Oxford Road Trip Looms Large for Tigers | by Chris Warner on Nov 16, 2009 at 10:26 am |  | |
The raucous, traditional cheer is inevitably heard by thousands. Hell-bent Revelers in the Grove ensure it with a certain sanctimonious flair. "Hotty Toddy Gosh A' Mighty, Who in the hell are we?" It will happen, as sure as the setting evening sun. Are you ready Tiger fans? They are the Ole Miss Rebel faithful, and they're anxiously staring down the prospect of two straight wins over the hated purple and gold of LSU. The matchup has Tiger fans wondering if their beloved team has enough punch to defeat a tandem of gritty, talented Western Division foes remaining on the schedule, and whether or not the Tigers' recent golden age of football has come to a precipitous, unceremonious end.
In this piece for TigerDroppings.com, the real McCoy when it comes to SEC sports websites, we'll assess the big picture of LSU Football, preview the upcoming tangle in Oxford, and take our regular armchair quarterback jaunt across the nation's toughest football conference.
Les Miles Behind
Les Miles and his jagged band of battle-wearied warriors assaults a final two-game regular season run amidst drumbeats of dissention. There are those that grumble the recent loss to Alabama was a turning point in the SEC West-that now Nick Saban is the top dog on the proverbial Western Division football food chain and Les Miles has been terminally relegated to wrestling for scraps and the occasional consolation BCS bowl berth as the league's third-best team. Such monikers are coveted at Ole Miss, where they hang banners for division championships. At LSU, it's a reminder of unattained goals and the price that must always be paid to become a champion.
Even if Miles and the Tigers win out the Ohio native will still have vocal detractors. There will be those that will cite that Nick Saban now owns him, even though Miles has won more games in five years than he did at LSU and took less time to do it. Nevertheless, winning out is a necessity for Miles and LSU, who want much to play in a significant, New Year's Day bowl game. Doing so would maintain LSU's current elite status among America's perennial college football powers. For Miles, it is time for his team to regroup and reassess what is needed of them to go on an undefeated three-game run. Anything less means the fan backlash will be even harsher.
A Conference of Champions
The LSU Tigers played valiantly in their two losses this season, although there is no solace in losing in Baton Rouge. A year ago the Tigers appeared disorganized, unmotivated and generally disinterested in their later contests that saw them fall to Ole Miss and Arkansas. The consecutive conference losses were a bitter pill for spoiled Tiger fans, who felt previously omnipotent over such lesser league foes. In today's SEC, no team is an easy victory. All wins must be earned. In a conference of champions, there is never rest for the weary, and that is where LSU currently finds itself.
While LSU has a more than respectable record, it must finish strong in order for its season to be considered reasonably fulfilling to the fans. It does not matter that the team has played exceptionally hard in two tough losses. The two losses in many people's eyes tarnish the season effort. These people say that Les is the "Modern-Day Charlie Mac,” which is hardly an insult to anyone who knows anything about college football. All I can think of is, "Welcome to South Louisiana Coach Miles.”
Unrealistic expectations are everywhere in college football. Not every program can win the national championship every year, which is oddly what Florida is trying to do this season. Therefore, maybe it can happen. We shall see. But for LSU, winning out and finishing possibly among the top five teams in the country at 11-2 is pretty solid recognition and an achievement certainly worthy of the recognition bestowed on previous great Tiger teams. Albeit bittersweet, going 11-2, winning a New Year's Day Bowl game and finishing in the top five is a great college football season, regardless of what the Les Miles haters say. If you don't believe it, just ask an Ole Miss fan what it's like on the flip side of the coin. They're used to it.
Getting Offensive
Prior to the start of the season Coach Les Miles stated that this year's offensive line was the best he'd had since he began coaching in Baton Rouge. Tiger fans that saw Jordan Jefferson execute the option and pass the ball almost flawlessly in the blowout win over Georgia Tech were optimistic about his chances to lead the Tigers in 2009. As it turned out, he's done an admirable job, given his age, and the circumstances. Jefferson is just a sophomore, and remember that not even Matthew Stafford, last season's number-one NFL Draft pick from the SEC-could lead the Bulldogs with Knowshon Moreno to a conference championship. In fact, he lost two big ball games as well, and he's now a multi-millionaire. Nevertheless, LSU's offense needs help, and it's starting to look like a coaching problem, as the Tiger offense has had little coordination throughout the year.
While the Tiger defense has showed vast improvement over last year's dismal effort that ranked last among league totals, the Tiger offense has claimed a similar low point. Gary Crowton has not been able to mold this impressive talent array into a consistently productive unit. LSU has had to work hard for points, and they have come sparingly as of late, placing it dead last in the league in total offense. The LSU offense needs a quick shot of adrenaline, and the surest thing the Tigers possess to remedy the situation is a healthy dose of Russell Shepard, LSU's most dynamic and threatening offensive weapon.
If Crowton fails down the stretch with this group there should be no complaining of lack of talent on his part. The talent is there. He simply has not developed it. Miles fired two defensive coordinators a year ago. Firing a single offensive one at the end of this season-if needed, would certainly be half as easy.
Invading Oxford and Taking the Rebels
LSU has to go into Oxford and beat the Johnny Rebs in their own backyard. This isn't as tough as Tuscaloosa, where the referees are local folk heroes, but it's still not Death Valley. This isn't going to be a cakewalk, as Ole Miss is more athletic and capable, than it has been in years at football. Jevan Snead is a proven, albeit sometimes inconsistent quarterback. He can get it done-as can their head coach, Houston Nutt, who is equally capable at his craft. Beating the Rebels without the senior leadership and talent of Charles Scott will be difficult. Are the Tigers up for a fight? Can the offense muster the courage and pride to play together for four quarters and execute? That is the key question for LSU.
LSU's defense will again be tough. They have been the one staple the Tigers can count on this season, and they should again play well against Ole Miss. However, the Tiger offense will have to awaken if the Tigers are to return home happily for the season finale against the Hogs. Saturday night's offensive effort was just that-offensive. It was one of the worst displays of offense by a Tiger team in some time, and it is the reason I earlier noted that a coaching change may be imminent. LSU's offense has personnel better than a unit last in the league in total offense. Gary Crowton knows this; as does his highly-criticized boss.
Alabama and Florida on a National Championship Collision Course
The dream matchup is now in place. Only pesky Auburn stands in the way of the league having two undefeated teams in the SEC Championship Game on December 5, 2009. While it is unlikely that Auburn will win, you never know what might happen in the Iron Bowl. One thing's for sure-the entire State of Alabama will be watching, as will most Gator fans.
The Florida-Bama matchup is certainly an intriguing one, but I'd have to peg Florida the predominant favorite heading in, as I just don't see Greg McElroy beating the Florida defense, and I certainly don't see the officials pulling anything fishy on such a large stage. Conversely, I see Tebow gashing the Alabama front seven for big gains, in the biggest game of his career-and one that could solidify a record-tying second Heisman-ironically stealing it from the clutches of Bama running star, Mark Ingram.
Georgia's Richt Finds Solace, Breathing Room, in Auburn Victory
Just as Les Miles would love to have a victory over Ole Miss this weekend in Oxford, Mark Richt wanted a victory over Auburn this past Saturday. Richt got his in dramatic fashion, a 31-24 conquest of the Tigers in what is still the South's oldest football rivalry. Richt undoubtedly savored the win. Couple it with Tennessee's whipping at the hands of the Ole Miss Rebels, 42-17, and you realize that Georgia is LSU's counterpart--the East's second-best team, which isn't too shabby when you consider the top teams.
SEC Officials Taking Huge Hits
Unlike last season, 2009 won't be considered a down year for SEC Football. However, it will undoubtedly be a down year for SEC officiating, as the league referees have reached a new nadir in terms of incompetence, ignorance and/or partiality. Their credibility goes hand-in-hand with the credibility of the league, and right now both are firmly in question; and Mike Slive of course fiddles as Birmingham goes up in flames.
Chris Warner is a double graduate of LSU. He is the co-author of the best-selling book in Alabama, "The Wagon to Disaster,” the untold story of HealthSouth Corporation, by Aaron Beam. Buy it at Books-A-Million or Amazon.com.
Category: LSU Sports
Tags: LSU Football
The Big Eye Doesn’t Lie | by Chris Warner on Nov 8, 2009 at 10:17 pm | | |
The Southeastern Conference Offices in Birmingham, Alabama exist primarily to ensure the safety, fairness and integrity of the uniquely American game known as college football among its twelve member institutions. Unfortunately, money has obviously corrupted their existence, just as it has so many other American institutions, like Congress, the stock market, and even the medical and legal professions. The Southeastern Conference is sadly American greed’s latest victim, evidenced by the ongoing conspiracy to name and play favorites through its compromised officials toward creating the most lucrative matchup in the SEC Championship Game.
In this piece for Tigerdroppings.com, the Internet’s best place to find continuous and updated breaking news and opinions on all things SEC, we’ll weigh considerably the many recent, documented transgressions of SEC football officials, the ongoing problem of obviously biased refereeing, and the insidious proposition that the SEC home offices are self-serving, corrupted and biased. This isn’t the crazy aunt in the basement. This isn’t the growing trade deficit. This is about the future of a religion in the Deep South—Southeastern Conference Football.
A History Lesson
Prior to the formation of the SEC’s predecessors, the Southern Conference and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, just after the Civil War, college football was a game rampant with corruption—much like it apparently is today. Those early upheavals and controversies spurred the creation of organizing conferences, and ultimately, another overriding bureaucracy known as the NCAA, which is effectively a cartel.
In those early days of college football, when the NFL was a concept as foreign as the automobile, the dirty money went to the best players—ringers and tramp athletes who were paid to play for two and sometimes three schools during a season—because they could. In those times, there were no conferences—only games and teams controlled by the upperclassmen, and of course, overzealous alumni. We have apparently come full circle. The only difference is that the unscrupulous ones are no longer the sanctioned. Frighteningly, they are the ones that sanction, leaving everyone that cares about the SEC feeling as helpless as they are disgusted with the current nadir of conference officiating.
The 2009 Conspiracy: Get Alabama and Florida in the SEC Championship Game
Everyone has heard the conspiracy theories. The most prominent being bandied about barber and coffee shops across the South has been that Mike Slime and the SEC Gestapo were doing all they could through scheduling and of course, officiating, to make it happen. The question is: Is this a believable theory? Moreover, why would the conference office want such a thing? What could their misguided reasons be?
The Reasons
The conference office is in Birmingham, Alabama. Is it fair to assume that there could be an embedded bias stemming from geography? It is certainly is plausible. There has been an abounding rumor through the years that a majority of SEC referees are from the State of Alabama and are closet Bama fans. I cannot refute or corroborate this assertion. However, maybe the conference office can. I am sure their employee records regarding officials are as transparent as Congress and any other local or state government is regarding information requests, right?
An SEC Championship Game matchup between Alabama and Florida would achieve two things: 1) It would ensure the most lucrative pairing for the contest with two undefeated teams. Merchandising, ticket sales and TV ratings would be their highest with this type of fabled contest. 2) The winner of the SECCG is a lock for the national championship game, given it will be undefeated, and the SEC Champion has won three of the last four crystal balls, meaning the conference office and its many highly-paid overseers and sycophants have become addicted to this enhanced revenue stream.
The LSU-Bama Game
I want to preface my comments about the many bad officiating calls in this game by saying that I believe the better team on the field won. Alabama’s football team and its coaches have nothing to do with conference politics—as far as I know. My point is that Alabama played a great game. The stats prove it. Moreover, Mark Ingram became the Heisman leader in the contest—which would of course be a Bama first.
The Alabama game was a travesty of officiating—a cheap, crude impersonation of what it is supposed to be—impartial. Throughout the game the refs made call after call that appeared to favor Alabama, and go against LSU. This obvious bias reached its zenith with the fourth quarter instant replay booth call failing to overturn a poorly-made field call by an official.
The big eye does not lie. Lately two kids with a camera exposed the corruption of ACORN. Game footage enlarged and replayed revealed Brandon Spikes’ eye-gouging incident. Film allows one to see what really is, what really happened.
The instant replay from the LSU-Bama game Saturday clearly and repeatedly showed Patrick Peterson’s feet—both of them—touching the playing field—after he caught the ball, and before he stepped out of bounds. Furthermore, his last foot created an evidential divot in the field of play. CBS commentator Gary Danielson stated as much, and that the play was an obvious interception. The shill in the booth obviously thought otherwise. Maybe Slime will reprimand or fine him. Then again, maybe he’ll take him to dinner and let him use the office condo in sunny Destin. Who knows?
Last week the media had a field day attacking the character and integrity of Urban Meyer. His slap on the wrist of Brandon Spikes was admittedly bad. However, the $30,000 fine he received from the SEC for criticizing the calls of officials only added insult to injury. Urban had a terrible media week. Nevertheless, he could find great solace this week in knowing that his criticism of Southeastern Conference officials had tremendous merit. The fine was money well spent. One can only wonder what the league office will do with the cash. Perhaps eye exams for league officials?
The SEC will surely stand by its replay booth official. It will tell us that what we saw, we really did not see. The camera, not the official, lied; and the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy all concurred. Who are we to disagree as our most favored Deep Southern pastime approaches the credibility of professional boxing under Don King.
*Chris Warner holds two degrees from LSU and a doctorate from the University of New Orleans. He is the author and publisher of thirteen books, including “A Tailgater’s Guide to SEC Football Volume III” and “HealthSouth: The Wagon to Disaster,” the untold story of HealthSouth Corporation, with Aaron Beam. Both books are available at Booksamillion.com.
Category: LSU Sports
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The Les and Nick Showdown in T-Town | by Chris Warner on Nov 1, 2009 at 9:05 pm | | |
With Auburn and Arkansas inconsistent and Ole Miss struggling to reclaim its former late-season swagger, the commanding balance of the Southeastern Conference Western Division powers clash this weekend in what has become, like the inevitable changing of the autumnal leaves, an accustomed early November classic.
LSU has won national championships with each head coach in this contest-but its latest-Les Miles, is the one who last did it; and in the "what have you done for me lately" world of college football, timeliness is everything. In early head-to-head competition they have traded games, en route to becoming intense recruiting competitors.
To the frenzied LSU and Alabama fan bases, this showdown in T-Town is a decisive rubber ball game between the two highly-paid head, highly-respected coaches. This game is critical not only in terms of bragging rights-but more importantly, toward a firm edge in recruiting momentum, which ultimately ensures the continual flow of each program's championship lifeblood.
In this exclusive piece for TigerDroppings.com, the place where computer-literate Alabama fans come to get their scoop on everything LSU-Bama, we'll examine two Southeastern Conference head football coaches, Les Miles and Nick Saban, consider their varied approaches and philosophies, and make a bold game prediction based on talent and to-date tendencies. Moreover, we'll take our regular armchair quarterback tour across the nation's toughest football conference, commenting on Tim Tebow's apparent "concussion watch" and Tennessee's recent shocking scare of the Crimson Tide, as well as Georgia's unsuspecting slide.
Deconstructing Les & Nick: What Makes Them Tick?
One is seen as the quintessential player's coach; the other-a narcissistic tyrant who ostensibly breaks coaches and players, roughly conforming them to his rightful way of playing football. One is seen as goofy, affable and even a riverboat gambler when it comes to calling plays and making decisions. The other is known for his staunch conservatism, and an even stauncher defense. Both are not from the South, much less the Deep South. Both have won the crystal ball for LSU, despite their various and sundry approaches.
Miles the Misunderstood
Undoubtedly, he has a quirky, always colorful way of communicating. He is generally well-liked, but along with success, he has had his share of problems. However, Miles is the consummate program manager, a great long-term game planner and an even better recruiter, orchestrating a carefully-constructed ensemble with tact, dignity and respect. His only drawback is he is not his predecessor, as his record and accomplishments speak for themselves.
Saban the Driven
Admittedly, he's as difficult as he is ingenious. He is generally respected, but he's had his media problems related to truthfulness and unexpectedly jumping ship. His defenses, when fully stocked and trained, are always among the country's best. Nevertheless, his intensity and jagged drive tends to wear down his players and apprentices, evidenced by the fact that he's never stayed anywhere longer than five years and his assistant coaches' office has a revolving door. That notwithstanding, he is a winning commodity whose demeanor is wholly tolerable by a championship-starved, willfully overpaying fan base.
The Matchup
This matchup is in reality probably closer to Crowton versus Saban since the vaunted Alabama defense is mainly controlled by Saban and the LSU offense is supposedly mainly controlled by Gary Crowton. Crowton, known for his offensive wizardry from the 2007 National Championship Game against Ohio State's number-one ranked defense, will have to conjure similar inner strength and creativity in his approach toward circumventing the top-ranked Tide defense. Alabama has one of its strongest defenses in years, headlined by larger than life senior All-American nose tackle, Terrance, "Mount" Cody and alpha male linebacker Rolando McClain, both future Sunday players.
Alabama has been consistently strong on defense the entire season, giving little on the ground or through the air. Although, if there is one chink in the Alabama defensive armor, it's undoubtedly in their secondary, past the physical freaks that comprise the Tide front seven. It's not that the Bama secondary is subpar-that's hardly the case-it's just that they are more physically normal than their up-front teammates. It is here that LSU will have to win the ballgame, and that depends on the quarterback play of Jordan Jefferson and whomever else Crowton and Miles send in to play the position.
Alabama and LSU's defenses are statistically similar in that they both give up few scores. LSU's defense has become increasingly stingy, and this is a positive trend for the Tigers. Offensively, one could argue forcefully that LSU certainly has many more receiving weapons than Alabama, but the Tide can counter that with a far superior rushing game. LSU will try and stop the Bama running game with Mark Ingram and force McElroy to pick on LSU's defensive strength-its freakishly athletic secondary. If the Tigers can stop the Alabama running game McElroy will be forced to make the winning plays against the Tigers, and in doing so he'll have paid fully his first year dues, as the Tiger secondary is as deep and talented as anyone the Tide has played-or better.
Just as LSU will have difficulty containing the Tide running game and the pervasive home cooking of its partisan, SEC officiating crew, so too will LSU's offensive line have problems with Alabama's defensive point of attack. Cody's endless inertia creates a veritable black hole for dive plays and inside draws. The LSU offensive line will have to use excellent technique and teamwork in order to neutralize his unbridled, ubiquitous girth. LSU's likely approach will be to open up the run with the successful slant and intermediate passing game, sprinkled with the occasional play-action deep ball to keep everyone-defensive coaches and players-honest.
Predictably, this game will be like it often is-low scoring and full of good, physical defense. Both teams are certainly capable of playing that role. Which team makes the least mistakes is likely the one who wins, which is why we must again discuss the all-important topic of quarterback play. Both quarterbacks are young and fairly untested. Jordan Jefferson had his worst outing against Florida's similar, physical defense. As a result, LSU lost. Can he improve his next big-game performance? If so, the Tigers should win if they score more than 17 points, as Alabama's offense has struggled to find the end zone in recent weeks. Conversely, LSU's offense, like its defense, is improving its diversity and inherent strengths, at the perfect time-down the stretch when it really needs it. To date, the LSU offense has not played a complete game. Bama has. Although, the Tide has yet to reclaim the offensive firepower it demonstrated earlier in the year when it was posting much bigger numbers.
LSU's receiving quartet of Brandon Lafell, Terrance Tolliver, Reuben Randle and tight end Richard Dickson is about is good as it gets in the SEC. No other team has such a formidable pass-catching lineup. The Tigers are loaded and when you throw in all-purpose backs Trindon Holliday and Russell Shepard, one sees that Jefferson and Crowton have multiple options. Moreover, Bama has had limited difficulty stopping aggressive slant routes that quickly get receivers behind their sturdy, run-stopping linebackers.
If LSU can loosen up the Bama defensive front seven by moving the ball effectively through the air, it may have success running the ball. Without it, LSU's offense may prove to be inept toward breaching the vast, seemingly impenetrable great Wall of Cody and company; as if the Tigers become predictable they will absolutely become Alabama's defensive prey.
A Little Chocolate and Strawberry to go With Miles' Vanilla?
Tiger fans all season have deplored the play calling of offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. Many have speculated that the Tigers have been sandbagging all year…saving up for the Bama game. I find this as preposterous as the notion of Alabama's twelve national championships. However, I do believe that you'll see a little trickery from Crowton and/or Miles, as I believe they have both read the "Art of War" by Sun Tzu and its related writings on the inherent power of the element of surprise. This may be the game the Tigers break out a little flavor and make their offense appear more Neopolitan, if not more diversified, as the Tide's head man will surely spend his due time in the film room weighing fully LSU's strengths and tendencies. LSU giving the Tide a new offensive look or two could create problems in the form of game-time adjustments to alignment, scheme, gap responsibility and route coverages.
What Could Happen:
I see this game having a similar look, feel and turnout as the 2005 and 2007 games in which LSU prevailed in gritty, tough contests. Expect a defensive struggle highlighted and determined by big plays and turnovers. The team which makes the most and least, respectively, will win. Furthermore, if LSU is to prevail it will need to create running lanes by forming successful passing lanes while Bama will need to likewise impose its running will on the LSU front seven while successfully working their playmaker, sophomore receiver Julio Jones, into the attack. I like LSU in a close, to-the-wire victory in Tuscaloosa, leaving Tide fans pining for a late-season, undefeated championship run, coupled with a Bengal Tiger loss, in order to get to Atlanta.
Tebow on "Concussion Watch"
Florida's all-everything quarterback and supreme role model, Tim Tebow, became the SEC's all-time rushing touchdown leader with 50. So much for concussions, I guess. Tebow's effort showed no signs of weariness from head injury. The outstanding, record-shattering performance by the Heisman hopeful punctuated a 41-17 blowout of the Georgia Bulldogs in a game that may have effectively turned up the heat on the padded recliner of Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt. In a league full of great coaches and programs, Richt has found himself precariously walking that fine line between failure and success, ultimately realizing that there is little toe-wiggling room. Richt must win out if his Dawgs are to continue a record streak of 12 8-win football seasons. If the streak falls, will so too go Richt's head?
Kiffin Getting Some
Lane Kiffin's Tennessee Volunteers added another colorful feather to their growing war bonnet Saturday. By adding a garnet quill to the silver and red representing Georgia, South Carolina was added to the successful quarry bag of Lane Kiffin-undoubtedly one of the worst places for any coach, young or old. How Kiffin finishes the season will go a long way toward revealing the true nature of this team, and its controversial revamping under "Little Kiff." Mark Richt was already on the hot seat. However, could this too be the nearing end for Darth Visor, with Kiffin playing the role of the SEC's Luke Skywalker?
Nutt Gets Chizzed
This past Saturday Houston Nutt's Ole Miss Rebels ran into a pack of wounded Auburn Cats that were backed up against the proverbial wall. The upset Auburn victory made the Tigers bowl-eligible and the Rebels a virtual non-factor in the ongoing race for the conference championship, even though they were the preseason favorite to win the Western Division by all the supposed experts. With a post-season berth already secured, an upset of Alabama in the Iron Bowl (Bama struggled against Ole Miss) makes Auburn's Coach Chiz the unlikely SEC Coach of the Year.
Chris Warner is a double graduate of LSU. He is the author of numerous books, including "A Tailgater's Guide to SEC Football Volume III" and "The Wagon to Disaster: The Untold Story of HealthSouth" co-authored with Aaron Beam, founder and first CFO, also an LSU graduate. Get both books at Books-A-Million.
Category: LSU Sports
Tags: LSU Football
Warner: A Realistic Assessment | by Chris Warner on Oct 22, 2009 at 8:18 pm | | |
While undefeated Alabama and Florida work hard to complete their unblemished seasons, the overall race for the Southeastern Conference championship remains wide-open, as there are still many key stretch games to be played. Moreover, teams like LSU, with only one conference loss to the nation's top-ranked team, still control their own destiny in terms of playing in Atlanta and potentially for the national championship at year's end, as the BCS computer polls perennially love the strength of the nation's toughest conference.
In this exclusive piece for TigerDroppings.com, the cyberspace gift from God to die-hard SEC Fans, we'll assess winners and losers at this season midway point, taking particular stock in postseason expectations. Furthermore, we'll take our regular armchair quarterback tour of the conference and speak frankly on the developing LSU Tiger Football situation and its direction under Les Miles.
Winners
Tim Tebow, the Florida Gators and Alabama are the big SEC winners at this point. Tebow is on track to win a miraculous third national title and second Heisman Trophy, as well as the inside track at a future run for Governor of Florida, his own reality show and the U.S. Presidency.
The Gators are on the nation's longest win streak and have a reasonably doable schedule remaining until the SEC Championship Game. Only South Carolina looms predictably large on the horizon for the Gators, who should be undefeated in their SEC Championship defense in Atlanta.
The Crimson Tide is winning with defense and a surprisingly solid running game, led by sophomore running back Mark Ingram, who ran for 250 yards against South Carolina in a 20-6 victory. Tide fans are frustrated that lukewarm quarterback Greg McElroy cannot get the ball to Julio Jones, their stud sophomore wide receiver. But when you're running with the effectiveness they've lately demonstrated, who cares about the passing game, right?
Losers
Lane Kiffin, Urban Myer and Houston Nutt are the big SEC losers at this point. While Kiffin regained a little swagger with the thrashing of Georgia, he's still yet to live up to anywhere near the hype he created coming into being Tennessee's head football coach. Despite the improvement, a bowl game is still as uncertain as Kiffin's long-term future, for the 3-3 (1-2) Vols.
Urban Myer is a big loser because of the butterfly/Eskimo kiss he placed on Tebow's facemask in Tiger Stadium a couple of weeks ago. It was one of those surreal, indelible, certainly vintage college football moments. It was one, in retrospect, that I could have done without. I have watched the clip repeatedly, and I really do not know what to say about it. After watching it three or four times I felt I needed another opinion. I called my wife over and we watched the DVR recording in super slow motion. She aptly described it, "downright creepy." I agree. I hope what I think about him and Tim is not true.
Houston Nutt has gone from hero to apparent zero in Oxford, his snake oil no longer selling as well as it once did when he had bona fide first-rounders starting on both lines and a quarterback that was ready for the Wheaties box as a first-year SEC starter. This year Ole Miss doesn't push people around-they are getting pushed around-by the SEC big boys, and Jevan Snead looks like the Waterboy instead of the poster boy.
Expectations
Before the season I predicted two regular-season losses for the Tigers, and spoke of a possible third loss to Florida in the SECCG. While the biggest unfortunate surprise has been the poor play of the offensive line, Jordan Jefferson's lack of big-game experience coupled with a poorly-devised and executed offensive scheme against the Gators resulted in the Tigers losing an epic defensive struggle against arguably the greatest college football player in SEC history and certainly one of the most decorated. So while playing the nation's number-one ranked team and number-one ranked defense and the nation's best field general in Tim Tebow, LSU fell short. Things could be much worse.
The Russell Shepard Factor
Oddly, Shepard was heralded a year ago as the next Tim Tebow. However, the Lone Star freshman has yet to yield the playing time or results that the Heisman leader did as a first-year player when he helped the Gators in a secondary quarterback role behind Chris Leak, en route to a national championship. For whatever reason, Shepard has not yet fully arrived. Tiger fans have to wonder how heated the competition really is between Shepard and Jefferson, and if Miles or Crowton have intentions of eventually making Shepard the starter. Realistically, at this point, it is difficult seeing Jefferson as the lone starter for the remainder of his eligibility, with total respect going to Russell Shepard for that thought.
It was revealed only within the last few news days that Shepard was suffering from the flu during the Florida game. Prior to that revelation by the LSU staff, it appeared that Coach Crowton and Coach Miles had little faith in the upstart freshman phenom, whose rare talents many have duly noted. To his detriment, Shepard has put the ball on the ground, and has at times noticeably struggled with his offensive command. Nevertheless, he remains, like Tim Tebow, one of the highest touted Parade All-Americans LSU has landed in years. He is a phenomenal talent, and must be used by the staff. Russell Shepard must see the field for the Tigers to reach their full potential. With all due respect to Jordan Jefferson, I believe his forthcoming time as LSU's "full-time" quarterback is limited. From this point forward the Tigers will be forced to only increase Shepard's snaps, as his yard-per-touch average fully warrants it and it is also fairly easy to see that LSU has a quarterback problem. Shepard or even Jarrett Lee, are the only possible answers at this juncture. My guess is the staff will go with superior talent.
In fairness to Jordan Jefferson, he has played well enough for the Tigers to win in all games except one. He is not a failure. However, one has to wonder his future as the starting Tiger quarterback with the lively Shepard nipping at his heels. Moreover, one has to wonder of Shepard's ultimate and true role within the Tiger offense, and whether or not he really is the avowed "future" of the LSU offense.
Gary Crowton
The Florida defense that held LSU to 3 points returned eleven starters from a national championship team. As many as eight players on the Gator team have been tagged as NFL locks. Some of these guys don't even start for the Gators, which is clear evidence of their unfair depth. Nevertheless, when LSU struggled to move the ball effectively on this group everyone deplored Crowton and his alleged micromanager, Les Miles. It had to be their fault. It had to be somebody's fault, other than the players, that is. That is because everyone that listens to talk radio believes that LSU has more talent than anyone and everyone on their schedule and that the Tigers should win every game by three or more touchdowns. If not, Gary Crowton's head deserves to roll-especially after a three-point outing against the number one defense in America.
It is obvious that LSU's offense has not yet put it all together and played a complete game. Offensive line problems probably outweigh any other except for maybe quarterback, but coaching is certainly a concern given the lack of flow and rhythm in the play calling and the execution of those called plays. One of Crowton's bigger problems is the many options he has given the plethora of skilled talent at his disposal. The embarrassment of riches in talent he possesses appears to have him befuddled. Crowton is seemingly perplexed as to how to how to use the league's best pass-catching tight end, run the option properly or incorporate a working tandem of the slippery Russell Shepard and a the electron-fast Trindon Holliday-the fastest human to ever play college ball--into the same offense. LSU needs to find its rhythm and flow and end the senseless procedure penalties or criticism will continue to follow Crowton in every subsequent loss.
Les Miles
Because LSU only scored 3 points to number-one ranked Florida's 13 they lost a football game. Miles, in the aftermath, has predictably become the goat, the problem with LSU Football-and amazingly-once again-he is not Nick Saban-whose team is undefeated in Tuscaloosa. The Miles detractors have come out of the woodwork like cockroaches choking on Raid. Somebody deserves the blame, these disgruntled Tiger fans insist. "We have too much talent on offense!" they continue, "We're getting outcoached!"
While the offense has problems, LSU's defense has showed tremendous promise and poise all season, which is a credit to Miles' hire of John Chavis. The conundrum that is the offense, however, is a problem, and it's up to the head man to fix it with six games remaining. Miles has been consistent during his tenure in that when he's needed to shake things up he has, as he understands that with every so-called crisis comes a unique opportunity-to succeed. Often a loss is a good thing. Florida used its shocking setback to Ole Miss to motivate the Gators to a BCS national championship, its second in three seasons. How Coach Miles uses the gritty loss, the off-week and the recent loss of faith to motivate his team makes the Auburn matchup one of the more compelling.
Kiffin Assaults Tuscaloosa
Lane Kiffin is already like a bad case of hemorrhoids. The guy is sleazier than a country used car salesman while possessing the tact of a pimp and the cleanliness of a carnival worker. Tuscaloosa, however, is ready for Lane. They are anxious for him to come to town so that they too can get them some a la Florida and Auburn style. Tennessee may be coming off of a solid win over Georgia, but they must understand that Alabama is no Georgia, and that Tuscaloosa this week-is likely another beatdown.
Jonathan Crompton was recently named the National Offensive Player of the Week. Crompton must replicate that near-perfect performance against the Tide while most-importantly-protecting the football. However, I think it will prove too difficult for Crompton, given that his offensive line will be considerably outweighed and outclassed. Take Alabama and give the points. Tennessee's performance will be lame.
Bama 30
Tennessee 14
Ole Miss and Arkansas: Houston Nutt's Comin' Ups
There is absolutely no love lost between the Arkansas fan base and Houston Nutt. In fact, Nutt is deplored in the Natural State for the way he mishandled an extra-marital affair and then ran off to coach one of their competing Western Division schools.
Ole Miss has been called college football's most disappointing team. A loss this weekend to the Hogs would solidify for history that 2009 moniker. Unrealistic preseason expectations and poor quarterback play from last year's darling Jevan Snead have been the undoing for the Rebels, who have not won the SEC Championship since 1963, and remain the only Western Division school to never play in the conference championship.
Arkansas showed moxie against Florida. They showed the kind of toughness and desire that makes champions. Petrino is on the right track with these Hogs. Down the stretch they will be a scary team. Look for these wild razorback hogs to spark a revolt in Oxford, as this one should get ugly.
Ole Miss 17
Hogs 42
Chiz Comes to Death Valley
Auburn is coming off of a loss to Kentucky. The Plainsmen are tired and battered. They are thin. Nevertheless, they will lumber into Death Valley with winning hopes, as they now have two losses (Arkansas) and know well that if they are to make a run at winning the West it must start this weekend. Gene Chizik was not the favorite choice of Auburn fans, but his team's early success and marked improvement over last season has done wonders for his popularity. The Auburn fan base is now more optimistic, even if it is the cautious kind.
LSU has won a ridiculous 19 straight on ESPN at night. Auburn's back is to the wall, but it doesn't seem like it possesses the fire power and the resolve necessary to win at night in Baton Rouge. Factor in that Miles has likely spent the last two weeks working on all the little things the Tigers needed to improve upon to be a better offensive team, and I think this is a good week for LSU.
Bayou Bengals 35
Plain Tigers 14
Chris Warner is the author and publisher of 13 books, including "The Wagon to Disaster" the untold story of HealthSouth, which he co-authored with Aaron Beam, former CFO and founder of HealthSouth, and an LSU graduate. To contact Chris, visit his website: sectraditions.com
Category: LSU Sports
Tags: LSU Football, SEC Football
Gauging These Bengal Tigers | by Chris Warner on Sep 13, 2009 at 5:57 pm | | |
Two games down and not a blemish to their credit, these Bengal Tigers are admittedly winning "ugly" against teams that have, in a similar fashion according to the media, lost "pretty." Nevertheless, LSU is a 2-0 football team that is 1-0 in conference play, and looking squarely at a 4-0 record with UL-La-La and Mississippi State University (2-0 in conference) as sequential warm-ups leading to the telltale stretch--the eastern meeting with Georgia in Athens before returning to Baton Rouge to take on the Tebow Swan Song/Heisman Tour. Is it unthinkable to believe LSU will start 6-0?
In this exclusive piece for TigerDroppings.com, the college football world's LSU information wormhole on the web, we'll take a stern look at LSU after two games and assess the positives and negatives of this currently undefeated Southeastern Conference team by looking at the related good, bad and ugly. Moreover, we'll comment on anything and everything pertinent to understanding how realistic LSU's SEC and National Championship chances are.
The Good...
1. Keiland Williams – After enduring an underclassman's tenure riddled with doubt, this senior looks like he's the Tiger's best rushing bet, eclipsing his senior competitor, Charles Scott. Williams looked like a pro against Vanderbilt.
2. Jordan Jefferson – The freshman has won his last three games as a Tiger starter and hardly looks like a greenhorn, as he is as accurate as he is athletic at 6-5.
3. Linebacker play – Harry Coleman and an improved Jacob Cutrera have brought pride to this group. Their improvement is noticeable and much-needed.
4. Junior Terrance Tolliver's emergence - along with that of senior RJ Jackson, has made the LSU receiving corps among the league's most dangerously talented.
5. Russell Shepard – The Texas native's long-awaited debut against Vandy was a clear glimpse of the future of LSU Football. He could prove pivotal late.
The Bad...
1. Tackling – John Chavis' defense has showed considerable weakness in this area. Related drills will undoubtedly fill future Tiger practice times and preparations.
2. Pass Rush – Rahim Alem was supposed to challenge Rydell Melancon's record season sack count. Instead, he'll be lucky to lead the team in that category.
3. Defensive Line – LSU was once a defensive lineman factory for the National Football League. Today it finds itself loaded with young, unproven talent.
4. Offensive Line – Miles said that this is possibly his best offensive line since he's been at LSU. At least he pre-empted it with the telling caveat "possibly."
5. Punting/Special Teams – The Tigers struggle on fourth down and also in the punt return game. Returner Holliday needs to find a case of stickum or the bench.
The Ugly...
1. LSU's notoriety for starting slow. This has become a problem for the Tigers, one that developed slowly last year as they struggled more as the season progressed.
2. LSU's inability to hit the long ball. The Tigers will need a home run or two if their lofty championship dreams are to materialize. A real deep threat is needed.
3. LSU's current defensive posture. Tiger fans know championship defense. This defense is improved, but has much work to do to be compared to 2003 and 2007.
NOTE: There are only three "ugly" points made instead of five, because overall, the Tigers are where they need to be given their forgiving early schedule.
If the Tigers continue to show marked improvement in starting games quicker, in developing the ability to throw down the field and by improving their overall defensive effectiveness by tackling better and by getting better pressure on the quarterback, then they'll be a much better football team; one that could, with good fortune, work a little late-season magic and wind up where they want to be in terms of competing for championships.
The Rest of the Best
Alabama looked mortal against Florida International before taking care of business in the second half. While Bama looks good early, I still don't see them as tough as they were a year ago-especially on offense, where it looks completely different from the smash-mouthed monster it was last season when it had great run-blocking ability. Nevertheless, the Tide looks like it is still much in the lead for the Western Division crown, along with idle Ole Miss, the pre-season media favorite. Auburn destroyed Mississippi State in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, setting a most positive tone in its first big conference win of the season. Led by senior Ben Tate (159 yards) and freshman Onterio McCalebb, the Plainsmen look much better than advertised. Most Alabama fans won't admit it, but they're much more concerned of having to play Auburn in a payback game later this year.
Following Florida
As promising as the possibility of Alabama, Ole Miss or LSU playing the Gators in the SEC Championship Game is, the odds are that either of the three will lose to the Gators, as they are the number-one ranked team in the country and one of the league's most promising in a long time given the truckload of accolades Tim Tebow has already received. As the year progresses, it will become more and more evident that Florida has a phenomenon at quarterback-a player in stature and legend bigger than possibly any before him-and quite possibly, after as well. Tebow is a once-in-a-lifetime type of player, the kind of guy you'll tell your grandchildren about, the kind of guy you'll always respect and admire. Too bad for Ole Miss he was a senior in 2009. In any other year the Rebels would have been the favorite to win the entire league-and not just the West.
A Look Ahead
LSU has the luxury of reflecting on two ugly wins. Washington and Vanderbilt can only revel in their glossy losses for so long, as ultimately they've been recorded as just that-losses. The Tigers have a favorable early schedule as they've been tested hard but not so much as to create any uncorrectable problems. Let us only hope that the coaching staff is working on all that exist.
While taking a largely vanilla offensive approach, Miles and Crowton gave only a quick glimpse of the talent Russell Shepard possesses, and how he'll be used to showcase it. Despite a fumble, Shepard averaged nearly 9 yards per touch, which is a more than an acceptable average. Shepard will give teams fits, especially with his fresh, quicker legs late in league contests-if--the staff decides to use him at opportune times.
As stated, if LSU can improve over the next three weeks more than its respected Western Division counterparts, and of course, Georgia, it will remain in the thick of the SEC Western Division race at year's end-which just became more complicated based on Auburn's throttling of State. However, at this point in the season, the Tigers have done all that their insatiable fans could want-for now.
See you in Athens.
Chris Warner is the author of 13 books, including "The Wagon to Disaster" a book about the Birmingham-based HealthSouth fraud that he co-authored with LSU graduate Aaron Beam of Shreveport. Contact Chris through his website: http://www.sectraditions.com
Category: LSU Sports
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