Tigers Boot Hogs

After LSU’s stellar performance against A&M and come from behind victory over Arkansas I started to think about this team’s place in Miles’ legacy and the LSU program overall.

The 2013 LSU offense is on track to be the most prolific in Tiger history. Averaging 465.9 yards per game this season places LSU 6th in the SEC this season. However, that number would rank 1st all time for LSU eclipsing the 2001 team that averaged 451.5 yards per game. Z Mett’s season is over with a torn ACL, but he did pass for 3,082 yards which would rank him 3rd only to Rohan Davey and Jamarcus Russell. Mett’s 61.8% career completion rate would rank him 3rd in LSU history behind Alan Risher and Jamarcus Russell. LSU is also on pace to set the record for rushing TD’s in a season (2012, 35). LSU is averaging 5.1 yards per carry which would be the best number since 1997 (5.4 yds/carry). LSU is #1 in the nation in 3rd down conversions at an eye popping 58.57%. Finally, the Tigers are averaging 37 points per game, 2nd all-time only to the 2007 National Championship team. Add the fact that the ’07 has 20 more take aways than this team and you can truly appreciate how productive this offense was. Clearly Cam Cameron has made a huge difference.

Unfortunately, this year’s defense struggled mightily in LSU’s three losses. As I mentioned earlier, LSU did not force many turnovers this season, 16 to be exact. From 2010-2012, LSU averaged 31.6 turnovers gained per season. In the three losses, all on the road, the Tigers only gained three turnovers while coughing up the ball six times. In those games the defense gave up an average of 188 yards on the ground and 275 through the air. Statistically, this was Chavis’ most porous, defense, giving up 5.21 yards a play. For perspective, that places LSU 4th in the SEC and 36th nationally, not bad for Chavis’ “worst” defense.

So what was the problem? Here are my thoughts:

1. Youth! The defense had so many new faces I actually had to bring a copy of the roster to the first few games. Young guys make mistakes, especially away from home. I think it was clear how much better the defense played at home versus on the road.

2. Our two starting DT’s, Ego Ferguson and Anthony ‘Freak’ Johnson, just are not up to the standards LSU has set in the past. These two guys would NEVER be confused with terrific Tigers from the past like Chad Lavalais, Glenn Dorsey, Kyle Williams or Drake Nevis. Yet it appears that both will declare early for the NFL Draft. Yeah, I don’t get that one either. Lack of depth at the position didn’t help either.

3. None of the young LB’s has been unable to unseat D.J. Welter. I’m not bashing Welter, but it appears that he is one of the less athletic players at a very important position. Think of Kevin Minter and Kelvin Sheppard who have starred at the spot and went on to the NFL. My guess is the coaches don’t trust any of the young guys to get LSU in the right spots and “QB” the defense which I assume is Welter’s responsibility.

Having said all that I really think we should put this season in its proper context. LSU has now won 8 or more games in 14 consecutive seasons. That leads the nation. With a win in the bowl game the Tigers will have four consecutive 10 win seasons for the first time in school history. We are in the Golden Age of LSU Football.

Looking at this season in particular, the Tigers lost by 3 in Athens to a loaded Georgia team that was subsequently decimated by injuries. The real disappointment was the 3 point loss at Ole Miss. I think LSU is a better team than Ole Miss, but Z Mett played the worst game of his career and LSU’s young defense could not bail out the terrible first half performance. Finally there was the loss at Alabama which I think was a bit closer than the final score. LSU went toe to toe with the Tide for 40 minutes but down the stretch LSU could not stop Alabama’s running game between the tackles. (Yes, I am talking about the aforementioned “pro ready” Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Johnson)

While this season could be viewed as a disappointment, I think it was exciting and had some memorable moments. The Georgia game was a thriller while the comeback versus Arkansas will be memorable if only for the last 2 minutes. Beat downs of Auburn and Texas A&M show that LSU still has the players to compete at the highest level and that Tiger Stadium is a fortress where in the immortal words of Les Miles, “Dreams go to die.”

Cheer up Tiger fans, a potential trip to the Cotton Bowl versus Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State or Texas could put a 10 win bow on another damn strong season of LSU football.