The lack of a running game versus Auburn. LSU fans.

Auburn played inspired D.

Sorry, but it was the 8 man front and dropping a safety most of the time.

We (Bama) don't actually see that every week on every play. We did for UT last year however, and the game was tied 6-6 at halftime. Then we aired it out in the 2nd half, and the game blew wide open.

Les was unwilling to fully rely on Mett throwing despite Auburn daring him to. And you can't blame him, in his first SEC road game in front of a hostile crowd and he wasn't sharp.

In summation it was a combination of:
Auburn playing inspired D
A very hostile crowd
Exposed weaknesses of LSU's line against heavy run blitz, esp at the tackle positions
Unwillingness to open it up with Mett

Our rushing D did step up. They gashed us on a few big inside runs but overall, our tackles played a good game and Holland actually played decent in the middle..

we ran for nearly 200 yards and averaged over 4 a carry

LSU coaches knew that AU couldn't sustain drives on their LSU defense so they played conservative with a ground game. Mett didn't show he could make the plays and an interception might give the ball close to a winning field goal. Looked like the LSU had no concern for the AU offense winning the game so they just sat on a lead.

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Was it really just improved, inspired defensive football on their part.

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They were getting penetration and making tackles at the point of contact.

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Or was it a subpar game from the OL?

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Not in run blocking - our guys run block as well as anybody, including your guys.

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Any worries or are you like me and think this was just your version of 09 UT?

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We had the same thing last year with Mississippi State - the SEC is full of great players. Saturday, Auburn's showed up to play, as did the crowd. While it's tough to say we dominated them - we controlled the pace, for the most part, and the 2 fumbles resulted in a 12 point shift (we got 2 instead of 7, then they got their only 7 off of a turnover). That game looks much better for us if it was 20-3, which is what the play, minus our fumbles, equates to.

The fact the game was so close down to the last play forced us to go very, very conservative at the end. I give Auburn's defense and fans most of the credit for our struggles.

Chizik gambled that Mett couldn't beat them with his arm and just stacked the box. He almost won. AU does that against Bama or UGA, or Arky or TAMU or OM and they'll get lit up.

I think they just have a shite OC who wasn't doing their QB any favors. Auburn was stacking the box and run blitzing all night. Yet LSU wasn't slanting them to death, or calling draw plays, or screens. It struck me as more of a poor gameplan and an unwillingness to adjust than a lack of a running game on LSU's part.

Auburn's super bowl. It is the only explanation.

I think it was an overall bad game against SEC talent. 9 Penalties for 90 yards with 4 of them personal files at critical times. An Oline trying to find its way after the loss of its best lineman, Chris Faulk, Met not running all the way to an open first down twice making it 4th down when it should have been 1st and 10. Not opening up the offense like Bama has been willing to do and the recognition that we are on the road in a close game, playing it close to the vest with Met so as not give the big mistake late in the game. Reminded me of the Auburn game a few years ago with Jamarcus. Played conservative the whole game and then finally let him throw it down field but by then it was really too little too late. Give Auburn credit. They showed up, backs to the wall and played inspired football and took advantage of what the game presented to them.