Bayou Bengals Blog

Saturday reaction

2009-11-26T21:17:00.000-08:00

So, LSU fans, what will your reaction be on Saturday night in these situations:

1) If LSU goes three-and-out on the first possession?

2) If LSU keeps passing when the run is in order?

3) If LSU mismanages the clock at the end of the first half and wastes a scoring opportunity?

I ask these questions because I have a feeling this game may be as important as any championship game for Les Miles.

No, I don't think Miles is getting fired. But I do think he turned up the heat on his own coaching seat with the debacle in Oxford last week.

It will be interesting to see how LSU comes out and plays against Arkansas. A fast start and an impressive victory and Miles will have some breathing room. Another loss and he could be next year's Mark Richt.

Worse than you might think

2009-11-21T22:31:00.000-08:00

While much of College Football Nation either laughs or is shock at the ending of the LSU-Ole Miss game, there is something even more disturbing than the way LSU lost.

It is this: LSU needed three low-percentage plays (the onside kick, a screen pass in traffic and a Hail Mary) to even get in a position to steal the win.

Except for LSU's bungling of the final minute of the game, everyone would be talking about a defense that couldn't get off the field and an offense that continues to be the most frustrating in the country to watch because there are playmakers everywhere (Welcom Rueben Randle) and a coaching staff with no clue how to use them.

So the Ole Miss loss is really worse than you think. Because the horrific game mismanagement hides the fact that Ole Miss pretty much dominated this one.

Tennessee gaining on Gators in renegade category

2009-11-14T08:18:00.001-08:00

By Glenn Guilbeau
Gannett Louisiana

The Guilbeau Poll

1.ALABAMA (9-0, 6-0 SEC) – Even if Patrick Peterson gets the intercepton and Charles Scott doesn't get hurt, Bama still beats LSU. But if Jordan Jefferson doesn't get hurt, LSU wins.

2.FLORIDA (9-0, 7-0) – The Gators need another player arrest to answer Tennessee's.

3.LSU (7-2, 4-2) – That Peterson no-call makes up for the Corey Webster no-call back in 2004. LSU's Webster clearly pushed an Alabama receiver down before making an interception in the end zone when Bama was threatening to score at a key point in the game. And there was no call. Saturday's game also makes up for a trio of instant replay reviews that went against Alabama in LSU's win in 2007. Forgot about those, didn't you LSU fans. Chad Jones also got away with pass interference in the first half Saturday.

4. AUBURN (7-3, 3-3) - The Tigers are ranked again and could challenge LSU for the Florida bowls.

5. TENNESSEE (5-4, 3-3) - I didn't know they still made pellet guns. This could hurt Tennessee's recruiting in more ways than one.

6. GEORGIA (5-4, 3-3) - Could the Bulldogs find themselves in Shreveport next month?

7. ARKANSAS (5-4, 2-4) - The Hogs look ready to finish strong.

8. SOUTH CAROLINA (6-4, 3-4) - Steve Spurrier Jr. is taking heat as the Gamecocks' play caller. Will his dad get all biblical on him and fire or demote him like he's some quarterback?

9. OLE MISS (6-3, 2-3) - Former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron returns to Oxford as Tennessee's defensive line coach. Guess what song will be playing in the Grove?

10. MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-5, 2-3) - Upset special? Alabama's coming to Starkville after a huge win, and State has been dangerous this season. The Bulldogs also beat Nick Saban and the Tide two years ago.

11. KENTUCKY (5-4, 1-4) - The Bluegrass wonders. Will a win over Vanderbilt count toward bowl eligibility?

12. VANDERBILT (2-8, 0-6) - The Commordores play Kentucky at 11:20 a.m. Saturday. Christmas shopping anyone?

GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 3 Alabama at Mississippi State, 6 p.m., ESPN - Mississippi State defeated Alabama in 2006 and 2007. The Bulldogs nearly upset LSU and Houston this season and played Georgia Tech well. The Crimson Tide may be primed for an upset. And it's worth watching just to see if the SEC officials blow another call on behalf of one the league's undefeated. Plus, can you imagine what type of instant replay equipment they must have in a pressbox in Starkville, Miss.? Perhaps a little K-Mart model with rabbit ears.

SATURDAY TELEVISION

Tennessee at Ole Miss, 11 a.m., CBS.

Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 11:20 a.m., SEC Network.

No. 1 Florida at South Carolina, 2:30 p.m., CBS.

Auburn at Georgia, 6 p.m., ESPN2

Louisiana Tech (3-6) at No. 9 LSU, 6 p.m. ESPNU

Troy at Arkansas, 6:30 p.m.

LAST WEEK’S GAMES

Arkansas 33, South Carolina 16

Georgia 38, Tennessee Tech 0

Kentucky 37, Eastern Kentucky 12

Auburn 63, Furman 31

Alabama 24, LSU 15

Tennessee 56, Memphis 28

Florida 27, Vanderbilt 3

Ole Miss 38, Northern Arizona 14

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSE - Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett completed 23 of 27 passes for 329 yards and rushed for a touchdown.

DEFENSE - Alabama CB Javier Arenas made seven tackles with four solos and two behind the line with a quarterback pressure.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Florida P Chas Henry punted four times for a 52.8-yard average.

NOTEBOOK

REDEMPTION FOR JULIO: Not only was Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones the guilty party on the Tide's penalty for too many men on the field, ruining a chance for a touchdown against LSU in the third quarter. He also dropped a pass just before Bama quarterback Greg McElroy was stopped for a safety. He made up for both with his 73-yard touchdown catch and run to give Alabama a 21-15 lead in the fourth quarter after a two-point conversion.

"Their guys had been real aggressive coming up on me," Jones said.

"You never expect a short pass like that to lead to a touchdown," McElroy said. "Then again, when you get it to No. 8, you never know what'll happen. I've never seen someone run that fast before."

PASS SET UP RUN: McElroy threw 25 times in the first half for Alabama, seriously breaking a tendency. Then tailback Mark Ingram, who had only 38 yards in the first half, took over the second half with 106 yards through a spaced LSU defense often looking for more passes. Ingram finished with 144.

"It was the way we planned," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "And I thought it worked. As the game went on, we got more and more control of the line of scrimmage."

BORDER WAR: Auburn has 20 players from the state of Georgia looking forward to Saturday's game at Georgia. There is also Auburn defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who grew up in Atlanta and played and coached at Georgia Tech.

"It makes it fun," Roof said. "It's a fun game."

STAT OF THE WEEK:

The 452 yards given up by LSU to Alabama on Saturday were the most allowed by the Tigers since Florida got 475 in a 51-21 win last season.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"He was a great D-line coach, but he wasn't that great of a head coach."

- Ole Miss defensive end Kentrell Lockett on former head coach Ed Orgeron, who is Tennessee D-line coach now and returns to Oxford, Miss., Saturday.

- Compiled by Glenn Guilbeau with other SEC writers.

-end-

Why Not Start Shepard at QB?

2009-11-13T11:21:00.001-08:00

BATON ROUGE - Sorry, I have not blogged in a while, but I got a stomach flu early this week. The doctor said that is going around and I caught it from another person, but I'm convinced I got it from overexposure to SEC officiating - the laughing stock of the country - and LSU's offense - the most poorly drilled offense in the country.

LSU's offense, which by the way is ranked 103rd in the nation and No. 1 in poorest use of talent, begs the following question. How many false-start penalties would it have if it didn't have so many pre-start penalties?

Discuss.

And how many LSU tight ends does it take to line up in one space? Common sense says one. LSU says two.

Interestingly, LSU's offense is still so skill talented and capable of amazing things. Things such as having too many men on the field after a timeout.

Here's another one. On a third quarter drive, LSU called more timeouts (2) than it gained yards (0) on three plays of that drive.

Apparently, I'm not the only one nauseated. Former LSU nose guard Greg Bowser, who is the best analyst on television not doing live football, said during the second half of the CST replay of the LSU-Alabama game that the main difference in the game since halftime was one thing - the sideline. Alabama's was working, and LSU's wasn't.

At any rate, on to today's topic.

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson would likely start and play Saturday if the Tigers were not playing a 24-point underdog like 3-6 Louisiana Tech. Jefferson hurt his ankle in the loss to Alabama last Saturday on one of the 24 sacks he has suffered this season. He was on crutches part of the time early in the week before returning to practice on Wednesday. Some say Jefferson holds the ball too long. Maybe he's just choosing which defensive end he's going to get creamed by.

LSU should be able to handle Tech, which does not have the same firepower passing game that Troy had the week after an emotional LSU loss to Alabama a year ago. LSU's defense is also twice as good as the outfit of last season. LSU should be able to run well against Tech provided its coaches can get the plays to their players before two seconds remain on the play clock. So, it would be wise to sit Jefferson out and get him absolutely ready for next week's game at Ole Miss, which is very capable of beating LSU. Rebels' coach Houston Nutt has won his last two against LSU with less talent.

So, word is Jarrett Lee will likely start against Tech. I saw enough of Lee last season and more than enough last week. LSU should give Russell Shepard the chance he deserves. LSU should start Shepard at quarterback Saturday. He can't be any worse than Lee, who got more and more nervous and tentative as the game went on last week. The officials had to pick up a pass interference call against Alabama because Lee's subsequent pass was so uncatchable. He threw one interception and could have thrown two more. He struggled with the play clock and play calling management, which qualifies him for a job on LSU's offensive staff, not quarterback.

But Lee's biggest problem is he cannot run well, and with the way LSU's offensive line has performed this season, that is a prerequisite.

Shepard can run and gain yards whether there is blocking or not. And this would be the opportunity to let him pass some, too.

Shepard has struggled to learn LSU's playbook, but in college football that is the coaches' responsibility. If he is struggling, just teach him a handful of plays. LSU hasn't got past the first two pages of its playbook in most games this season anyway. How about just a few plays this week, coaches? And here's another hint. It's better to call plays than timeouts.
LSU's coaches have had all spring, all August and all season to get Shepard ready. And this week, they had more time than usual with Jefferson out. Hope they didn't waste it trying to get Lee ready. They tried that last season and it didn't work.
Lee is a great kid and has showed toughness in sticking around. But how many chances does he get? It's somebody else's turn. That should be Shepard with some series by Lee in between for good measure.
And remember if 11 players are on the field and another runs on with nobody coming out, then you have 12 players on the field.

-end-

What defines success?

2009-11-09T10:04:00.000-08:00

Here is a food-for-thought question for LSU fans?

If LSU ends the regular season 10-2 -- and that is a big if with Ole Miss and Arkansas still remaining on the SEC schedule -- do you consider it a successful season?

Granted 10 years ago at this time LSU fans would have walked on hot coals for a 10-2 season.

But 10 years later, do losses at home to Florida and on the road at Alabama -- the two biggest games of the season -- alter the way the season is viewed?

Does a second-place finish in the West, even if it comes in a 10-win season, sit well with folks after the greatest decade in school history?

I'd be interested to hear what folks think.

Alabama playing to save history against LSU

2009-11-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

The Guilbeau Poll

1.ALABAMA (8-0, 5-0 SEC) – If Alabama loses to LSU, one of the most impressive streaks in the history of SEC football will be jeopardy. The Crimson Tide has won at least one SEC football championship in every decade since the league's inception in 1933. If it loses to LSU, LSU will have the head-to-head tiebreaker with two games remaining. This is the last year of the current decade. Alabama, which has won 21 SEC titles won at least one in the 1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s.

2.FLORIDA (8-0, 6-0) – With Florida coach Urban Meyer getting fined $30,000 for criticizing officials by the SEC, who's going to bail the Gators out of jail this weekend?

3.LSU (7-1, 4-1 SEC) – If Jordan Jefferson can pull a JaMarcus Russell (the college version) or a Matt Flynn (also the college version), LSU could win in Tuscaloosa and make Miles the man again.

4. AUBURN (6-3, 3-3 SEC) - Ranking the bottom nine of this league is like ranking the ACC.

5. TENNESSEE (4-4, 2-3 SEC) - Just when you thought Lane Kiffin was going to get fined, Florida's Meyer beat him again.

6. GEORGIA (4-3, 3-2 SEC) - The Bulldogs could be looking at their first season with less than eight wins since 1996. But first they must look at a Tennessee Tech team (5-3) that has a better record than they do.

7. SOUTH CAROLINA (6-3, 3-3) - Steve Spurrier sure misses Phillip Fulmer.

8. OLE MISS (5-3, 2-3) - The Rebels allowed 23 points in the third quarter at Auburn. In no previous game this season, had they given up that much in four quarters.

9. ARKANSAS (4-4, 1-4) - Razorback Security better make sure Spurrier doesn't kidnap Hog quarterback Ryan Mallett. Spurrier hasn't seen a quarterback since he had Rex Grossman.

10. MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-5, 2-3) - Old habits die hard. State beat Kentucky 31-24 last week, but the weekly SEC release has State losing to Kentucky on the schedule/results page.

11. KENTUCKY (4-4, 1-4) - The Wildcats allowed 252 yards rushing to State tailback Anthony Dixon.

12. VANDERBILT (2-7, 0-5) - There will be no bowl this year.

GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 9 LSU at No. 3 Alabama, 2:30 p.m., CBS - This is definitely not sweeps weekend for the new SEC television contracts. Wake up to South Carolina at Arkansas, then watch this one and call it a day. Look for an early bad call against the Crimson Tide. The SEC office got Florida out of the way early on Friday with a fine of coach Urban Meyer. Now if it pops Alabama for something, nobody can say the league wants a Bama-Gator SEC Championship Game, right? LSU has the talent, and Les Miles has the big-game coaching prowess to pull a classic upset.

SATURDAY TELEVISION

South Carolina at Arkansas, 11:21 a.m., SEC Network.

Tennessee Tech (5-3) at Georgia, noon, ESPN GamePlan.

Eastern Kentucky (5-3) at Kentucky, noon, ESPN GamePlan.

Furman (4-4) at Auburn, 12:30 p.m., ESPN GamePlan.

Memphis (2-6) at Tennessee, 6 p.m., ESPNU.

Vanderbilt at No. 1 Florida, 6:15 p.m., ESPN2.

Northern Arizona (5-3) at Ole Miss, ESPN GamePlan.

LAST WEEK’S GAMES

Auburn 33, ole Miss 20

Florida 41, Georgia 17

Arkansas 63, Eastern Michigan 27

Mississippi State 31, Kentucky 24

Georgia Tech 56, Vanderbilt 31

Tennessee 31, South Carolina 13

LSU 42, Tulane 0

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSE - Mississippi State TB Antony Dixon, who gained a school record 252 yards.

DEFENSE - Auburn DB Walt McFadden, who intercepted two passes and made five tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Florida K Caleb Sturgis made 56- and 44-yard field goals.

NOTEBOOK

SEC COPS STRIKE AGAIN: On Friday, the SEC office made history by fining Florida coach Urban Meyer $30,000 for his public comments concerning officiating, Commissioner Mike Slive announced.

The SEC has never fined coaches for criticizing officials.

"Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics,” Slive said. “SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league’s Athletics Directors and Presidents and Chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable.”

The SEC warned in recent weeks that fines could possibly be coming. The league office previously reprimanded Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen for criticizing officials.

STAT OF THE WEEK:

The number of SEC coaches reprimanded and/or fined by the league office this season is gaining on the number of present and/or former SEC coaches in the movie "The Blind Side." The movie leads so far, 5-4.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"I would like to apologize to my team and the coaching staff and Washaun Ealey. Football is a very physical and emotional game, but there is no excuse for my actions."

- Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes' written apology about trying to gouge at Ealey's eyes after a play last week. Spikes was suspended for the first half of Florida's game against Vanderbilt, but he said later he would not play at all in the game so as not to be a distraction.

- Compiled by Glenn Guilbeau with other SEC writers.

Alabama better than Florida and winning "cleanly"

2009-10-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Guilbeau Poll

1.ALABAMA (7-0, 4-0 SEC) – The Crimson Tide is playing the most complete football in the league, which means it's also playing the best in the nation. Alabama also does not need help to win games as Florida did against Arkansas.

2.FLORIDA (6-0, 4-0) – The Gainesville police department apparently knows right from wrong concerning Gators better than the officiating crew at the Florida-Arkansas game last week.

3.LSU (5-1, 3-1 SEC) – Auburn's defense may just be the triple shot of espresso that LSU's comatose offense needs. LSU's fans may need a shot of something, too. According to Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal and formerly of the Shreveport Times, "Florida's defense shut down LSU's offense (13-3 on Oct. 10) and performed an intervention on 92,000 well-lubricated Tiger Stadium fans."

4.SOUTH CAROLINA (5-2, 2-2) - The Gamecocks played Alabama tough.

5. OLE MISS (4-2, 1-2) - Quarterback Jevan Snead finally got some protection against UAB last week and produced. He'll do more of the same Saturday as coach Houston Nutt will once again make Arkansas wonder why it let him go.

6. KENTUCKY (4-3, 3-2) - The Wildcats' win at Auburn last week was just their second SEC road win since the 2007 season.

7. ARKANSAS (3-3, 1-3) - The Hogs nearly pulled a major upset last week.

8.AUBURN (5-2, 2-2) - LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis will teach Auburn's latest high school offensive coordinator a few lessons.

9.TENNESSEE (3-3, 1-2) – The Vols played their best football against Georgia two weeks ago, then had an off week. Look for a great effort against the Tide Saturday.

10.GEORGIA (4-3, 3-2) - The Bulldogs have a week off to prepare for Florida, which looks more beatable every week - excluding game officials.

11.MISSISSIPPI STATE (3-4, 1-2) - State has played one of the better SEC schedules, and it played competitively in losses to No. 17 Houston and No. 11 Georgia Tech.

12. VANDERBILT (2-5, 0-4) - Even when the Commodores do something well, they get penalized by another anal SEC officials. After 24 penalties over two games, linebacker John Stokes blocked a 57-yard field goal last week against Georgia. But he was called for taking too many steps before jumping. "I don't think I landed on anybody," he said.

SATURDAY TELEVISION

Arkansas at Ole Miss, 11:21 a.m., SEC Network.

Tennessee at No. 1 Alabama, 2:30 p.m., CBS.

Louisiana-Monroe at Kentucky, 6 p.m. Fox Sports South.

Vanderbilt at No. 23 South Carolina, 6 p.m., ESPNU.

Auburn at No. 9 LSU, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2.

No. 2 Florida at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN.

LAST WEEK’S GAMES

Georgia 34, Vanderbilt 10

Mississippi State 27, Middle Tennessee 6

Florida 23, Arkansas 20*

Ole Miss 48, UAB 13

Kentucky 21, Auburn 14

Alabama 20, South Carolina 6

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSE – Alabama TB Mark Ingram stepped into the Heisman Trophy race with 246 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown and caught two passes for 23 yards in the win over South Carolina. No Tide back has rushed for more yards in Bryant-Denny Stadium in history, and his total is the third highest in Bama history. Shaun Alexander has the most rushing yards in a game in Alabama history with 291 at LSU in 1996. Bobby Humphrey is No. 2 with 284 at Mississippi State in 1986.

DEFENSE - Kentucky LB Mark Johnson had 14 tackles with eight solos in the win over Auburn.

SPECIAL TEAMS – Florida K Caleb Sturgis kicked the game-winning, 27-yard field goal to beat Arkansas with 33 seconds left. Sturgis also booted a 51 yarder.

NOTEBOOK

*SEC OFFICIALS PENALIZED: At last, an SEC officiating crew has been suspended. In an extremely rare move, the SEC office this week suspended the officials who called Florida's controversial 23-20 win over Arkansas in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday. The crew was removed from its next two assignments on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. It will not be officiating this Saturday either, but it already had this Saturday as a scheduled off day.

The crew was off on several calls last Saturday. There was a questionable pass interference call against Arkansas' Ramon Broadway and a questionable personal foul call against Arkansas' Malcolm Sheppard. The calls were on consecutive plays in Florida's game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Another questionable decision by the crew was a non-call against Florida receiver Riley Cooper, who collided with Arkansas cornerback Andru Stewart in the end zone on Florida's game-winning field goal drive. Cooper is the same receiver who pulled LSU cornerback Chris Hawkins' jersey to get open for the Gators' only touchdown of the game in a 13-3 win at LSU on Oct. 10, but that was not the same officiating crew.

The guilty crew is the same one that the SEC said made an incorrect excessive celebration call against Georgia receiver A.J. Green in the Bulldogs' 20-13 loss to LSU on Oct. 3. Green did little if anything on the play, but Georgia was penalized 15 yards and had to kick off from its 20-yard line. This helped LSU get better field position for its game-winning touchdown drive.

"A series of calls that have occurred during the last several weeks have not been to the standard that we expect from our officiating crews," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in a release. "While only a few calls have been identified, the entire crew shoulders responsibility for each play. I have taken this action because there must be accountability in our officiating program. Our institutions expect the highest level of officiating in all of our sports, and it is the duty of the conference office to uphold that expectation."

The crew's eligibility for bowl assignments is also at question, the SEC office said.

The crew is headed by Marc Curles of Birmingham, Ala., and includes umpire Ronnie Jones, linesman W. Randall Kizer, line judge Michael Shurley, back judge Michael Watson, field judge Greg Thomas and side judge Jess Dupuy.

Watson was the one who mistakenly threw the flag against Green.

PETRINO REPRIMANDED: The SEC also reprimanded Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino "for his public comments," about the calls that violated the SEC's code of ethics, Slive said. SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 says that coaches "shall refrain from all public criticism of officials."

After the game Petrino said, "I didn't like them. I didn't think they were good calls."

After Florida tied it 20-20 in the fourth quarter with the help of the two phantom calls, ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach said, "Bobby Petrino has to feel like he's getting jobbed right now," on his Twitter.

Arkansas drew 10 penalties for 92 yards. Florida, which appears to be headed to another classic No. 1 versus No. 2 SEC Championship Game in Atlanta if it can stay undefeated, drew three penalties for 16 yards.

In the weekly SEC writers network report, the Florida writer had 4.5 pages of notes but nothing on the penalties.

STARS WERE ALIGNED: Other than the officials, Arkansas had good karma going for a monumental upset. Two of Arkansas' previous four wins over a No. 1 team in the nation came on Oct. 17, which was the date of the Florida game. The unranked Hogs defeated No. 1 Texas 42-11 on Oct. 17, 1981, and the No. 8 Hogs beat No. 1 Texas 14-13 on Oct. 17, 1964.

CLEANLINESS NEXT TO TIDE-LI-NESS?: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was known for whining about officials when he was Florida's coach. He once harshly criticized Florida State for being too rough on Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel. But Spurrier praised Alabama for the way it handled its five sacks of Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia.

"I tell you, Alabama's a very clean team," said Spurrier, who turned in former Alabama coach Mike Dubose for recruiting violations. "After watching the tape, a lot of guys could've taken hard shots at Stephen right as he threw the ball, but they sort of veered off and didn't clobber him near as badly as maybe some other teams do."

Alabama safety Robby Green knocked out South Carolina receiver Moe Brown with a helmet-to-helmet hit, and Brown is questionable for Saturday's game against Vanderbilt with a concussion. But Spurrier had no issue with that hit either.

"It was a very clean hit," he said.

SPURRIER STILL WHINING: Spurrier did have a problem with Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin using a white tape to spot his field goals and extra points in last week's game in which he kicked two field goals and two extra points.

"No material or device shall be used to improve or degrade the playing surface or other conditions and give one player or team an advantage," the NCAA rule book states.

"I guess Alabama didn't know it was against the rules," Spurrier said.

"We've done some research on it, and over half the teams in the league do something with it (tape or something else)," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "They put a piece of grass there or a piece of mud or whatever it is, so the kicker knows where the ball's going to be spotted. We even saw verification where last year South Carolina's kicker did it. "

50-YEAR RECORD IN DANGER: Alabama defensive back/punt returner Javier Arenas is just 150 yards away from breaking a SEC record that has stood for half a century. Arenas, a senior from Tampa, Fla., has returned 110 punts for 1,546 yards in his career. The SEC record holder is Auburn's Lee Nalley, who returned 109 punts from 1947-49 for 1,695 yards.

Arenas missed Alabama's last game with a rib injury and is questionable for Saturday's Tennessee game.

ORANGE IN LOUISIANA: Tennessee receivers coach Frank Wilson, a former high school coach in New Orleans, and UT recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron, a former Saints assistant coach who also coached at Northwestern State, McNeese State and Nicholls State, are recruiting heavily in Louisiana.

The Vols are after linebacker Patrick Swilling of Brother Martin High in New Orleans, tailback Alfred Blue of Hahnville High, receiver James Wright of Belle Chasse and defensive back Jarvis Landry of Lutcher. Swilling is the son of former Saints linebacker Patrick Swilling.

For 2011, UT already has a commitment from defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, who is expected to be one of the state's top prospects next year. Johnson goes to O. Perry Walker High in New Orleans, which is where Wilson was the head coach from 2000-03.

STATS OF THE WEEK:

Auburn coach Gene Chizik is only the third first-year Auburn coach in history to win his first five games. The other two were Terry Bowden, who won his first 20 in 1993 and 1994, and Mike Donahue, who won all five of his games in his first season in 1904. Donahue left Auburn after the 1922 season to become LSU's coach.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Refs are CHEATING in this Florida/Arkansas game!!"

- Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens on his Twitter page Saturday during the game.

- Compiled by Glenn Guilbeau with other SEC writers.

-end-

Saints Providing the Respite

2009-10-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

BATON ROUGE - Rremember football seasons from 2001-2005 and 2007 when LSU provided the sanity, the order and the success for the masses suffering with the Saints.

The Saints actually had a winning season in 2002 at 9-7 and went 8-8 in 2003 and 2004, but even when they won they were so aggravating to watch. Even when they won, they looked bad and disjoined and poorly coached under the most overpaid NFL coach at the time - Jim Haslett.

After watching LSU on Saturday, you'd turn on the Saints and say to yourself, "Thank God for LSU." Because the Tigers played the game right. Even when they lost, they played the game right. That ended last year when the Tigers went 8-5 while the Saints went 8-8.

Now this year, the Saints are doing everything right as they are probably the best team in the NFL at 5-0. It is truly a pleasure to watch them on Sundays after watching LSU stumble around on Saturdays. Yes, LSU is 5-1 and ranked No. 9 in the nation, but its offense has not played well for a whole game yet. The Tigers are aggravating to watch even when they win. They have been No. 12 in the SEC in offense and around 100 in the nation for most of the season, and they have showed no signs of exiting that ineptitude. And they have tremendous offensive talent.

Much like Haslett, who never could get anything corrected in a season, Miles and Crowton have not been able to right the ship. Last season, LSU had the same problem. The defense never got fixed.

Help may be on the way, though. Auburn is LSU's next opponent Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. Auburn has an awful defense, and LSU has had a week without a game to find out "what the hell's going on out there," with the offense, as Vince Lombardi would say.

This could be the weekend where we don't need to turn to the Saints to right the weekend.

Bama replaces Florida as No. 1 team

2009-10-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

Glenn Guilbeau's Associate Press top 25 voting:

1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Boise State
5. LSU
6. TCU
7. Miami
8. Iowa
9. Oklahoma State
10. Penn State
11. USC
12. Georgia Tech
13. Virginia Tech
14. South Carolina
15. Oregon
16. BYU
17. Cincinnati
18. Ole Miss
19. Utah
20. Houston
21. Texas Tech
22. South Florida
23. Missouri
24. Oklahoma
25. West Virginia

NOTES: Alabama and Florida flip-flop. Alabama has had the better overall season and has beaten better teams and has looked very good doing so. LSU stays at No. 5, though that is wavering. The Tigers, who host Auburn at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2, have not looked like a top five team, but their only loss is to Florida. Ohio State, Nebraska and Kansas are all out after losses to bad teams. Cincinnati finally has a win over a decent team in South Florida and jumps to No. 17 from No. 25. Oklahoma does have three losses, but it stays in based on strength of schedule. Those losses are all to very good teams - Texas, Miami and BYU - by a combined five points. Utah and West Virginia crack the poll for first time.

LSU will still finish 10-2 and in high cotton

2009-10-13T07:14:00.001-07:00

BATON ROUGE - At about the halfway point, we give LSU a "B." The Tigers have looked great and sick at times, but in the end, its only loss is to the No. 1 team in the nation. That's a B.

Let's start with the offense. The coaching has been poor. Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton seems to be too concerned with how many things his offense can do as far as formation and personnel variety instead of what it can do well. It's great to be multiple unless you're not good at multiple things.

The amazing thing is that head coach Les Miles has criticized the lack of playing time for Russell Shepard, who is averaging 6.2 yards a carry in limited use, and the option and at times the lack of touches for Charles Scott. And Miles is the head coach, and he has an offensive background. So Miles, like the CEO coach that he is, needs to get more involved with the offense during this open week. If LSU still wants to run the option, it should look at how Florida runs it. LSU doesn't even do the spacing right between QB and TB and continues to run to the short side of the field, which neutralizes its speed. Grade: D.

Now to the defense. The coaching has been excellent by new coordinator John Chavis. Florida's 13 points were its fewest since 2005. LSU dominated Georgia. After a poor showing in the Washington game, LSU's defense has done nothing but improve and has allowed a touchdown or less in three games. Despite a questionable pass rush from the line, LSU is stopping people. LSU has tackled as well as any team I've ever seen over the last two games. They don't miss. Chavis has seen to it that Chad Jones and Patrick Peterson are blossoming and reaching their potential. The defense will continue to keep LSU in games and win games.

Special teams coverage has been good. LSU has done well in the return game, but it could be better considering the talent. The kicking is good, but the punting has been average to bad. It may be time to try another punter.

Looking to the second half of the semester, I think LSU, mainly because of its defense, will win the rest of its games other than Alabama. Ole Miss is not as good as it was expected to be.

Auburn showed itself at Arkansas, and Arkansas is a one-trick pony. LSU will gradually improve its offense. Crowton is too good for it not to, and there is too much talent for him not to improve. This is the perfect time for an open week. The Tigers will finish 10-2 and play Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl.

Florida and Alabama will meet in a rematch in the SEC title game. It's an Urban Meyer-Nick Saban world. Everyone else is fighting for third.

Simply offensive

2009-10-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

LSU may be the most frustrating team in America to watch.

For the first time since 2005, LSU has yet to break the 40-point mark as an offense through six games. It was week 7 before the Tigers put up 56 against North Texas in 2005. Heck, even Curley Hallman once got to the 40-point mark by Week 2.

So a prolific offense this isn't.

And what makes it even more frustrating to watch as that LSU has playmakers. It's not like you've got Robert Toomer running the football with Scott Ray out as a wide receiver. You've got guys who will go on to NFL careers playing on this offense.

But what you don't have is an offensive identity. This team is more McDonald's than Raising Cane's. By that, I mean they are trying to do a lot of things -- formations, personnel groups, plays, etc. -- like McDonald's. They probably need to be more like Raising Cane's where the menu is chicken fingers, bread and a couple of drink options. In other words, find a few things to do well and then do them.

What they're doing now isn't working by any measure -- whether it's against the No. 1 team in the country (Florida) or a team (Vanderbilt) that can't beat Army.

THIS is THE GAME

2009-10-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

BATON ROUGE - There was an interesting question at Les Miles press conference Monday.

Basically, it centered on the premise that LSU's next game is bigger than tonight's matchup between No. 1 Florida and No. 4 LSU. Others have asked the same question and brought up the same premise. I heard another writer bringing it up Wednesday.

It's interesting, but it's an example of thinking too much and trying to be cute and different to be cute and different. It's a mindset that has trouble with true and false tests because of over-analysis.

LSU coach Les Miles was put aback by the question, paused and delivered one of the best answers he ever has.

"There's a game after this? The only thing I'm focused on is this very next opponent," Miles said. "It's a very consuming task, and we're not looking to the bye week and those teams that we play thereafter. It's all about this Saturday."

All coaches focus only on the next game or say that. But this is one week where coachspeak makes sense.

The eggheads point to LSU's next game - Oct. 24 at home against possibly undefeated Auburn - as a bigger game than tonight's LSU-Florida "undercard" because the Auburn game matters more toward the Southeastern Conference West and thus reaching the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta in December. Wow, aren't you smart!

I understand the point, but don't be stupid.

Yes, the LSU-Auburn game is bigger than the LSU-Florida game if LSU's goal is to just get by, win the West and make it to Atlanta like Tennessee did in 2007. If making it to Atlanta is the only goal, then it doesn't matter if LSU is not ranked at the time. So then it doesn't matter if LSU loses to Tulane and Louisiana Tech, then LSU could just use those games to practice new plays and strategy for its West games the following weeks at Alabama and at Ole Miss. Miles could let Russell Shepard play the whole game at quarterback. Who cares how many times he fumbles or is lifted into the air by tacklers.

Because if the Auburn game is bigger than the Florida game then the Tulane and Tech games are meaningless. See what happens when you think too much.

But if LSU wants to soar into Atlanta as the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the nation with a shot at another national championship, tonight's game is this week's game of the century. Elite teams that compete for national championships don't think about divisions. Those get won in the process. I never forget while covering Alabama in 1994, the Tide beat Ole Miss to clinch the West and no one realized it until somebody did the math on Monday. Bama wasn't thinking about the West. It was thinking about the national championship.

Tight end Richard Dickson was asked the same ridiculous question.

"I didn't know we played Auburn next week," said Dickson, who also doesn't seem to realize that LSU is off next week. This is a good thing. The only thing on his mind is beating Florida. Smart kid. Doesn't think too much when he doesn't need to.

"This will be the biggest game of my career," Dickson said.

Right again, young man. Or at least until No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 LSU meet with those rankings for the first time in history on Nov. 7 in Tuscaloosa. THAT could be a bigger game than LSU-Florida and wil definitely be bigger than LSU-Auburn.

Big games are judged by how much winning it changes your season. This is where the rankings come in. An LSU win over No. 1 Florida will drastically change LSU's season. It will put the Tigers into the national championship race, because right now no one is really talking about LSU in that way. A win over lower ranked Auburn by an undefeated LSU team in two weeks would just keep LSU where it already was as would a win over Tulane the next week.

If you lose a smaller game like Auburn or Tulane, it drastically changes your season the other way, but winning it doesn't get you beyond where you already were. You just keep serve. This is why tonight is THE GAME. An LSU win means LSU has serve for another national title.

A good thing about huge games like this is that even if you lose it, it's not the end of the world.

This is why LSU should schedule USC early in a season. Even if it loses, it gets poll cred for playing the game and has all season to make up for it. If LSU loses tonight, it could still win out - it will have to beat Alabama anyway - and could play Florida again. And if it wins, it's where it would be if it wins tonight. So yes, this game carries within it a Mulligan, but that does not make it any less a game. It's just early enough in the season that both teams can make up for it. When you're in the best league in the land, you get Mulligans. That's just how it works.

And no one knows for sure if LSU will play Florida again after tonight, so each team better think it needs to take care of business tonight. So, again, THIS is THE GAME. LSU, meanwhile, will probably never get a chance to play Florida again this season without Tebow, so it needs to take advantage of it.

So don't think too much. THIS is THE GAME.

I think the 150,000 or so moving in as we speak to surround, then occupy Tiger Stadium by sundown would agree with me. They won't be there to swap there Florida tickets for Auburn tickets.

LSU-FLA. CAPSULE: Tigers to beat Gators 17-13

2009-10-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

KICKOFF: 7 p.m.
TELEVISION: CBS.
SITE: Tiger Stadium (92,400), Baton Rouge
WEATHER: There is a 60 percent chance of rain with temperatures in the high 60s.
RECORDS: LSU is 5-0 overall, 3-0 in the Southeastern Conference. Florida is 4-0, 2-0 in the SEC.
SEASON SO FAR: LSU: W at Washington, 31-23; W Vanderbilt, 23-9; W Louisiana-Lafayette, 31-3; W at Mississippi State, 30-26; W at No. 18 Georgia 20-13.
FLORIDA: W Charleston Southern, 62-3; W Troy, 56-6; W Tennessee, 23-13; W at Kentucky, 41-7.
RANKINGS: LSU is No. 4 in the Associated Press media poll and No. 4 in the USA Today coaches' poll. Florida is No. 1 in both polls.
POINT SPREAD: Florida is an 8-point favorite.
INJURY REPORT: LSU - Starting right guard Lyle Hitt (mild concussion) is expected to start. Backup defensive end Chancey Aghayere, who missed the Georgia game last week, and backup defensive tackle Josh Downs, who played only briefly at Georgia, are each expected to play.
FLORIDA -Starting QB Tim Tebow (serious concussion) is questionable, and his status is not expected to be known until shortly before kickoff. Coach Urban Meyer wants to see how he will handle the flight to Baton Rouge today, which may be a first. Have you ever heard of a football player needing to pass a flight test? If there's a question about Tebow handling air travel, how can he handle Tiger Stadium? Starting OT Marcus Gilbert (bicep) is probable. Starting WR Deonte Thompson (hamstring) is probable. Backup CB Moses Jenkins (concussion) is not expected to play. Backup OT Matt Patchan (knee) is out for the season. Backup DT Brandon Antwine (shoulder) is questionable. Backup DT Lawrence Marsh (ankle) probable.
COACHES: LSU coach Les Miles is 75-32 (.700) through 107 games in his ninth season as a college coach and 47-11 (.810) in his fifth season at LSU. Florida coach Urban Meyer is 87-17 (.837) through 104 games in his ninth season as a college coach and 48-9 (.842) in his fifth season at Florida.
SERIES: Florida leads 29-23-3, including a 15-13 advantage in Tiger Stadium. ... LSU has won the last two in Tiger Stadium. ... Over the last eight games of the series, it is 4-4. ... The Gators lead the decade 5-4. ... Florida won 51-21 last season in Gainesville. ... LSU won a classic, 28-24, in Baton Rouge in 2007. ... Florida won 13 of 14 from 1988 through 2001 with the lone exception a 28-21 upset by LSU of the No. 1 Gators in 1997 in Tiger Stadium. ... LSU won five of six from 1977 through 1982.
NOTES: According to the Associated Press poll, this is the first top five pairing in Tiger Stadium since No. 1 LSU beat No. 3 Ole Miss 7-3 on Oct. 31, 1959, on Billy Cannon's 89-yard punt return for a touchdown with 10 minutes to play in the game. ... That was the only previous top five pairing in Tiger Stadium. ... LSU is 26-3-2 as a top five team at home since the A.P. poll began in 1934 with the only losses to No. 13 Alabama, 22-10, in 1987, to No. 10 Tennessee, 30-27 in overtime, in 2005, and to Arkansas, 50-48 in overtime, in 2007. The ties were against Rice, 6-6, in 1962 and No. 7 Ohio State, 13-13, in 1987. ... LSU is 8-2 as a top five team at home under Miles. ... Meyer is 6-1 as Florida's coach against top five teams with the only loss to No. 1 LSU in 2007. ... Meyer is 2-4 at SEC West stadiums as Florida's coach. ... Meyer is 1-2 in Tiger Stadium with the lone win as an assistant at Colorado State, which beat LSU 17-14 in 1992. ... LSU and Florida meet as the last two national champions for the second straight year. The 2006 national champion Gators beat the 2007 national champion Tigers by a 51-21 score in 2008 on their way to the national title last season. ... The winner of this game has won the last three national titles - Florida in 2006 and 2008 and LSU in 2007. ... LSU is 2-8-1 all time against the No. 1 ranked team and 1-5-1 vs. No. 1 in Tiger Stadium. The only wins were over Florida in 1997 in Tiger Stadium and over Ohio State in the 2007 national championship game in New Orleans. ... LSU lost to No. 1 Alabama at home last season. ... The Gators as the No. 1 team are 2-1 against LSU with wins in 1994 and 1996 in Gainesville. ... Florida is 19-5 all time as the No. 1 team. ... LSU has won 32 straight Saturday night games in Tiger Stadium. ... LSU has won 32 straight Saturday night games in Tiger Stadium. ... Crowley's Tommy Casanova, LSU's only three-time, first team All-American in 1969-71 at cornerback, will have his No. 37 jersey retired at tonight's game.
NEXT WEEK: LSU is open before hosting Auburn on Oct. 24. Florida hosts Arkansas.
GAME PREDICTION: Tim Tebow dresses out but does not play, and a distracted Florida team misses him as Patrick Peterson and Brandon Taylor each intercept passes from John Brantley to set up a score and stop a score. LSU wins hard-nosed battle, 17-13.
LAST WEEK: The following was last week's prediction: "LSU finally plays a complete game with a little zest as well, edging the Bulldogs 20-17 on a last-minute touchdown drive engineered by quarterback Jordan Jefferson." Jefferson actually engineered the second-to-last touchdown drive to put LSU ahead 12-7 in the fourth quarter, but the point differential was just four points as LSU won 20-13.

Tebow Should Not Play Saturday

2009-10-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

BATON ROUGE - Even if Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is cleared today or on Friday or on Saturday to play at LSU Saturday night, he should not play.

That's what his father should say. That's what his coach should say.

If Tebow, who suffered a concussion on Sept. 26 at Kentucky, is deemed ready to play Friday, that would mean he would be even more ready to play next week with a full week of real practice. That is what Florida should be shooting for with Tebow - Arkansas on Oct. 17 or maybe the next game.

Dr. Michael Kaplan, an ESPN medical analyst, has already said Tebow is "probably a go" for the LSU game. "Probably?" This is not a knee or a shoulder. It's not something you can rush. It's not something you can suck up. Even if his brain is ready, it can be more ready.

"You can't fix the brain," said ESPN analyst Merrill Hoge in the Palm Beach Post this week.

Hoge played in the NFL until two concussions ended his career in 1994. He tried to come back too early from the first one and was knocked out again. He underwent 18 months of rehabilitation and had to learn how to read again after he lost his vital signs and was in intensive care for two days.

"You only get one," Hoge said of his brain.

It's already Thursday, and Tebow's brain has not taken a good hit yet. Tebow does not need to take his first good hit at LSU Saturday night. He needs to take it in practice next week, and then a few more. They don't let players coming off knee injuries play until they can take a hit or cut on the knee, but they're going to let a guy with a brain injury play a day or two after he's cleared or on the day he's cleared?

There was a diagram of Tebow's brain on ESPN today. What are we doing? This is a kid, and it's just one game. He needs to relax.

At this point, Tebow will not be ready to play Saturday. And a player should never be asked to play in any way but all out. It's not in Tebow's makeup to play hard a little. Florida owes it to Tebow to not let him play Saturday so he will be at his best in the future. He does have an NFL future. Does anyone at Florida realize that?

Maybe Florida coach Urban Meyer has already decided not to play Tebow and, for silly, military-style, seemingly strategic reasons that football coaches love to use, just does not want LSU to know. This would be understandable, but I don't think that's the case.

Meyer has said he sees Tebow as a son, but it seems like he wants too badly for Tebow to play.

Meyer said on Wednesday that he knows the grade concussion Tebow has but does not want to say what it is. That sounds a little sinister.

Tebow should not be in any pressure situation to play. He needs to be brought along slowly. Probably no one is pressuring him to play, but all the attention his injury has received in itself is pressuring him to play. Particularly the way Florida is handling it. "Can he play? Can he play? Can he play?"

If Tebow was a college kid playing club rugby, do you think his dad would want him to play two weeks after he was rushed to the hospital with a concussion? The magnitude of a game should have nothing to do with his recovery calendar. Tebow's recovery should be governed by his recovery not by a kickoff time.

Tebow and those in his family should be thinking about his future even if he isn't. Tebow's 22.

Kids that age do not usually think past the weekend. Tebow needs to be thinking past this weekend and to the nine, eight, seven or fewer weekends he has left this season. And if he's not, someone needs to tell him to do so.

Tebow needs to be thinking about weekends 20 years from now when he's done with football and reading to his kids and living with the brain of a 42-year-old and not the brain of a 62-year-old. This is his first concussion, and it needs to be babied so he does not become like so many NFL players that the NFL doesn't care about and tries to keep a secret.

Yes, the greatest medical team assembled by a college football program is working with Tebow, but there is no way they do not feel pressure to let Tebow play. And again, even if he is ready to play in their minds, he will be more ready the next week and the next if he doesn't play this weekend. There's no sense hurrying. Just think of the national outrage Meyer and Florida will receive if Tebow doesn't get up from another hit Saturday!

It shouldn't matter, but Florida does not need this LSU win. It will have a great chance of winning with backup quarterback John Brantley because of what its national champion defense can do to a still-disjointed and inconsistent LSU offense that struggled to score against one of the SEC's worst defenses last week.

Even if Florida loses, it could win the rest of its games and beat LSU or Alabama in the SEC title game and still win another national championship. If Florida and Meyer are so consumed with winning, it needs to realize that Tebow may be a better quarterback later in the season if he doesn't play this week.

Florida should have already come out with an announcement that Tebow is not playing. This would send a great message to all the coaches at all levels of football that even one of the toughest players ever to put on a helmet in college football is going to take a step back and make double sure he's ready. This is the 21st century. You don't play with a concussion so soon.
But no, Meyer and the Florida camp want to keep playing games with a game in which Tebow should not play.

"There are little leaguers, wanna-be coaches all over the country watching this," Hoge said. "He's sending the wrong message, and he needs to zip it, quick."

Meyer is also hurting his team by not making it clear early in the week what his quarterback plan was. Practice is virtually over for the week now. Meyer had a chance to announce Brantley as the starter Tuesday and let his team rally around Brantley. Brantley and all of his teammates instead are left up in the air.

"I would like to know to get my head in the right place," Brantley said. "It's a little difficult. I don't know when I'm going to get the word."

That's Meyer's fault.

If Tebow does play, it could do more harm than good to the Gators. His teammates will be distracted, particularly the offensive linemen, whose job it is to protect him. They'll be more worried about Tebow not getting hit than playing LSU.

Meyer needs to end this medical countdown and just say Tebow is not playing Saturday because waiting is the right thing to do.

Charles Scott should be primary back, period

2009-10-05T14:25:00.001-07:00

BATON ROUGE - I am reversing my field, which is something LSU tailback Charles Scott rarely does.

Earlier this season I said that Keiland Williams will be the answer at tailback, mainly because Scott was the best blocking fullback LSU had. While that is still a very good strategy, LSU's best tailback was and still is Scott.

And this is not just because Scott is coming off the best game by an LSU tailback since Scott gained 114 yards on 12 carries against Tulane last season.

Scott gained 95 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns in the Tigers' 20-13 victory at Georgia Saturday and was named the Southeastern Conference offensive player of the week.

Scott dominated the game. He also won the game with a 33-yard touchdown run with 44 seconds to go. Scott had some good blocking on the play by center T-Bob Hebert, tackle Ciron Black and wide receiver Chris Mitchell, but Scott also ran through and over tacklers.

This is why Scott deserves the most carries in every game LSU plays this season, unless something happens strategically where Williams or someone else gets hot. Williams may be better at running out of the spread. Williams is a very good back and will likely play in the NFL, but he's just not as strong a runner as Scott. He doesn't hit the hole as hard. He also doesn't hit the no-hole as hard. And since LSU has an average offensive line this season, you need a runner who doesn't always need blocking. That is Scott.

Scott often just pushes defenders for a few yards. This is very important on short-yardage situations when there is often little or no blocking. This is how Scott scored his 2-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 12-7 lead with 2:53 to play in the game.

Williams may be faster and maybe he would be more effective with a better offensive line, but LSU does not have that offensive line this season. Scott is the back for an average offensive line, and he is faster than you think. After he made it through the first wave of tacklers on the 33-yard run, his sprint the rest of the way was as fast as it needed to be.

Scott and LSU's offensive line will likely not do nearly as well against Florida Saturday night as they did against Georgia last week. Florida is No. 2 in the SEC against the rush with 92.8 yards allowed a game and is No. 1 in total defense with 212.8 yards given up a game. Georgia is No. 8 in the league in rush defense with 121.4 yards allowed a game and 11th in the SEC in total defense with 358.2 yards allowed a game. But Scott is the one to get the tough yards, which LSU needs to balance its offense even if he only gains 50 yards on 19 carries.

LSU will win close one, 20-17

2009-10-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

ATHENS, Ga. – Today is the day LSU will learn just how good a hire new defensive coordinator John Chavis was last December.

As Tennessee’s defensive coordinator from 1995-2008, Chavis went against Southeastern Conference East border school Georgia 14 times and won eight of those. Against Mark Richt, who became Georgia’s coach and virtual offensive coordinator in 2001, Chavis is is 3-5. But Chavis has won three of the last five meetings against Richt.

No. 18 Georgia (3-1, 2-0 SEC), which hosts No. 4 LSU (4-0, 2-0 SEC) at 2:30 p.m. today on CBS, has a better offense than LSU. It has a better quarterback at the moment in fifth-year senior Joe Cox, who is in his first season of starting as is LSU sophomore Jordan Jefferson. Cox has been up and down. He has thrown two interceptions for touchdowns, but he has also thrown five touchdowns in a game and he throws over the middle more than Jefferson. Cox is fifth in the SEC in passing efficiency and 23rd nationally with a 153.7 rating to Jefferson’s 141.2 for eightn in the SEC and 43rd nationally.

Cox has one of the best receivers in the nation to throw to in sophomore A.J. Green, who leads the SEC with 107 yards receiving a game and with 6.2 catches a game. Green does not have to be open, and Cox often only needs to throw it in his vicinity.

Georgia’s offensive line has been banged up this season and is about the same as LSU’s, which is not that good right now. The Bulldogs are 11th in the SEC in rushing with 112.2 yards a game and 90th nationally. LSU is not a lot better at No. 10 and No. 74 with 130 yards a game.

But Georgia has shown a big-play ability against better competition than has LSU.

LSU will need Chavis to keep Cox and Green in the teens for the Tigers to win, and Chavis has been very adept at that against good Georgia teams.

In 2007, an inexplicable 35-14 loss to Tennessee and Chavis kept Georgia out of serious national championship conversation, unless you spoke to Georgia president Michael Adams. Georgia had one of the best offenses in the SEC that season and finished 11-2 with an early-season, 16-12 loss to South Carolina. Had it defeated Tennessee it would have probably won the national championship that year instead of LSU.

But on the heels of Georgia beating Alabama 26-23 in overtime and Ole Miss 45-17, Chavis’ defense held the Bulldogs to 69 rushing yards on 25 carries and 174 yards in the air on 16-of-34 passing.

The 35-14 loss was Georgia’s worst since a 34-13 to LSU and a Nick Saban defense in the 2003 SEC title game.

In 2004, Chavis silenced another Georgia team gaining momentum. Just one week after the Bulldogs destroyed LSU 45-16, Chavis held Richt to two touchdowns in a 19-14 victory. Georgia managed 56 yards rushing on 29 carries and 209 yards in the air on 19-of-41 passing.

With LSU still finding its way offensively, the Tigers will need its SEC East veteran chief to do something similar today.

The Bulldogs have as much talent on defense as LSU, if not more. LSU is better in the secondary, but Georgia is better on the line and at linebacker. Senior defensive tackles Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins will play in the NFL as will junior outside linebacker Rennie Curran.

Georgia’s defense has strangely underachieved this season, though. The Bulldogs are 11th in the SEC and 90th nationally in pass defense with 243 yards allowed game. They are also No. 11 in total defense and 67th nationally with 355.8 yards allowed a game.

Georgia’s offense is better than LSU’s offense, but LSU’s defense will win the game today because of its Chavis wild card.

Final Score: LSU 20, Georgia 17.

Who is LSU?

2009-09-29T14:26:00.001-07:00

BATON ROUGE – Through four games, the 2009 LSU Tigers are a mystery team.

Their fan base may be the most displeased in the history of the game as far as a No. 4-ranked, undefeated team is concerned.

Just 10 years ago at about this time, LSU was not ranked and 2-2 after 41-7 and 23-22 losses to Auburn and at Georgia losses on the heels of a 4-7 season in 1998. There would be six more straight losses and a firing and a new beginning.

Many programs would do anything to be 4-0 and ranked No. 4. Programs like Florida State and Notre Dame.

But even LSU coach has been very critical of his team. There are obvious problems, and he knows it. Should some of them not be solved this week, the Tigers will not be able to get by No. 18 Georgia (3-1, 2-0 SEC) in a 2:30 p.m. game Saturday in Athens, Ga.

The offensive line is the biggest area of concern. It’s getting pushed around. There are two new starters on the line – sophomores T-Bob Hebert and Josh Dworaczyk at center and left guard. They are learning and making mistakes, but they are very talented. The problem is LSU’s veteran offensive linemen are playing like freshmen at times as well. Fifth-year senior Ciron Black, who is projected as a high-round draft pick, has not played well the last two weeks. Fifth-year senior right guard Lyle Hitt has also played better.

In addition, it appears that LSU’s speed and offensive talent is not being used properly by offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. Miles has complained – like many fans and media – that Russell Shepard is not getting the ball enough. He was LSU’s leading rusher in the first half against Mississippi State and never touched the ball again.

Quarterback Jordan Jefferson is not the problem. He has played very well. He needs more help from the talent around him. Junior wide receiver Terrance Toliver, for example, ruined a perfectly thrown touchdown pass from Jefferson against Mississippi State on Saturday because Toliver didn’t know where his feet were. Toliver was running out of the end zone before he caught the pass. Crowton needs to get the plays to Jefferson quicker as well.

The defense is much better than last year, but every now and then it makes silly mistakes and allows key plays.

Still, LSU is much better off now than it was at this time a year ago. The Tigers were 4-0 on Sept. 29, 2008, and everyone was happy and still aglow from the 2007 national championship. Miles was still the greatest coach ever and better than Alabama coach Nick Saban, many believed.

The Tigers had pretty 41-13 and 41-3 victories over rent-a-win opponents early on. And LSU had found a new quarterback in Jarrett Lee, who brought his team back for a stunning, victory at No. 9 Auburn and threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-24 win against Mississippi State.

LSU was swimming in fool’s gold, though. Auburn ended up being a bad team and finished 5-7. State was bad, too, and finished 4-8.

Lee was also not very good. Florida and Georgia destroyed LSU’s defense and Lee made it worse with his interceptions over the next three weeks. LSU’s best effort of the season was not good enough to beat Alabama as four Lee interceptions and the coaches who decided to let Lee keep throwing killed the Tigers. Then Troy should’ve beaten LSU, and Ole Miss ripped LSU’s defense and offense in a 31-13 win.

LSU is 4-0 now with problems. It was 4-0 last year at this time seemingly without problems.

LSU has played this season like it could be an 8-4 team this season. It looked more like 10-2 at this time last season, but it finished 7-5 in the regular season.

Do not judge a season by its first four games.

LSU knows what it has to correct for the rest of the season, and the best thing about that is that it has not had the same problem in each game. Things have flared up, and things have been fixed. They will continue to be fixed.

Don’t let the early quarter of the season fool you like it did last season. This LSU team is better. It will finish the regular season 10-2.

LSU will beat Georgia and have a chance against Florida as Tim Tebow may not be himself after a concussion and flu issues.

If LSU does go to 6-0 with a win over No. 1 Florida and moves up to No. 1, do you really think people are going to be worried about Trindon Holliday and Russell Shepard not getting enough touches?

MAIL CALL! Flynn was good, not great

2009-09-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

BATON ROUGE - In response to the passing efficiency statistical listing of quarterback Jordan Jefferson doing better in the first three starts at the beginning or early in a season than any LSU quarterback since Rohan Davey in 2001, one reader commented that "Matt Flynn is the most capable quarterback out of the bunch."

Wrong. It's amazing how many people think Flynn was so good. Flynn was decent and solid and popular among fans, but sometimes popularlity causess blindness.

Flynn finished the 2007 season No. 64 in the nation with a 125.8 rating in passing efficiency, which is one of the most significant of all statistics because it takes in everything. Flynn was erratic in 2007, but he built up such a following because of his bowl performance against Miami after the 2005 season, because he waited so long to start and because he was a sharp, clean-cut kid who said the right things.

Flynn also helped LSU win a national championship in 2007, which tends to make people remember you fondly.

In reality, Flynn was not great, but he was on a great team. He threw many more interceptions per attempt than did JaMarcus Russell, who finished No. 3 in the nation in passing efficiency in 2006 with a 167.0 rating.

In 2007, Flynn threw 11 interceptions and 21 touchdowns through 359 attempts. That's a touchdown every 17 passes and an interception every 32 passes. In 2006, Russell threw eight interceptions and 28 touchdowns through 342 attempts. That's a touchdown every 12.2 passes and an interception every 42 passes.

Russell threw one intercepton over his last four games as a Tiger, and in 11 of his 13 games in 2007 he threw a total of two interceptions. In nine games in 2007, Russell threw zero interceptions.

Flynn, on the other hand, threw at least one interception in eight of his 12 games in 2007, including five against Alabama and Louisiana Tech in consecutive weeks.

The significant thing about Jefferson's early games as LSU's quarterback is that he has not had a bad game yet. Flynn, for example, completed just 8 of 19 passes for 70 yards with an interception in his third start in 2007 against South Carolina. Jefferson's first three opponents are comparable in ability to the early opponents the other quarterbacks as well. Flynn, like Jefferson, missed his share of open receivers. Richard Dickson was wide open deep over the middle against Tulane in 2007, and Flynn missed him.

Former LSU quarterback Matt Mauck, for example, also had a bad game in his third start of 2002 against The Citadel. He completed just 8 of 18 passes in that game for 90 yards with an interception.

Another reader commented that LSU's offense "unlike the Saban teams" will keep the ball long enough to give the LSU defense a rest.

LSU's offenses under Gary Crowton and Les Miles have been for the most part better than the offenses of Jimbo Fisher, who worked for Nick Saban. Fisher's offenses were great, but Crowton's are a tad better. They have been more explosive, creative and just better. But they do not control the ball any better. Fisher was very good at that and tended to have a better running game. But we're splitting hairs here.

Until next week.

"Offensive" questions getting to Miles?

2009-09-24T11:38:00.000-07:00

BATON ROUGE - LSU has the worst offense in the Southeastern Conference at the moment. Its 325.7 yards a game is also 90th in the nation.

LSU coach Les Miles, who is heavily involved with the offense and stays away from the defense for the most part, did not need to see that statistic to criticize the offense himself after his team's lackluster 31-3 win over Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday. He criticized it again before questions at his weekly luncheon on Monday. Then during the queston-and-answer portion, he patiently answered questions about his offense.

He was asked about his offense's "identity" again on Wednesday during the weekly SEC media teleconference.

The queston was, "What is it, and if not (if the offense lacks identity), what do you hope it is?"
Miles gave another patient answer, but it did not really answer the question.

"I think the responsibility of LSU is to play at a very high level and play for championships," he said. "I think that that is a pretty standard feel for our team. I think the want to get the ball to the playmakers and to make plays is certainly a piece of the puzzle on offense that we're working on very, very, very hard. In terms of personality of the team, this team wants to win. And that hadn't changed. I enjoy the position this team is in. Do we have to improve? You betcha. We have to improve every week. In terms of personality, I think it's competitive."

Then the same questioner on the teleconference - a reporter from the Baton Rouge Advocate - basically repeated the same question about finding the plays on offense that LSU is best at. And the normally mild-mannered Miles apparently had had enough.

"What we call on Saturdays is what we're best at," he said tersely, and there would be no elaboration.

As Miles' 10 minutes was now up, the moderator from the SEC office bid the coach adieu. Miles usually says a polite goodbye at this point. Not this time. It was more like this:
"CLICK."

Look for LSU's offense to be improved Saturday at Mississippi State.

And look for more on LSU's offense in Saturday's Shreveport Times and other Gannett Louisiana papers and on www.LSUbeat.com Saturday with an exclusive interview with LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton.

Blog Correction on QB ratings

2009-09-23T06:44:00.001-07:00

BATON ROUGE - LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson missed some open receivers, particularly deep, on Saturday against ULL and looked uncomfortable and anxious at times, but he is still off to the best start of a new starting quarterback at LSU since Rohan Davey in 2001.

Yes, Jefferson has performed better than Matt Flynn did over his first three starts in 2007 and better than Matt Mauck's first three in 2002, Andrew Hatch’s and Jarrett Lee's first three last season and JaMarcus Russell's opening trio in 2004, according to the comprehensive passing efficiency statistic that takes into account virtually all aspects of the forward pass.

Jefferson has completed 47 of 73 passes for 64.4 percent, 475 yards and five touchdowns against one interception for a 138.90 passing efficiency rating. That mark is only No. 7 in the SEC, but the SEC has some of the most efficient passers in the nation this season, including the nation's No. 1 quarterback in Arkansas' Ryan Mallett at 193.49 and the No. 7 passer in the country in Florida's Tim Tebow at 170.45. Jefferson is 45th nationally, which is still markedly better than Flynn’s No. 64 efficiency rating in 2007.

Jefferson's 64.4 completion percentage is the best of LSU's last eight starting quarterbacks who started at least three games early in a season. His five touchdown passes is also the most of LSU’s last eight quarterbacks to start at least three games. He also has the second most rushing yards before sacks with 112. Hatch had the most with 118.

Davey put together a 142.28 efficiency mark in his first three starts in 2001.

Here is the breakdown with year, opponents, completions-attempts-interceptions-yards-touchdowns and rating:

1. Rohan Davey, 2001 vs. Tulane, Utah St., at Tenn. - 53-96 (55 percent), 0 ints., 838 yds., 4 TDs, 142.28 rating.
2. Jordan Jefferson, 2009 at Wash., vs. Vanderbilt, ULL - 47-73 (64.4 percent), 1 int. 475 yds., 5 TDs, 138.90 rating.
3. Jarrett Lee, 2008 vs. Miss. St., at Florida, at S. Car. - 57-91 (63 percent) 4 ints. 659 yds. 4 TDs, 129.18 rating.
4. Matt Flynn, 2007 at Miss. St., vs. Va. Tech, S. Car. - 37-65 (57 percent), 1 int. 415 yds. 3 TDs, 122.71 rating.
5. Marcus Randle, 2002 vs. S. Car., at Aub., at Ky. - 31-66 (46 percent), 4 ints., 526 yds., 3 TDs, 116.79 rating.
6. JaMarcus Russell, 2004 at Fla., vs. Vanderbilt, Ala. - 13-25 (52 percent), 2 ints., 172 yds., 1 TD, 106.99 rating.
7. Andrew Hatch, 2008 vs. App. St., North Texas, at Auburn – 19-37 (51 percent), 1 int., 218 yds., 1 TD, 104.36 rating.
8. Matt Mauck, 2002 at Va. Tech, vs. Citadel, Miami-O. - 38-79 (48 percent), 2 ints., 439 yds., 3 TDs, 102.25 rating.

Flynn and Mauck each helped lead LSU to national championships in 2007 and 2003, respectively, but each had horrendous starts early in their career. Flynn completed just 8 of 19 for 70 yards with an interception in a win over South Carolina in 2007, while Mauck completed 8 of 18 for 90 yards with an interception in a win against The Citadel in 2002.

Russell threw two interceptions at Florida in his first start in 2004 while completing 6 of 10 passes. In 2006, he finished No. 3 in the nation in passing efficiency at 167.0, which is believed to be the highest final efficiency rating by an LSU quarterback in history. The NCAA developed the passing efficiency formula in 1979.

Jefferson off to best start since Davey in 2001

2009-09-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

BATON ROUGE - LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson missed some open receivers, particularly deep, on Saturday against ULL and looked uncomfortable and anxious at times, but he is still off to the best three-game start of a season by a new starting quarterback at LSU since Rohan Davey in 2001.

Yes, Jefferson has performed better than Matt Flynn did over his first three starts in 2007 and better than Matt Mauck's first three in 2002, Jarrett Lee's first three last season and JaMarcus Russell's opening trio in 2004, according to the comprehensive passing efficiency statistic that takes into account virtually all aspects of the forward pass.

Jefferson has completed 47 of 73 passes for 64.4 percent, 475 yards and five touchdowns against one interception for a 138.90 passing efficiency rating. That mark is only No. 7 in the SEC, but the SEC has some of the most efficient passers in the nation this season, including the nation's No. 1 quarterback in Arkansas' Ryan Mallett at 193.49 and the No. 7 passer in the country in Florida's Tim Tebow at 170.45. Jefferson is 45th nationally.

Jefferson's 64.4 completion percentage is the best of LSU's last seven starting quarterbacks who started at least three games. His five touchdown passes is second only to the six thrown by Lee in his first three starts last season.

Davey put together a 142.28 efficiency mark in his first three starts in 2001.

Here is the breakdown with year, opponents, completions-attempts-interceptions-yards-touchdowns and rating:

1. Rohan Davey, 2001 vs. Tulane, Utah St., at Tenn. - 53-96 (55 percent), 0 ints., 838 yds., 4 TDs, 142.28 rating.
2. Jordan Jefferson, 2009 at Wash., vs. Vanderbilt, ULL - 47-73 (64.4 percent), 1 int. 475 yds., 5 TDs, 138.90 rating.
3. Jarrett Lee, 2008 at Aub., vs. Miss. St., at Florida - 52-87 (59 percent) 4 ints. 652 yds. 6 TDs, 136.29 rating.
4. Matt Flynn, 2007 at Miss. St., vs. Va. Tech, S. Car. - 37-65 (57 percent), 1 int. 415 yds. 3 TDs, 122.71 rating.
5. Marcus Randle, 2002 vs. S. Car., at Aub., at Ky. - 31-66 (46 percent), 4 ints., 526 yds., 3 TDs, 116.79 rating.
6. JaMarcus Russell, 2004 at Fla., vs. Vanderbilt, Ala. - 13-25 (52 percent), 2 ints., 172 yds., 1 TD, 106.99 rating.
7. Matt Mauck, 2002 at Va. Tech, vs. Citadel, Miami-O. - 38-79 (48 percent), 2 ints., 439 yds., 3 TDs, 102.25 rating.

Flynn and Mauck each helped lead LSU to national championships in 2007 and 2003, respectively, but each had horrendous starts early in their career. Flynn completed just 8 of 19 for 70 yards with an interception in a win over South Carolina in 2007, while Mauck completed 8 of 18 for 90 yards with an interception in a win against The Citadel in 2002.

Russell threw two interceptions at Florida in his first start in 2004 while completing 6 of 10 passes. In 2006, he finished No. 3 in the nation in passing efficiency at 167.0, which is believed to be the highest final efficiency rating by an LSU quarterback in history. The NCAA developed the passing efficiency formula in 1979.

MAIL CALL! Talking back to your comments

2009-09-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

BATON ROUGE - To the "Anonymous," commenters on the LSUbeat.com website, please be a Tiger and sign your name or code.

One "Anonymous" comment on my Associated Press poll voting agreed with LSU not being ranked in the top 10 at No. 13. Another commenter was glad that reading my voting each week was free. Sharp humor. Like it.

Another "Anonymous" comment said I have Ole Miss ranked so high at No. 7 because of its schedule. Wrong. I've heard schedule comparisons a lot from LSU fans whom I think fear that Ole Miss and Alabama will have better seasons than LSU. This is a silly argument, particularly concerning SEC teams.

First of all, one never really knows how tough a schedule is until one knows how good all the teams on it really are, and that usually is not learned until the end or near the end of the season. For example, LSU's 2005 schedule was viewed as difficult partly because it featured No. 10 Tennessee, which beat LSU. But Tennessee ended up 5-6. Washington looks like it makes LSU's schedule tough, now, but what if UW finishes 4-8, which I think it will?

Secondly, how can an SEC team like Ole Miss have an easy schedule? It's in the SEC, the toughest league in America. Sooner or later it's going to have to play somebody or two.

Everything evens out in the SEC. And if Ole Miss beats LSU this season, which could happen, does it matter if Ole Miss had an easier schedule? If you beat a team, more often than not you're better than that team regardless of the teams you played before or will play after that game.
I rank Ole Miss No. 7 because I think Ole Miss is that good and its coach is that good, and because I think the Rebels will have that good of a season.

Pastor Robertson made a nice comment about the blog concerning Les Miles not really being a gambler. He made an excellent point about the national media building and enhancing labels. This is very true. National media members like labels because it makes their job easier. They don't have to research. Unfortunately, if they did research, they would find that Miles is not a gambler.

Thanks to "brerrabbit" for praising my honesty. That is really all I try to do regardless of the repercussions. Unfortunately, the truth more than anything is really what makes fans mad.
"RaginCajuns1" said I got the story on the LSU's impact in the NFL from LSU's "media guide."

That is true in a way. LSU sent out a release last week trumpeting LSU's 47 players on NFL rosters. But the media guide would have rejected the facts I presented concerning former coach Nick Saban's huge impact on the tremendous talent entering and leaving LSU over the last several years. Obviously, LSU's media relations department does not want to praise Saban, and I understand that. But the truth is the truth.

"Twitterer" conceded that Saban did a great job at LSU but questioned his talent as a family man and father. This is completely out of line even if it's true. And, believe me, if Miles, who truly is a great family man, goes 8-5 a few more times, "Twitterer" and LSU fans will not care if Miles is the father of the year. LSU fans wanted previous LSU coaches who were great people and great family men - Charles McClendon, Jerry Stovall and Mike Archer - fired, and they got their wish.

I've heard this personal criticism of Saban in the past, and it is way off base. Funny, LSU fans rarely brought it up when he was here.

Until next week.

You Know Who Started NFL's Bayou Pipeline

2009-09-17T11:58:00.001-07:00

BATON ROUGE - LSU set a school record last week when it opened the season with 47 former players on NFL rosters. A release by LSU said that coach Les Miles had coached 22 of the 41 players on the NFL's active rosters.

It did not mention that former LSU coach Nick Saban signed 33 of those 47 players from 2000-04. Of course, during the 2007 national championship flag ceremony before the 2008 season opener at Tiger Stadium in which the 1958 and 2003 titles and flags were mentioned, LSU did not mention that Saban coached the '03 team when it did mention that Paul Dietzel coached the 1958 team and Miles the 2007 team.

Here is the breakdown of the LSU players in the NFL by the coach who signed them and coached them for at least one season:

--- 33 Signed by Former Coach Nick Saban from 2000-04 - RB Joseph Addai*, Indianapolis; LB Eric Alexander, New England; WR Dwayne Bowe*, Kansas City; WR Michael Clayton*, Tampa Bay; WR Craig Davis*, San Diego; DT Glenn Dorsey*, Kansas City; WR Early Doucet, Arizona; QB Matt Flynn, Green Bay; CB Randall Gay, New Orleans; C Brett Helms, Houston; WR Devery Henderson, New Orleans; RB Jacob Hester, San Diego; OLB Ali Highsmith, Arizona; CB Chevis Jackson, Atlanta; DE Tyson Jackson*, Atlanta; OG Brian Johnson, Baltimore; OG Herman Johnson, Arizona; FB Quinn Johnson, Green Bay; DE Tremaine Johnson, Minnesota; P Donnie Jones, St. Louis; S LaRon Landry*, Washington; OG Nate Livings, Cincinnatti; C Rudy Niswanger, Kansas City; OG Stephen Peterman, Detroit; QB JaMarcus Russell, Oakland*; DE Marcus Spears*, Dallas; S Craig Steltz, Chicago; S Curtis Taylor, San Francisco; RB Justin Vincent, Pittsburgh; CB Corey Webster, New York Giants; OG Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnatti; DT Kyle Wsilliams, Buffalo; TE Keith Zinger, Atlanta.

--- 9 Signed by Former Coach Gerry DiNardo from 1995-99 - S Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh; RB Kevin Faulk, New England; DT Howard Green, New York Jets; DL Jarvis Green, New England; LB Bradie James, Dallas; C Todd McClure, Atlanta; WR Josh Reed, Buffalo; S Mark Roman, San Francisco; TE Robert Royal, Cleveland.

--- 3 Signed by Current Coach Les Miles from 2005-06 (Miles' high school signees fromn 2007-09 are still in college.) - LB Darry Beckwith, San Diego; WR Demetrius Byrd, San Diego; DT Ricky Jean-Francois, San Francisco.

--- 1 Signed by Former Coach Curley Hallman from 1991-94 - OG Alan Faneca*, New York Jets.

--- 1 Signed by Former Coach Mike Archer from (1987-90) - C Kevin Mawae, Tennessee.

* Selected in the First Round

Quit Whining, LSU fans

2009-09-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

BATON ROUGE - LSU fans need to quit whining. They whined all year about the LSU baseball team, and if I remember right that team ended up having a pretty good season. They whined about Jared Mitchell striking out too much and getting picked off. Yet he was a hero of the College World Series and got drafted in the first round.

LSU fans, sometimes you don't know what you have. You have a very good football team this season that could end up being great.

Everyone wanted a blowout against Vanderbilt Saturday. Yes, the Tigers could have beaten the Commodores more handily than 23-9 with touchdowns instead of field goals, but Vanderbilt is a tougher team than people realize.

Blowout victories are overrated anyway. LSU started the 2008 season with 41-13 and 41-3 victories over inferior opponents, and those games hid problem areas that LSU learned later and never solved. In 1991, LSU beat Arkansas State 70-14, and the Tigers finished 5-6.

LSU's play in its first two games against more decent teams than it usually plays early on this year have given the coaches a sense of urgency that they didn't have at this point last season, and that hurt LSU.

In the long run, LSU will be better off this season because of mistakes made and mistakes corrected during the first two weeks. Fans need to look at these first four games as preseason games. LSU should not be showing a lot on offense or defense. If a blowout victory over ULL this Saturday shows too much of the offense, then it's not necessary.

Yes, LSU needs to work more on its vertical passing game, but it is smarter to bring quarterback Jordan Jefferson along more slowly. LSU's coaches made a big mistake last year by trying to treat Jarrett Lee as if he was already JaMarcus Russell. And it backfired with interception after interception.

LSU should blow out ULL Saturday, but it shouldn't open up its playbook too much. The preseason, which continues next week at Mississippi State, is about getting better and learning your personnel. It's not about producing pretty scores. It's not like LSU needs to play pretty for rankings anyway. It has played average in its first two games, and it's still ranked No. 7 in the USA Today poll.

I even heard a fan on the radio yesterday ask if youth was the problem on defense. Uh, LSU's defense just held an SEC team to one offensive score. That does not happen often.

Your team is very good folks, and it's going to only get better.

Miles Never Really Was a Gambler

2009-09-14T15:05:00.001-07:00

BATON ROUGE - LSU coach Les Miles faced a pair of fourth and ones in the Tigers 23-9 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday, and each time he opted for short field goals. On a first-and-goal from the Vandy 5-yard line with six seconds to go, he elected to go for the field goal and not try a quick play for the touchdown and still kick the field goal.

Miles has had the reputation of a swashbuckling, riverboat gambler coach since he went for it on fourth down five times and made it five times for a 28-24 victory over defending national champion Florida in one of the greatest games in LSU history back in 2007.

Miles' already blossoming coaching reputation soared nationally after that game that was nationally televised on CBS. Just two weeks before, Miles beat South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier at his own game when he faked a field goal and scored a touchdown late in the second quarter for a 21-7 lead. He basically decided to win the game right there and did, as the Tigers held on for a 28-16 victory. Miles' legend grew taller with the last-second win on a touchdown pass over Auburn when a field goal would have been enough, but that was more clock mismanagement than game boldness. Most coaches in that situation try the end zone once, then kick the field goal. Miles' process was way off as he crazily let too much clock run out and was fortunate that the result went in his favor.

But the fourth downs against Florida were the stuff of legend. Trailing 10-0 in the second quarter, backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux kept it on fourth and goal from the 1 and scored.

Trailing 17-7 in the third quarter, Miles went for it on fourth-and-5 from the Gators' 25, and starting quarterback Matt Flynn rushed for 8 yards. LSU later scored to get within 17-14.
Down 24-14 early in the fourth quarter, Miles faced a fourth-and-3 from the Florida 19. He opted for a field goal, but Colt David missed it. There would be no more kicking.

On fourth-and-3 from the Florida 4, Flynn found Demetrius Byrd for a touchdown to cut the Gators' lead to 24-21 with 10:15 to go. Then on fourth-and-1 from the LSU 49 and on fourth-and-1 from the Florida 7, a pair of two-yard runs by Jacob Hester kept the drive alive. LSU scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:09 to for a 28-24 lead and held on.

Miles showed a lot of guts, but people did not realize at the time that what he really showed was more brains than brawn. Miles went into the game figuring he would go for it on fourth-and-very short plays, which is what he did three times, because Florida had a weak defense and LSU had one of its best offensive lines. The Gators finished seventh in the SEC and 41st nationally in total defense that season. LSU finished second in the SEC in rushing and 11th nationally.

On the fourth-and-5 and fourth-and-5 conversions via the pass, Miles was facing 10-point deficits and feared Florida's lead would get out of hand. Also, the Gators finished last in the SEC in 2007 in pass defense and 98th nationally.

Miles took calculated risks. In virtually every fourth-and-short situation since that game Miles has NOT gone for it. The Vanderbilt game was just another example. Miles is really not a gambler.

"They say he's a gambler and all that stuff," fifth-year senior offensive tackle Ciron Black said before this season when asked what is the greatest misconceptions about his coach. "I don't think so. I don't think so, because we work on everything. He just doesn't take crazy risks. Everything we do in games, we work at it in practice every single day. And every time before the game, he tells us, 'Everything we worked on, we're going to do them. We're not going to practice them and not do them.' People say he gambles a lot, but I don't think so."

What Miles does a lot is make smart decisions. When you play a team like Florida and you are behind, you may have to take a calculated risk here and there. When you play Vanderbilt and you're never behind and never really close to losing, you don't.