LSU vs. Alabama: Grading the Tide's Win in the BCS Championship Game

This is it, Tide fans!

Alabama has brought championship No. 14 to the Capstone, and Tuscaloosa will probably go to sleep sometime around midnight on January 10th.

At the end of that beautiful display of Crimson Tide superiority, I have the privilege of bringing you the report card.

From the quarterback to the superstar kicker, here are the grades for each aspect of the 21-0 shutout of the LSU Tigers by the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Offensive Line

Alabama's offense was clicking all night long, and this is where the battle is won.

The O-line dominated LSU every single snap of the game, except for one.

On that one play, LSU sent Kevin Minter toward McCarron unblocked, resulting in the only sack against the Tide in the entire game.

In a game this lopsided, that was the only imperfection by the offensive line.

Offensive Line: 99, A+

Receiving Corps

This was a ridiculous performance on the part of McCarron's targets.

With all the substitutions happening and all the plays that switched players from the left to right sides of the ball, it was almost a full-time job just to know who was out there.

From Kevin Norwood's crucial catch right on top of the Honey Badger to Smelly's almost guaranteed first-down hands, it was almost impossible to find fault in the receiving game—especially since they had to cover for an injured Marquis Maze for almost the entire game.

McCarron had all the targets he could ever want, completing to seven different targets throughout the game. They were constantly exactly where they needed to be. With only two or three drops on the night, McCarron's "not Julio Jones" receiving corps was making LSU's defense look average at best until they got into the red zone.

The drops are the only blemish on an otherwise perfect game.

Receiving corps: 97, A

Quarterback

A.J. McCarron came out of this game the MVP—and rightfully so.

He went 23-of-34 for 234 yards for an average of 6.9 yards per attempt.

McCarron hit seven different receivers at least once in the game. He deftly placed passes exactly where they needed to be for his receivers and tight ends.

The most memorable for me was Kevin Norwood's snag over the top of Tyrann Mathieu for 26 yards.

Quarterback: 97, A

Running Backs

Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy combine to make the best RB tandem in all of college football, and they proved it in this game without a doubt. When Alabama was in the red zone and Trent Richardson wasn't on the field, many of us had questions.

I assumed that Saban was saving him for after the LSU defense was wearing out. That seemed to be the case tonight.

The only touchdown scored by either of these teams all year came from Richardson late in the game when LSU didn't seem able to cope with the constant substitutions of the two.

Tonight, the running backs get a perfect score for scoring a touchdown and never fumbling against this turnover-happy LSU squad who tried mightily to strip the ball every time they could.

Running Backs: 100, A+

Return Game

This was a huge night for Alabama's return game.

Marquis Maze opened the game with a 49-yard return of the first of many Brad Wing punts the Tide would see throughout the night. Maze suffered an injury on the play and directed himself out of bounds. He would not return to the field at all.

That left backup Christian Jones to handle the returns for the remainder of the championship. He did a fine job, as Brad Wing is known for causing fair catches to be called. On one particular fair catch, LSU didn't realize he'd called for it, and Jones added yards to the play by taking a pretty big hit.

No fumbles, no poor field position for 'Bama, no points off for the return game.

It would have been nice to see one taken to the house but not necessary for a great performance.

Return Game: 100, A+

Kickers

Jeremy Shelley turned out to be the headliner tonight, making field goals from 23, 34, 41, 35 and 44 yards out.

The kickoffs and punts were good enough to keep LSU out of 'Bama territory until about 7:30 remaining in the game.

Jeremy Shelley had a field goal blocked and missed one wide right. His PAT near the end of the game bounced off the right upright.

Those were the only faults in his kicking, and this time around they didn't matter as much.

Kicker: 90, B

Defensive Line

This game was once again won in the trenches.

LSU never found a rhythm with their offense at all. From the opening snap to the final whistle, the Tide were already everywhere LSU wanted to be.

LSU got five first downs in the entire game, and that all started with the defensive line. They were constantly down LSU's throats letting the Tigers know that whatever they were trying to do wasn't going to work.

They owned the LSU offensive line all night, paving the way for the defensive backs to play "Duck Hunt" with the LSU backfield.

These guys are responsible for holding LSU's vaunted rushing attack to a mere 39 yards.

Defensive Line: 100, A+

Defensive Backs

These guys are the playmakers on defense, forcing a fumble, registering an interception and even taking Jordan Jefferson down in the backfield a few times.

The LSU rushing attack looked more like a rushing prayer, as the backs found their way into LSU's backfield and set up camp.

Letting the LSU Tigers get across the 50-yard line once does not cost them any grading points, and shutting the Tigers out for 60 minutes nets them a perfect score.

These guys were responsible for holding the LSU Tigers to a scant 53 passing yards on the night.

Defensive Backs: 100, A+

Coaching

Coaching was phenomenal.

Nick Saban gave McElwain the green light to turn McCarron loose, and McElwain did just that, making McCarron the first-ever sophomore to win a BCS NCG.

Kirby Smart is the maestro behind the first ever BCS NCG shutout in history, and Nick Saban was the man behind the curtain for the whole thing.

If this game was about redemption, I don't see a single person on the Tide who didn't get it and get it BIG!

Coaching: 100, A+

Intangibles

Alabama outperformed LSU for 60 solid minutes.

The first and only Alabama penalty came with less than three minutes remaining in the game. It was an "offsides" on the punt return team.

Alabama was in LSU's head all night, forcing them into some bad snaps, some false starts and generally a stance that made them look confused for the entire game.

As much as we preach against it, Alabama came out onto the field and won simply because they were Alabama.

LSU never even managed a first down until the game was already out of reach.

Intangibles: 98, A (two points off for the silliness of the penalty).