, and we were throwing on the vast majority of first downs, which I loved, and most of the fanbase had been calling for years. But the OL had a lot of trouble early on against a very aggressive Clemson DL giving up 4 sacks in the 1st quarter alone.

But the defense was getting stops, and Mett made good reads and throws and looked to be settling down as the OL played better in the second quarter. After a big 4th down stop, we get a nice long pass to Odell to get into Clemson territory with a great chance to score before half.

Then Mett forces a throw he shouldn't have into traffic, although IMO the DB just makes a great read and phenomenal catch to make the pick. Still, you wish he would just throw that away as it would only been a short gain anyway. Just not worth the risk there. There were also several receivers and defenders bunched together, which makes the throw even worse.

Then a completely BS PF puts Clemson on our side of the field, but the D comes up huge again and we get out of the half up 1.

Hill breaks off the great run to start the second half, a nice adjustment by the coaching staff catching them thinking pass. The D gets another 3 and out and you start to feel like we're wearing them down.

We get into Clemson territory and Mett JUST misses Boone for the deep ball as we go for the jugular. Again, I like the call, and we miss ending that game by an eyelash.

We don't convert on 3rd and 5 despite a PI on Wright that probably should have been called. I'm frustrated with the route selection again, as all of our receivers are running routes right at the sticks. I really wish we had WRs running routes at different levels on the D in a situation like that instead of just short slants. The OL was playing well enough at that point to give us time to let a play develop.

D gets another huge stop and Boyd comes up limping and we're about to put this game away.

After 2 runs by Hilliard (oh right, he still plays), we're at 3rd and 2, and again we look to throw, which I'm sure a lot of people are upset about. I actually thought the play was a good one, and it looks like we're trying to go to Odell down the left sideline but it's covered well and the protection breaks down and Mett has to run, something no one ever wants to see. Frustrating, but again I'm ok with the call.

Then Sam forces the big fumble and at this point I'm really thinking Clemson is done. Our D is dominating them at this point.

Now we try to start wearing them down with 3 straight runs by Hill that get us down to the 7. On 3rd and 3 I'm thinking we're in 4 down territory with 2 runs. But we run the slant to Jarvis and he is MAULED and can't make the catch. Had Jarvis jumped up calling for the flag I have NO DOUBT the refs would have called it, but he didn't whine like some WRs would have, and it cost us.

I don't hate the play call, because Jarvis probably catches that 99% in practice and it should have absolutely been first and goal with the PI, but I really think you run it twice there. BUT, this was not some terrible call that I'm sure a lot of people are pointing to in hindsight.

I got the feeling that the gameplan was clearly to establish the tone for 2013 that Mettenberger is going to be allowed to take charge of this offense. Unfortunately, Clemson's D showed up after last year's epic embarrassment and hung in there when our D was shutting down their O. Give them credit for making us earn everything.

LSU gets pinned deep, Wright slips on what should have been an easy first down, and we run Hill on 3rd and 2 but get stuffed again in short yardage. Copeland doesn't pick up the outside rusher. Again, frustrating, but Clemson just makes a good play.

Next drive, ANOTHER BS call gives Clemson 1st and goal, but the D holds for a FG, although the D is starting to show signs that they're getting tired. BIG return by Ford, and LSU is in good shape.

Run Ware on first down and Clemson's DL is swarming and it's a short gain. Nothing open on 2nd so a dumpoff to Ware gets us to 3rd and 8 at midfield. On 3rd, nothing develops downfield, OL breaks down and Clemson gets sack #6. Very worried about our D going back on the field at this point.

3rd and 4 at midfield and A frickING HORRIBLE BS delay penalty on Rasco gives them a 1st. Complete bullshite.

We get them in 3rd and long and Boyd makes a nice throw under pressure and Ford makes a great adjustment and catch. Again, just Clemson making a great play which leads to the TD which was another great throw by Boyd. Reid doesn't get his head around to make a play on the ball. But the D holds and doesn't give up the 2 pt conversion despite being on the field for 11 plays.

At this point, we know the deal. With 2:47 left, we get a couple of first downs and the game is over.

Great call on first down as Boone is WIDE open, and Mett makes a good throw under pressure for 8.

2nd and 2, a PERFECT play action call, no pressure on Mett and Landry is WIDE fricking open and Mett just misses the throw. He hadn't missed many, but that was the one that counted.

3rd and 2, and you just gotta run. The funny thing is, against Bama, we did the exact opposite, it didn't work, and everyone hates Miles. This time, he's aggressive, going for the first down, which is what everyone always says they want, but it just didn't feel like it was the right time.

I'm not going to blast the call like everyone else because hindsight is 20/20, but the bottom line is I didn't like the actual play called. If you want to throw, fine. But damn the DE for Clemson was having the game of his life. Don't like giving him the chance to get his hands up and knock it down.

On D, 4th and 16. It's funny that they don't go for the 1st there if we hadn't blocked the PAT in the first half. Would have been tied at 24 and we get the ball back with over a minute left near midfield. Sucks.

Lucky arse heave by Boyd and yet another amazing catch by Hopkins gets them the first. Again, Reid doesn't get his head around when he definitely could have knocked that ball down.

Another fricking BS PI on Reid sets Clemson up nicely at LSU's 42, and the rest is history.

Overall, like I said, two very good teams that played a great football game. Both teams were prepared and played hard, and both were aggressive on both sides of the ball the entire game. Unfortunately, we couldn't put the game away in the 4th.

Very proud of the team, and like I said, I think Miles wanted to show Mett that the coaches are confident that he is the guy to lead this team going into his senior year.

Clemson played well, but I like the fact that Mett knows this is his team, and I look forward to the aggressive approach in 2013.

Gonna be a long 8 months though no doubt

TLDR GFY