re: The fake field goal is getting way to much attention.

quote:

---

The two minute defense wasn't the only thing that cost the game. LSU had plenty of chances to put points on the board, and didn't. There were over 130 plays in the game that contributed to the loss. In the end, they stayed close enough to win on one drive and it never should have happened.

---

No, but it was the main culprit. This is where championship defenses step up. Why we went into a soft coverage is truly baffling. Especially since playing tight coverage was working beautifully all game.

Maybe someone can help, but I don't recall this soft zone defense ever working under Chavis.

Going for the fg and not the 1st down is what most coaches would have done. Hell saban did it against arkansas and we lost instead of trying to score or forcing Arkansas to drive 98yds. Had no business losing that game.

The fake was not as big a problem for me as the FG attempt before the half. Career long is 44 yards. Punt the ball, hopefully Wing can pin them deep with little time on the clock and Nick is not going to take any chances there. By missing the kick, they started outside their 30, they are going to try and get at least 3 points.

We can second guess it all to death but it is what it is.

quote:

---

to me, there is only one decision that can/should be considered fair game to criticize. The decision not to try and get the first down. that's it.

---

If you are talking about the 3rd down call on the last LSU drive, then I agree. All the other decisions to that point did not cost LSU the game. The decision not to go for a first down by throwing the ball, but playing it safe by running the ball and playing for the field goal is what ultimately cost us the game. A first down there and the game is over as Bama was out of timeouts.

It is always debatable. Was it the early mistakes or the late ones? Ones that killed momentum or ones at key moments?

That fake field goal had 0 chance of working and cost us 3 points. 4th and 1 with Mett and Hill hot and switching to Warecat that hadn't been used at all yet was silly.

I still think we would have won if we'd just went for it on 4th down at the end.

I just don't think any of the decisions really need to be scrutinized like this. I mean, everyone is welcome to their opinion, and free to voice it. I just think the people who take it to the extreme that Les is a BAD coach or needs to be replaced is just lunacy.

He made the calls he made... period. He pulled out the stops, and put his team in position to win the game. Bama took care of their business, and stopped the O when they absolutely HAD to. By trying to pin this all on Miles is a cop out IMO.

Bottom line is like the OP has been saying... how do you know any other decision would have been the better outcome? Even on our last drive... Les wanted points. Of course he WANTED a TD, he allowed the offense to pass all the way down the field until the team was in comfortable FG range.

In that position, up by only 3, with a very capable Bama Offense that can strike quickly (if you have watched them at all this season). They had moved the ball reasonably well at times on us throughout the game... luckily we had some big time plays, like the fumble recovery to kill one of their earlier drives.

The point is, in a situation like that... as a Head Coach... you take whatever points you can get. You do not do anything to jeopordize the "guaranteed" 3 points, once you are in range. You do not want to give the ball back with 2 minutes left and only up 3-points. Way too much time for the other team to get into fieldgoal range to tie it up. You TAKE THE POINTS.

You can sit here and question it all you want. We have that luxury as fans. I for one, and I am willing to bet I speak for the large majority of players on the team, am happy Les let it all out for most of the game. The team played loose, they played amped up, and they played determined against what will MOST LIKELY be the nation champion this year. In a game where no one in the country gave us a chance in hell, our tigers took it to Bama for 59 minutes. Bama did what great teams do in their last drive, give them credit. And give this team AND THEIR HC the credit they deserve.

Les Miles is a very competitive person, this should be evident to everyone. If you think there is any person in Louisiana who was more disgusted after 1/9, or even after 11/3/2012, than Les... you are a bafoon. Whether you admit it or not, Les is incredibly hard on himself. Its obvious the Bama game was circled on our calendar this year. Miles wanted revenge, the gameplans on offense leading up to the Bama game were designed specifically to lul Bama to sleep on us. We came out and did things they hadn't seen us do... probably ever (atleast as far back as the current players have seen). Miles competes with the best of them, no one... and I mean NO ONE wins 100% when they gamble.

:nb4 tl;dr:

quote:

---

me, i would have tried to get the first. however, i understand he did what most coaches would have done.

---

I agree with this and I understand as well.

quote:

---

The irony is, those who are criticizing the fake f.g., don't see this as the decision that may have cost us the game. it was the decision to play for the f.g. that potentially cost us the game. he did what they wanted him to do on the fake f.g. and it didn't work.

---

Not exactly... The fake FG attempt had to go 12 yards, and by every person's account, it was designed for nothing but failure. It's just one of those plays that will make people call him dumb...and even if that's not really the case, you can't realistically defend it.

At the end, LSU had six yards to go for a first to end the game. On the fake FG, it would have just narrowed the lead to 7-6 if we make it (or we could have punted gaining field position).

LSU was VERY successful passing all over Bama in the 2nd half. A pass play on 4th and six had a much better chance to succeed than the fake FG on 4th and 12. But I understand both sides on the 4th and six call. It's hard to play "what if" with Les because if he went on 4th, he probably would have ran the ball just to complicate the discussion.

quote:

---

The fake field goal is getting way to much attention

---

I would not have tried a fake FG with that much yardage to pick up for a 1st.

The call wasn't a game decider, but it didn't help us either.

quote:

---

as the FG attempt before the half. Career long is 44 yards. Punt the ball, hopefully Wing can pin them deep with little time on the clock and Nick is not going to take any chances there. By missing the kick, they started outside their 30, they are going to try and get at least 3 points.

---

But what you're doing there isn't fair to the coaching staff. You're replacing a worst case scenario with a best case scenario. I have to believe Miles knows that Alleman has 54 yards in his leg, otherwise its a stupid call regardless.

Everyone saying Miles should have punted is assuming Wing pins them deep, but it's just as likely it results in a touchback. Which is only a difference of 10 yards.

quote:

---

But what you're doing there isn't fair to the coaching staff. You're replacing a worst case scenario with a best case scenario

---

Not really. I am saying that I think the chances are greater of Wing being able to pin them inside the 20 than it is for Alleman to make a 54 yarder, 10 yards over his career long. I am also not bitching that it was the wrong call, I just would rather have seen it played differently. But just like all of the other "questions" people have regarding some of the calls made, we will never the outcome had the calls been different or successful.