Tide overcomes adversity in win

Even though top-ranked Alabama hasn’t had to come up with a two-minute drive this season, the Crimson Tide offense was ready when it needed it Saturday night — twice.

Alabama came up with a 63-yard touchdown drive to end the first half and added another in the closing minutes of its game with fifth-ranked LSU to shock the Tigers and a record crowd in Tiger Stadium.

The final drive, a five-play, 72-yard march that ended with AJ McCarron’s 28-yard scoring pass to running back T.J. Yeldon with 51 seconds to play, lifted Alabama to a 21-17 victory after an uncharacteristically uneven second-half performance on both sides of the ball.

“That last drive was something I’ll never forget,” a relieved Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “The offense did a great job of executing it.”

McCarron, who had a quiet second half after scoring on a 9-yard run with 11 seconds to play in the first half to give his team a 14-3 halftime lead, and his offense took over after LSU’s Drew Alleman missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt with 1:34 remaining.

McCarron quickly completed three straight passes of 18, 15 and 11 yards to wide receiver Kevin Norwood get the Tide to the Tigers’ 28.

After an incompletion, Alabama called a throwback screen to Yeldon — which excited the Tide’s coaching staff.

“They blitzed,” Saban said. “When we called it, everybody was saying on the headset, ‘I hope they pressure us.’ If we block them, everybody else is playing man-to-man. So they blitzed.”

Yeldon took the pass from McCarron, who was just 5 of 12 for 72 yards in the second half, and raced to the end zone to save the day after he had a crucial fumble in the third quarter that ended an Alabama scoring threat.

When asked what made him confident the Tide could come back after LSU rallied with two straight touchdown drives in the second half — a rarity against Alabama’s top-ranked and defense — Saban pointed to McCarron.

“A.J. is a confident guy,” Saban said. “We missed some throws in the second half and we weren’t very good on third-down conversions. Then, LSU converted the ones that we didn’t (on third down).

“We overcame a lot of adversity,” he said.

But after seemingly going to the locker room with a 14-3 lead as LSU continued to struggle to get points against Alabama — stretching their streak without a touchdown to 10 quarters — the Tide started a downturn.

After Jeremy Hill had a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter and Zach Mettenberger threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Jarvis Landry with 12:58 to play in the game to cap a 90-yard drive, the Tide looked to be in trouble in trailing in the second half for the first time in two years.

Alabama had two straight three-and-outs on offense when LSU got the ball back with 7:20 to play. But after reaching the Crimson Tide 28, Alleman missed his 45-yarder that would have stretched the lead to six points.

It didn’t take long for the Alabama offense to seize the opportunity its defense, which allowed 435 total yards — more than 150 more than it had given up in any game this season —gave them.

“It was a quick drive, real fast,” said Alabama running back Eddie Lacy, a former Dutchtown High School star who scored the Tide’s first touchdown on a 7-yard run in the second quarter. “Norwood came up with big plays, and T.J. finished with a big play.”

Lacy credited McCarron with shaking off the poor second half to lead the drive that gave Alabama the victory.

“He was locked in,” Lacy said. “He’s always locked in every game, but it was something different this time ... this drive. He knew he had to make plays.

“He got the plays in and did exactly what he was supposed to do. He made the right reads and made the right passes. You couldn’t ask for any more from AJ.”

It wouldn’t have been possible, however, if the Alabama defense hadn’t come up with a stop after an 11-play LSU drive.

“Their skill guys were making great plays,” Tide cornerback Dee Milliner said. “They used some formations that we hadn’t seen yet and Mettenberger made some great plays. The receivers got open and made great plays on the ball.

“You just have to overcome it.”

And they did.

“We told our players, and it’s kind of ironic, that they would have to overcome a lot of adversity to win a game here,” Saban said. “When things went bad and the momentum of the game changes, that’s what we kept talking to them about. They kept their poise and they kept competing.”

“I’ve never been prouder of a bunch of guys for the way they competed in the game.”

Comments

1) Comment by Pegasus - 04/11/2012

I hope you keep Les Miles for a very long time. Roll Tide!

2) Comment by arkTiger - 04/11/2012

The Mad Hatter is brilliant when his trick plays and gambles work. He has to accept the criticism when they don't work, because he is the boss, and he makes the big bucks. I feel bad for the players that their hard work last night was not rewarded with a "W". Soileaub - the funny thing about those two Saban meltdowns is they were because of DB mistakes, and his specialty is DBs.

3) Comment by soileaub - 04/11/2012

Widdy-you are correct Miles is well compensated and well worth it. Does he and his coaching staff makes mistakes? Yep. Does other coaching staffs make mistakes? Yep. Miles has the second HIGHEST winning percentage(83%) in the history of the league of coaches...WINNING is all that matters and Miles does it better than any coach in LSU history! Saban orchestrated the two largest EPIC MELTDOWN LOSES in recent history or maybe ever-2002 @ Arkansas(still known as the Markham Miracle to Pig fans) and his last game as LSU's coach vs. Iowa in the Orlando bowl game. My only reason for making that point is even the "BRILLIANT" Saban makes colossal/dumb mistakes in coaching. Miles tenure is filled with very few coaching turnovers relative to Saban as Saban runs coaches off with his style. I love LSU's passionate fans and opinions, including yours, but we are looking at the most successful coach in LSU history and to win NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS is very difficult and competitive. And yes some of Miles' decisions are tough to defend, but so is Saban and every other coach.

4) Comment by Widdy - 04/11/2012

Soileaub I am sorry but I am positive about our players and LSU. I can not be positive about our head coach, I don't care about Curley and Mike, back then we should have gotten rid of Joe Dean who kept hiring terrible coaches. He wasnt doing his job!! Now LSU has moved on to another level. Let me just say this, Les Miles makes a minimum of $410.00 per hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just do the math for a week. Thats $68,880.00 every week of the the year!!!!! In one weeks time, he can pay to send his kid to Princeton or Harvard for a year. WOW who else makes that kind of money year after year and is known nationally as an idiot. Right now he could retire and never work again, just travel and be rich and kids also for that matter. For that kind of money and security, he should never be making dumb calls. Mind you there is a difference in a dumb call and a bad call. Saban makes bad calls but never dumb ones or ones that are laughted out nationally. We have one of the most undisciplined teams in the country (the personal foul last night on JC Copeland is a good example) that's on the coach. Miles promoted the two defensive coordinatiors a few years ago that were terrible and didnt know a thing about defense and they had been working for him. How could he do that? He hires Crowton, who knows if he was the problem or was it Miles interferring with him. I can tell you the offense LSU ran then was nothing like the one Crowton had where his team was one of the top schools in the country. I do know who got the blame and the boot? Miles never has cordinators hired away from us as head coaches??????? Ever wonder why? Look at Saban, he is always putting succesful head coaches out there with the exception of Dooley. Kirby Smart will be gone next and be a top head coach, just watch. He teaches them what they dont know. Miles is trying to learn as he goes from the different coaches through LSU. For me Miles plays tough ball when it come to contracts and his pay. He gets top dollar. He didnt create this at LSU he has only sustained what Saban built. Like it or not, its the truth.

5) Comment by tball - 04/11/2012

ALABAMA OVERCOMES ADVERSITY - YEAH RIGHT LSU spanked their butt.. "Les Miles beat LSU"

6) Comment by soileaub - 04/11/2012

I can understand everyone's disappointment! Can we stay positive? Everyone is sick over the results. We've seen bad(Curly Gump, Mike Archer). And this is not bad. Miles is the MOST SUCCESSFUL coach in LSU history! He is not perfect. 83% winning percentage is second highest besides Urban Meyer's record in the history of the SEC! Even higher than Bear Bryant and Little Tricky Nicky! We seen bad LSU fans! And this IS NOT BAD! This is the Golden era of LSU football and has been for 12 years or more! Football is a tough sport and playing at the highest level is SUPER COMPETITIVE and difficult. Cut Miles some slack for goodness sake!

7) Comment by spqr - 04/11/2012

Widdy, you nailed it. So many of us feel that way this morning.

8) Comment by Widdy - 04/11/2012

Glad that Mett finally started playing like the quarterback we have all been looking for. Overall the Tigers played well but it's hard to beat Alabama and Les Miles on the same night. Miles continues to make very questional play calls, in this case, it cost the Tigers a win, a shot at the conference championship ,a possible shot at the national championship and two nationally recognized win streaks. I mean a 54 yard field goal when your kickers longest ever is 20% shorter! The "wildcat" when all it is is a quarterback sneak. His river boat gambling style was ill advised and not only that but the timing was pitiful. The one game he should have had faith in his team and he reverts to trickary. Miles will remain a national joke amongst the media and coaches, as he should. His play calling, confusion and interference with his other coaches continues to over shadow any of LSU accomplishments while he has been there.