Alabama Football: LSU Game Facts You Might Not Know

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) Watching at home and watching from the press box is two different things. Interviewing players after the game is also something that's invaluable.

So here are some things to answer some questions about why Saban didn't try and "pound it in" late in the fourth quarter.

With Arie and Cyrus Kouandjio on the sidelines and unavailable for the game depth was already low on the offensive line. Barrett Jones had already been to the locker room after the LSU interception in the fourth quarter, and Alfred McCullough had to move from guard to left tackle and a new guard had to come in.

Now suddenly, we didn't have the "pound at 'em" line on the field.

When Jones returned, he wasn't at 100 percent.

The offensive lines on both teams were wrecked, both teams' offensive lines had players getting attention on the sidelines as both defenses simply didn't allow either team to just "pound it."

What was pounded was the offensive lines of both schools. LSU was just as ineffective as Alabama in doing that.

This is why some of the teams resorted to some of the play-calling they did.

This is why Saban was criticized by so many reporters after the game, but those reporters obviously didn't understand the offensive lines on both sides were simply worn down, beaten up and gassed out by the fourth quarter.

When you look down from the press box and see offensive linemen on both sides getting legs and ankles treated, see them wobbling to the bench after a series, the more you can appreciate just how much damage both defensive units did to both offensive lines.

With the element of losing the ability to dominate the line, that left passing for Alabama and running Jordan Jefferson for LSU.

Neither worked very well as no team could reach the end zone, but at least now, you know why Alabama went more to the pass and less to the run.