re: Bama game memories 2019

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I knew we would win after Burrow carved up the Gump defense on that first drive.

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I didn't. I knew we would score on them, but I couldn't be comfortable until there was zeros on the clock.
The biggest complement I can give Saban's teams is that you could kick their arse for the entire game, but when you got down to the last 5 minutes in the game and they would be right there waiting for you to trip up. It was like being in a Jason movie. You feel like you are getting away but every time you look over your shoulder, Jason is closer and closer.

We put that era to bed tomorrow.

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I still find it wild that for that game (and the whole season) we werent ever really in danger of losing.

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I would not say that. While an opponent may not have had the ball in 4th quarter with a chance to tie or take the lead, there were definitely some moments that if LSU doesn't make a play the opponent was likely to take the lead late based upon how the game was going at that moment.

The first was the 3rd and 17 vs. Texas. It was 37-31 with 4:00 to go in 4Q. LSU's defense was playing horribly at that point. In their prior three drives Texas had gone TD, TD, FG. If LSU doesn't convert on 3rd down they have to punt and there was every reason to believe Texas was going to score a TD when they got the ball. In fact, Texas DID go 75 yards for a TD in its next drive. That set up an onsides kick...which Texas recovered. Unfortunately for them the recovering player was just out of bonds. A stop on that 3rd down or the Texas player being able to stay in bounds likely gives Texas the win.

LSU was up 23-20 vs. Auburn with 2:00 to go. Auburn attempted an onsides kick. It was a good kick. An Auburn player actually got his hands on the ball. LSU recovered it, but it was very close to disaster. If AU gets it they are already in LSU territory needing just a FG to tie and plenty of time left to try for a TD. That was the one game LSU offense sputtered. So again, while AU did not have the ball with a chance to take the lead, they were a fingertip away from doing so.

Somewhat same scenario in the Alabama game. If CEH doesn't will himself to that first down, it's very likely Alabama scores a TD when it gets the ball back to either take the lead or get within a FG against an LSU defense that was incapable of stopping Alabama in the 2nd half.

The fog of time and nostalgia make people forget that for much of the year the LSU defense was not very good. Their ineptitude in the second half vs Texas and Alabama made those games FAR closer than they should have been and put a lot of pressure on the offense (and kick return team) to make difficult plays to keep the opponent at bay. There were dangerous moments. The offense just averted them.

Aranda is a great DC but he did allow teams to score a ton of points in 2019:

Vanderbilt 38
Ole Miss 37
Alabama 41
Texas 38

CEH had one of the best games I've ever seen an RB have for LSU. There were at least 4 or 5 plays where the defense had the play defensed, blew us up at the line but Clyde made something out of nothing and most of those very significant down and distance plays that were critical to the games outcome.

Go back and watch and count them. He was incredible.