Squeaker

This was LSU’s 2006 roll out the helmet game. I cannot remember a more uninspired performance by the Tigers since the Gerry D days. More than likely, Arkansas’ and Auburn’s victories earlier in the day deflated the Tigers. Knowing that the SEC Championship was out of reach took the fight out of a team that had been completely dominant through seven home games this season.

But in the 4th quarter, the Tigers recovered and took over the contest. In the 4th, LSU scored two TD’s on drives of 58 and 59 yards. Defensively, the Rebels were held to 10 total plays in the final stanza for 13 yards. LSU forced a critical fumble in OT and kicked the game winner to get out of Tiger Stadium with a 23-20 win.

We’ve become so spoiled by Russell’s home performances, we are hyper critical when he is anything less than brilliant. For the game, Russell was 20 of 36 (55%) for 223 yards and 3 TD’s. Most guys would kill for those numbers. But the bar is set unrealistically high because of his past performances. I have gone back and forth over this but I hope Russell comes back for his senior season. If he does he will be in contention for the Heisman Trophy and the Tigers will be a serious contender for the national championship.

To end on an uplifting note, I must say that the special teams were absolutely awful. I had to make a list to keep track of the futility:

1. Ole Miss blocked an LSU extra point
2. Ole Miss recovered an onside kick
3. Ole Miss converted an a fake punt
4. Ole Miss had two LONG kick-off returns (Marshay Green had two returns for an AVERAGE of 57.5 yards)
5. Ole Miss had a long punt return getting the ball to the LSU 35 (again, Green making the return)
6. LSU had two kick-off returns for a grand total of 6 yards and two punt returns for a whopping 11 yards.
7. LSU missed a FG

Special teams must play much better this Friday.

Looking Ahead

The mainstream college football media loves to jump on a bandwagon without taking a deeper look inside a team. A perfect example is Arkansas. All I have heard is that the Hogs are the best team in the SEC right now. Hmmm. This would seem to be based on the 10-1 record and the legs of Darren McFadden. But let’s take a bit closer look shall we.

Arkansas is ranked #4 in the nation in rushing. Nice number, but when you look at who they have played, the high ranking loses it’s luster. Excluding the USC game, the toughest run defense the Hogs have faced was Alabama (6-6) ranked #38 in run defense. Arkansas gained 172 yards on the ground against the Tide, 60 below their average. Against USC (#13 in run defense), the Hogs gained a mere 130 yards. Now the talking heads will say that game was at the beginning of the season and this is a different team. I’m not so sure. Just last week, Mississippi State held Arkansas to 128 yards on the ground and 14 offensive points. LSU will be THE toughest defense the Hogs face this regular season. No one has been able to run on the Tigers and I don’t see Friday’s game being any different.

LSU slept through about 48 minutes of the Ole Miss game. I expect a big effort from the lads to show everyone who really is the best team in the SEC. If the Tigers avoid their biggest road bugaboo, turnovers, LSU will have its first back to back 10+ win seasons in 113 years of football.

Tigers 24 – Hogs 16

LSU's BCS prospects and a little horn tooting...

*LSU is still in the running for an at large BCS birth. A few factors that can help the Tigers (this is all predicated on LSU beating the Hogs):

*Currently, Boise State has a bid. The Broncos have a big road game at Nevada to end the season. If BSU loses, that opens up an at-large spot, possibly LSU to Phoenix to play Nebraska, Texas or Oklahoma?

*West Virginia, Louisville and Rutgers all have one loss and are in the mix for the Big East title and a possible BCS birth. Each has two games left so losses here would help the Tigers. Right now, the Tigers are competing with West Virginia and Louisville for that last at large spot. (which could be the Rose Bowl)

*If Florida can win out and land in the BCS title game, the Sugar Bowl would have to take a REALLY long look at LSU. The game would assuredly be a sell out and the Sugar would have the Katrina/1st Sugar Bowl back in New Orleans/ LSU subplots. Plus the likely opponent would be Notre Dame which creates a juicy national match-up.


Not to brag, but remember my preseason post on the SEC West?

"Arkansas is a bit of a wild card in 2006. The Hogs return 19 starters on offense and defense. Unfortunately for Houston Nutt, Arkansas’ biggest offensive threat, Darren McFadden, broke his toe in a bar fight this summer. The schedule is favorable as the Razorbacks miss Georgia and Florida from the East and get LSU, Tennessee and Alabama at home. Nutt is a good coach and has been rebuilding the last two years. Don’t be surprised if Arkansas somehow sneaks its way to Atlanta."

Just ignore the fact that I picked Georgia to win the SEC East and Florida State to play for the National Championship...

Finally...A Little Tiger Stadium Drama

A little drama had some of the home fans a bit nervous at times last night. As everyone should have expected, the Crimson Tide was not just going to roll over like LSU’s previous six home victims. But the Tigers made the appropriate adjustments at half and sealed the game down the stretch. LSU has now won six of the last seven against Alabama.

Too bad LSU can’t play all their games in Tiger Stadium; JaMarcus would be the front runner for the Heisman trophy. In another brilliant performance, Russell was 18 for 21 with 3 TD’s and 207 yards. For the season, in seven home games, Russell is 109 for 138 (79%), 1620 yards, 17 TD’s and only 1 INT. I did a little math and his efficiency rating at home actually went down after the Alabama game. Unbelievable.

Keiland Williams looked great. It is a shame he was not able to participate in two-a-days sooner. He’s very fast and powerful. The future looks bright with Williams and a motivated(?) Broussard in the backfield.

The defense struggled a bit more than usual. See how spoiled we are?! The defensive unit gave up only 14 points and folks are complaining! A good deal of that had to do with the lack of a consistent pass rush. Even though the front four had four sacks, a number of times John Wilson had plenty of time to throw the ball. LSU didn’t blitz much, but when they did, the Tigers were very effective. Part of the problem was injuries. Jesse Daniels did not play at all. Beckwith went out in the first quarter and never returned. The Tigers are thin at linebacker as it is so the loss of Beckwith was a big blow. My guess is the Tigers played a lot of base defense as not to confuse the LB’s and create even more issues.

LSU gets Ole Piss next week for what should be another beat down. The Tigers have been even keeled all season and this coming game will be no different.

LSU 38 – Ole Piss 3

Rocky Top This!!!

If JaMarcus could ever stop turning the ball over, LSU would be unstoppable. In six home games, Russell’s QB rating is about 45 points higher than the ALL TIME NCAA RECORD for passing efficiency in one season. (183.3 held by Tulane’s Shaun King) The problem is, Russell’s road efficiency rating is about 100 points lower than his home rating. Thus we get 6-0 at home and 1-2 on the road.

I will never complain about a road victory over a top 10 team. Winning in the SEC is tough and winning on the road at one of the elite programs is even tougher. But I think LSU suffers from a perception problem. Fans and the media see the bevy of PHYSICAL TALENT on the field but can’t appreciate the mental part of the game which is critical. I can see that JaMarcus can throw the ball 50+ yards on the run; I can see that Trindon Holliday is incredibly fast; I can see that Glen Dorsey is a great pass rusher. What you don’t see is the decision making process. You can’t see the level of concentration a player has throughout a game. The Tigers, for whatever reason, have not focused as well when playing in the big road games this season. In the three games against Auburn, Florida and Tennessee, LSU turned the ball over NINE TIMES and had 21 PENALTIES. It is amazing that the Tigers were able to win even one of those games after committing so many errors.

To many, Russell is maddening because at times he looks tremendous and at other times he looks awful. The game in Knoxville was a microcosm of Russell’s career. There are unexplainable gaffs (how does the ball flutter out of his hand? I’ve never met him but he must have enormous hands, right? Remember in the Arizona State game when the ball just slipped out like he was goofing around when he went to pass?) then cool deliveries (the 4th down pass to Doucet and the TD to Doucet to win the game, game winning TD passes versus Arizona State and Alabama) which make me shake my head.

Accept it folks, on some Saturdays Russell is going to keep the other team in the game and then break their heart as time expires. This is who he is. Be thankful he never gets down, he keeps hammering away and stays in the game. He continues to be a work in progress, and most importantly, his teammates believe in him. Now I haven’t taken a poll in the locker room nor do I have an inside source, but as much as I have criticized him at times, I believe in him. And if I can keep the faith, the people around him have to be doing the same.

Some have said that this is a “signature” win for Les Miles. These are probably the same people who were saying that the Peach Bowl against Miami was “the biggest game in the history of LSU football.” In our, “what have you done for me lately culture,” the next game is always the biggest game and fans lose perspective in a heartbeat. What about LSU’s thrilling 16-13 win at fourth ranked and 9-0 Alabama last season? Beating the #4 team in the country at their place is not a “signature” win? As long as we are talking about Les Miles, why not mention his back-to-back victories over Oklahoma in 2001 and 2002. OU was ranked #4 in the nation in ’01 and 3rd in ’02. Do those count as “signature” wins? Please!

A few other random thoughts:

* The refs jammed LSU again on the no call fumble recovery. In the first half, a Tennessee player touched the ball as it bounced in the end zone after an LSU punt. The Tigers recovered the ball and instant replay CLEARLY showed the ball change direction and motion after hitting the back of the UT player’s hand. Yet the call on the field stood and UT took the ball and drove for the first TD.

* LSU had 231 yards rushing against the Vols. Amazing considering how LSU struggled to run the ball against Auburn and Florida.

* Keiland Williams needs to get the ball from now on. His numbers were not great, but he looks very strong and knows how to hit the hole.

* I was surprised LSU did not blitz more. The UT offensive line was solid and LSU’s front four were not as effective as usual.

* Is Trindon Holiday the fastest little dude you have ever seen?

* Loved the fake punt and other creative wrinkles in the game. A very well coached game…if JaMarcus would just stop turning the damn ball over…

* LSU is #1 in the nation in total defense and #11 in total offense.

Next week the Tigers get a dangerous Alabama team coming off a horrible home loss to Mississippi State. LSU has been steady defensively all season and down right ruthlessly efficient at home. The Tigers should pound the Tide and win comfortably.

LSU 32 – Bama 13

Good…Bad: Tiger Pimp Nation Style

Good…The Tiger Pimp Nation traveled to Tennessee this Saturday to proudly represent the LSU Tigers. With a touch of class and a display of elegance, 40+ “white-collar” pimps invaded Knoxville in style.

Bad…Guard the women and children.

Good…LSU moved up to #12 in the BCS standings. While a BCS bowl is a long shot, the Tigers are still in the running.

Bad…If the Tigers miss the BCS, the other possible bowl match-ups with Wisconsin, Penn State or Oklahoma do not look that appealing.

Good…Wake Forest. 8-1 for the first time since 1944.

Bad…the ACC is lame. But in a gory train wreck sort of way.

Good…LSU is now 18-4 since Saban left for the Dolphins.

Bad…Saban is 11-13 since joining the Dolphins

Good…The Suckeyes versus the Big Blue Mafia should be a dandy in two weeks.

Bad…Given two weeks, the media hype machine should suck the life and all entertainment value out of the game

Good…The Spartans will make a run at Butch Davis.

Bad…The Spartans have to make a run at Butch Davis because they are on their 8th coach in the last 34 years.

Good…Lost is still the BEST show on TV.

Bad…No complaining because the show is too “slow.” If you want to see the entire plot sewn up in 45 minutes watch Law & Order.

Good…Bob Davie and Kirk Herbstreit are great on ABC.

Bad…I hate the three man booth. Just too many people in there for my liking.

Good…The two-point play.

Bad…STUPID COACHES that go for two WAY TOO EARLY IN THE GAME. There is NEVER a legitimate reason to intentionally go for two in the first half. NEVER. This is one of my biggest pet peeves when I watch football, especially college. Case in point, Florida scored a TD in the first quarter then botched the snap on the extra point. The holder ran around and luckily threw the ball in the end zone to a receiver. UF 8 – Vandy 0. The Commodores score in the first quarter and go for two. WHY? There is 50 minutes of football left. Take the damn point! DUMB!