Louisiana Love

LSU's Claiborne declares for draft

2012-01-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

LSU All-American cornerback Morris Claiborne has decided to enter the NFL draft.
The 6-0 junior had six interceptions this season and returned one for a touchdown.
He also won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back.
He provided many big plays for the 13-1 Tigers this season, including a 99-yard kick return against West Virginia and an 89-yard interception return against Tennessee.Defensive tackle Micheal Brockers, a redshirt sophomore, also declared for the draft.

Les Miles let LSU down by not playing Jarrett Lee @ Alabama

2012-01-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

Looking back at the 2011-2012, LSU Fighting Tigers football season, there is a great sense of pride and joy at the accomplishments. The top team in the land for most of the season, 13-0 at one point. Undisputed No. 1 and much feared for much of the year. But alas a final test failed.

Alabama is a great team -- and they showed it in the BCS Championship Game. But who would have thought they were 21 points better than an LSU team that had been averaging more than 38 points a game?

We all know what happened throughout the season and even before it. Starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson was having an awesome spring camp and people said he would likely start the season. Then came the bar fight. Then Jarrett Lee stepped in and led the Tigers to 8 straight victories in convincing fashion.

When the team traveled to Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 5, Lee was shaky. He threw two bad interceptions, one which leading to 3 points. Then that was it. He was benched.

"I just felt we could get something going with Lee," coach Les Miles said. It was a plausible excuse. Jefferson was the more mobile of the quarterback and took vicious hits that he surprisingly got up from each and every play.

The next game and so on, Jefferson would start. The Tigers continued to roll. But then things got weird. The Tigers would be up big in the third quarter and then the fourth, yet Jefferson wouldn't see any playing time.

At first it was proper to dismiss this as "feeling Jefferson out" for the long haul. Lee had started in eight straight games. It was time to let Jefferson get off a little bit.
But then what was once construed as weird, seemed more and more just down right mean. The end of the Arkansas game with the Tigers up by 30-some points, Lee stayed in until the final seconds. It didn't feel right to the Tiger faithful. That game was Senior Day, the last time Lee or Jefferson would play in Tiger Stadium.

Same thing against Georgia. Tigers were up big and Lee came in only to shake hands as the final seconds ticked.
By then it was clear that either Lee had did something wrong, or Miles had simply lost faith in a young man that had given his all to the school and program.

Even now, the Tiger faithful still don't know what really happened as to why Lee didn't see the field late in the season. Miles had always challenged both quarterbacks to compete against each other, only this time he had clearly picked a winner.

Still, as any coach, he had the right to play whoever he deemed best suited to provide a spark.

So in the Alabama game, the LSU faithful, the Alabama faithful, the TV folks, the whole world, knew that Jefferson was struggling so bad that he would'nt be able to run or throw his way out of this one.

The Bama defense had bore down on him and had knew his every move. It was clearly time for a change. Everyone knew it. But Miles. Even former NFL quarterback and current TV analyst Shawn King knew it was time for a change. Not Miles.

His excuses, this time, don't fly. The Tigers didn't cross midfield til midway through the fourth quarter. Lee should have been in midway through the third.

No good reason exists as to why Miles didn't play Lee. And the damage goes beyond one blemish on a football record. Recruits and players already on the squad can't help but think, 'Wow, this man has shown that if you mess up one time, in one game, you could be benched for the reason of the season.'

LSU lost more than a game when it lost to Alabama. In alot of ways, it lost respect for itself.

LSU loses to Alabama in BCS title

2012-01-10T05:10:00.000-08:00

The Alabama defense -- too strong, too fast for much of the night -- completely dominated the LSU Tigers on MOnday night to win the BCS National Championship. Make no mistake about it, the better team won in a rematch of the Game of the Century. Jordan Jefferson looked ill-prepared and played even worse than that. As good a season as the Tigers have had, they have not had the offensive support that they needed to be a BCS champion. Diehard fans knew it long ago, even against teams such as Florida and Tennessee. But here we were Monday night, hoping against hope that the vaunted Tigers defense could fine a way. Jarrett Lee, the quarterback that began the season as LSU's starter, watched with anticipation from the sidelines, hoping he would get a chance to prove his worth. LSU coach Les Miles would have none of it, for reasons that have remained secret for much of the past few months. As for the Tide, they rolled and rolled hard. "They are unbelievable," said Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones, speaking of the Tide defense. "That defense is as good as any defense I've ever seen. They rush the passer, they have awesome linebackers and they're great in coverage. They really don't have any weaknesses. They have to be as good as any defense ever." ON MOnday night, to conclude the 2011 season, LSU would have to agree.

Alabama secures deal with Devil, will play LSU for national title

2011-12-05T02:11:00.001-08:00

College football fans not living in Alabama are livid at the BCS for selecting the Crimson Tide to play LSU for the national championship.

The usual catchphrases were at work late Sunday -- "body of work" and, wait for it, "eye ball test" -- in denying the Oklahoma State Cowboys of the Mighty Big 12 a shot at the title game.

For many voters in the Harris poll, it came down to Oklahoma State's double overtime loss to lowly Iowa State.

But check how one Bama fan summed it all up:

"Cry me a river, come play in the SEC week in and week out, tell me that you have a great team after running the gauntlet we play every week. Yes we lost at home in OT, just like OkIe State, but the difference is, LSU and Iowa State. We can’t help that our schedule did not have us playing S Carolina or Georgia, we rotate them every 2-3 years, so yes we do play them.

I am so tired of all the SEC haters, people get over it, play some teams that play defense, that is what wins Championships, not the high scoring offenses, why do you think it was 9-6, the No.’s 1 and 2 defenses provided a stalemate, neither of the remaining one loss teams could hold a candle to LSU or Alabama, they would be run out of the stadium, look over the last six years, only Oregon is the only team I can recall that had a decent game last year against Auburn and Cam.

I do feel bad for Ok. State, they had a great season and game against OK, but OK was playing withour several of their star players, wonder what the outcome would have been had they been healthy? I guess we will never know will we, congrats to Okie State on the Big 12 Championship, hopefully, they will get smart and get in a conference that plays not only offense, but defense and special teams, that is why Bama and LSU will battle it out and give the SEC its 6th straight BCS Title."

Will Jarrett Lee EVER get any meaningful playing time?

2011-12-03T18:24:00.001-08:00

It got egregious in the Arkansas game. Ahead, 41-10, LSU coach Les Miles continued to insert Jordan Jefferson after the game was way out of hand and victory over the No. 3 Razorbacks was all but assured.

Jarrett Lee, the No. 2 rated passer in the mighty Southeastern Conference strapped his helmet on and just stared at Miles, waiting for, at that point, obligatory playing time. After all, it was Senior Day. Lee's parents, as were all the mothers and fathers and available relatives of the undefeated LSU Tigers, in attendance.
But Miles, being Miles, didn't let Lee in until less than 2 minutes remained in the game.
On Saturday in the SEC Championship, LSU was up big-time over Georgia 35-10 even as the third quarter drew to a close.
To start the fourth quarter, who was it again? Jefferson.
So, the question begs itself: Why isn't Lee getting any meaningful playing time?
This is a guy who staked LSU, in its most important football campaign in five years, to an 8-0 start before throwing two bad interceptions at Alabama.
His punishment since that time? About 5 minutes P.T.
Tops.
Is there something deeper? Did Lee's father possibly curse Miles out after the Bama game and the coach see fit to send a message? We don't know.
Whatever the offense, Lee's time in the game has been reduced to Token Time. Garbage.
While Lee has only thrown for more than 200 yards once (against Mississippi State) he was completed more than 70% of his passes an astounding five times, including 90% against Northwestern State.
For comparison, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, the likely Heisman winner and No. 1 pick in next year's NFL draft, has completed 70% of his passes in five games also.
Jefferson, a constant threat on the ground, has only completed 70% of his passes in two games, including one in which 100% of his passes were caught (against Ole Miss).
Will Lee get some valuable P.T. in the BCS game against likely opponent Alabama, especially since having a horrible showing against them on November 5?
Time will tell.

LSU wins SEC Title, will play for BCS National Championship

2011-12-03T18:14:00.001-08:00

LSU is back in the BCS title game.
After defeating the Georgia Bulldogs, 42-10, the Tigers await their opponent -- Alabama or Oklahoma State.
Saturday night, the Tigers looked like the could handle both of them as Tyrann Mathieu turned in an MVP and maybe Heisman, performance, running back a punt 62 yards for a touchdown, setting up another score with a fumble recovery and whipping No. 14 Georgia

LSU (13-0) gets to play the BCS title game in New Orleans. The team on the other side of the field will be announced Sunday night.
Will it be the mighty Tide, whose only loss was a3-point defeat to the LSU Tigers? Or Okahoma State, who dropped a 2-overtime thriller to lowly Iowa State?

LSU beats Georgia 41-10, Wins SEC Championship

2011-12-03T17:41:00.001-08:00

The Honey Badger took what he wanted and LSU slaughtered the Georgia Bulldogs 42-10, erupting for 42 straight points in the SEC Championship game.

Tyrann Mathieu took a punt to the end zone and recovered a fumble in the second half that led to another LSU touchdown as the Tigers (13-0) tied a school record for wins in a season and guaranteed itself a spot in the BCS national championship game Dec. 9 in New Orleans, an 80-mile drive from Baton Rouge and their home away from home.

"There was no question we were going to show ourselves and play like we came to play," said LSU coach Les Miles, whose team bounced back from a 10-0 deficit.

UGA quarterback Aaron Murray is the real deal. In the first half he tried his best to put a dagger in LSU but dropped passes -- at least four crucial ones in the first quarter alone, allowed the Bayou Bengals to hang around. Murray ended the game 16-for-40 for 163 with three turnovers, the fumble and interceptions by Tharold Simon and Morris Claiborne, who ran his back for LSU's last score in the fourth quarter.

Jordan Jefferson was shaky for most of the game but did just enough for the Tigers, which benefited from stellar defensive play in the second half, including a fumble and two interceptions, one of which went to the house.

Alfred Blue had a team-high 94 yards on 8 carries while Hilliard carried eight times for 72 yards as the Tigers. Somehow, some way the Tigers finished with 207 yards rushing for the game.

Now for the BCS title, where the Tigers will play ............................................................................................................................................................................................... anybody but Alabama.

LSU runs over Arkansas 41-17

2011-11-26T17:52:00.000-08:00

LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu sparked the lackluster LSU Tigers to a 41-17 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks Friday, shutting the door on the Hogs' BCS hopes.

The Honey Badger returned a punt 92 yards for a game-tying score and the Tigers turned to the ground game, churning out big yards and running throug Arkansas for 286 yards rushing, wiping out a 14-point deficit with a 41-17 win that put them in the SEC championship.

"I could hear my teammates in my ear saying, 'Man, we need you to go make a play,'" Mathieu said. "I was able to help the momentum really go in our favor.

"You have no idea how bad I just wanted to go out there and make a big play for our team. I was fortunate enough to be able to do that."

LSU had to doubt itself at first as Arkansas scored first then popped the ball loose from Michael Ford and scored on a defensive touchdown to take a 14-0 lead early. But the Honey Badger took what he wanted, namely a 92-yard punt return for TD. Game on.

The LSU ground game came alive as Kenny Hilliard, Spencer Ware and Jordan Jefferson all scored on the ground for LSU (12-0, 8-0 SEC), which is 12-0 for the first time and will play No. 13 Georgia next weekend in Atlanta.

A win over the Bulldog and the Tigers will play for the BCS title against Okahoma State or Alabama. And you know what? The Tigers might get there even with a loss.

"That was a huge turning point in the game," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said after the contest in which he was caught by CBS cameras mouthing dirty words at LSU coach Les Miles (watch video below). "We were trying to get the ball punted to the sideline, but he miss-hit it a bit and punted it to the middle. ... (Mathieu) made a great cut and made us miss at the point of attack. He made a great play."

LSU DESTROYS Ole Miss 52-7

2011-11-21T18:06:00.000-08:00

LSU quarterback got the long ball going Saturday night as the No. 1-ranked Bayou Bengals ravished Ole Miss 52-7.

The Tigers (11-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) matched their best start since 1958, the days of Billy Cannon. It was the worst whipping Ole Miss has recieved since a 49-0 shellacking from Georgia in 1974.

Jefferson started his second consecutive game, going a perfect 7 of 7 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. That was all the Tigers needed after building a 35-3 lead at halftime. Alfred Blue, the Tigers No. 3 running back, powered the Tigers with 74 rushing yards. Spencer Ware added 70 yards and a touchdown.

Ole Miss (2-9, 0-7) has lost six straight games and a school-record 13 straight conference games. Barry Brunetti rushed for a team-high 74 yards as the Rebels managed just 195 total yards.

"It's unfortunate to have a coach (Houston Nutt) end a home stand in a fashion like today," LSU coach Les Miles said in the wake of the news that Nutt would be fired at season's end. "That being said, we look forward to our future. It's something that we're really pointed to. It's a short week, but we're looking forward to taking on a very talented Arkansas team (next weekend)."

LSU whips Western Kentucky, 42-7

2011-11-13T06:17:00.001-08:00

This one had 'trap game' written all over it. And for a half, it was true.

Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggart had one bragging right after his team got whipped 42-7 by the top-ranked team in the country.

“We scored more points than Alabama,” he said.

Can't argue there. The Hilltoppers came into Death Valley and kept the game competitive into the third quarter.

“We played hard and didn’t give up,” Taggart said. “I believe we were going to win, but I knew it wouldn’t happen if we didn’t play perfect.”

LSU (10-0) came in favored by nearly six touchdowns, but perhaps due to not taking WKU seriously only led only 14-7 at halftime.

“We just were flat,” said LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo. “There really is not much you can say about that. Early on we were just not ready to play.

“This game kind of woke us up and we won’t let this happen any more games this year. The Alabama game is over now. We are going to move on and hopefully play for a lot more the rest of this season.”

Jordan Jefferson completed a beautiful 59-yard bomb to Rueben Randle to open up the scoring for the Tigers.

Jefferson played until 12 minutes remained in the fourth quarter, when Lee relieved him, drove down the field and threw a 5-yard scoring pass.

Hilltoppers quarterback Kuwaun Jakes completed 11 of 24 passes for 97 yards and was intercepted once by linebacker Tahj Jones.

4 Reasons why Alabama lost to LSU 2011

2011-11-06T06:56:00.000-08:00

First off, let's be honest. If the referees don't call a block in the back, the Tide take over at LSU's 3-yard-line after an intereception return. Also, if the referees don't make the initial call of an interception on the Michael Williams-Eric Reid jump ball, again, it's Tide's ball at the 1. But these were two supremely talented defenses going at it when No. 1 LSU went to Bryant-Denny Stadium to face the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Here are the 4 reasons why Alabama lost the game.

1. Bama's confidence @ QB: AJ McCarron refused to look in the middle of the field for his passes. The one interception spooked him something awful. Don't know if he thought he could screenpass all day (which was very successful), but sooner or later you've got to throw the ball vertically to keep the defense honest. Nick Saban refuses to let his players "just play." As someone who likes to be in complete control, iIf he could take over the use of their limbs via puppetry he'd do it.

2. Sometimes you can just get too cute: Trent Richardson was built for a game like this. He got 23 carries, but he should have gotten 33. The trick-play wild cat pass that ended in an interception was unnecessary. Richardson had just churned out a 24-yard run and was feeling it. But Bama's coaches saw fit to switch it up a bit, I guess. Wrong move.

3. Kicking themselves: Alabama missed four field goals, including Cade Foster's 52-yard attempt after the Tide got the ball first in the extra period. It could be argued that the first two shouldn't have been kicked, but Nick Saban could have been setting up a fake field goal attempt for later in the game.

4.Receiver Marquis Maze was hobbled ... and Tide coaches should have saw that. His crucial leg injury wound up at the center of two key miscues in the fourth quarter. Maze, favoring his leg, threw a pass out of the wild cat formation to a wide open tight end. But he threw it on his back foot, the bad one. It was intercepted. Also, in what some are saying was the play of the game, Maze chose not to field a long line-drive punt. He turned away from it around his own 40 and the ball rolled all the way to the Alabama 19. INstead of the Tide taking over at the LSU 40-yard line he let the ball roll all the way to the 19. The 72-yard punt totally reversed the field position and took the wind out of the Bama coaches.

LSU escapes Alabama in OT, 9-6

2011-11-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

L.S.U. is the best team in the country. The Tigers beat the Alabama Crimson Tide 9-6 in overtime at Alabama's home field. The Tigers now take full control in the SEC and the B.C.S. standings.

Yes, Trent Richardson is a beast, but so is the LSU secondary. The score is low. Boring. The game however was not. LSU should have won 12-6, but Michael Ford stepped out of bounds at the seven-yard line on an option play from a last-split-second delivery from Jordan Jefferson.

L.S.U. ran two plays from the seven, putting the ball in the middle of the field, before calling on Alleman. He drilled it, pushing the Tigers to 9-0 and putting them firmly in the driver’s seat for a berth in the national title game.

Alabama is certainly kicking itself (no pun intended) for the three missed field goals and one blocked one.. They had one blown opportunity after another yet in his press conference Bama coach Nick Saban handled it like a stand-up guy. "Nobody is to blame. We had some missed opportunities."

Yes, you did, Nick.

L.S.U. just outlasted the Tide. They couldn't really do much with the Tide. LSU couldn’t move the ball, not consistently. The Tigers had tackling issues in the second half,, where Richardson started to gash them. The Tigers even survived a surprisingly poor punt by Brad Wing.

But, the Tigers are on top of college football. WE are NO. 1.

LSU tramples on Auburn, 45-10

2011-10-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

Rueben Randle caught two bombs and Auburn looked like it was hit by them.

No. 2 LSU rolled Saturday in a 45-10 trampling of the Auburn Tigers in Baton Rouge.

Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, both had superb games and displayed their long balls as the Tigers rolled to their eighth-straight victory by double digits.

"It just seems like no matter who goes down or who's out, we have guys who are ready to step in … and not just to fill a spot but to go in and dominate," said LSU center T-Bob Hebert.
"I almost feel like everybody else makes a bigger deal about it than we do," Hebert said of the periodic lineup upheaval, and the public scrutiny of the misbehavior that has caused it.
"It's not distracting to us. This team is so good about staying focused, one-track mind, not letting anything on the outside get to them because we don't want to have any regrets."
Somehow, some way Alabama has overtaken the Tigers for the No. 1 spot in college football. Nothing a little head to head comp can't settle.

NOW, WHAT SAY YOU, BAMA???

Tigers demolish Vols @ Rocky Top, 38-7

2011-10-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

It wasn't pretty. There were few style points, but top-ranked LSU still mopped the floor with Tennessee, 38-7 in front of more than 101,000 at Rocky Top.

For the first time, perhaps, we saw a less-than-confident Jarrett Lee, who looked shaky at times. He finished with 115 yards and two touchdowns but they were both short passes that didn't require a lot of moxie.

Don't get me wrong, we'll take it.

The win was the Tigers' sixth straight SEC victory and their seventh consecutive win by double digits.

"I felt like we did what we needed to do," LSU coach Les Miles told reporters after the game. "It wasn't our best game, but we did what we had to do to ensure victory. Our defense gave us turnovers and the opportunities to take the opponent out. Our offense late in the game gave us the football and ate up the time of possession and scored."

Matt Simms, making his first start in place of the injured Tyler Bray, was 6 of 20 for 128 yards and two interceptions, one of them being the play of the game by LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. His 89-yard return to the 5 yard line put the Tigers in the driver's seat with their first score.

"It wasn't a really complex game," Tennessee coach Derek Dooley said. "In the first half, I thought we competed our tails off and had a couple of real bad mistakes that was ultimately the difference in the first half. In the second half, we had a couple of third-down opportunities where we didn't execute and they pounded us. I don't know any other way to say it."

Next up for the Tigers: The always-tough Auburn Tigers.

Tennessee wary of Ware, LSU running game

2011-10-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

Derek Dooley and the Tennessee Volunteers know they need to be concerned with LSU's stable of running backs, especially Spencer Ware.
Leading the No. 1-ranked Tigers with 432 yards rushing and five scores, Ware is looking to punish the Vols defenders, like he does other opponents.

“If you come as hard as you can, full throttle, with it in your mind that, ‘You can’t tackle me,’ then you will break a tackle,” Ware told the Washington Post recently. “Every time you have the ball you have to have the mentality that you want to score, not just, ‘Oh, it’s a defender in front of me and I might get tackled.’”
For the second week in a row, the Tigers face an SEC team without their starting quarterback. Last week, John Brantley was out for Florid as LSU cruised to a 41-11 win.
This week the Vols are without starter signal caller Tyler Bray, who has a hand injury. Tennessee coach Dooley says there won't be any excuses.

"I don't care how many guys we lose, we're still Tennessee," Dooley said, according to the Times Picayune newspaper. "We fought (LSU) good last year. I know this: If we don't come believing we can win and playing to our capacity, then it's going to look like what happened last week. They are going to embarrass you."

“We just don’t look good, and we’ve just got to go out there and hit people and stick our pads down and run,” Dooley was quoted as saying. “That’s what good running teams do, and we’re just going to keep working on it.”

But the Vols better beware of Ware.

“Spencer just wears people down,” LSU offensive guard Will Blackwell told the Post. “He might be 225 pounds, but I swear he runs like he’s about 260 and when you’ve got a guy coming at you full-speed 20 times a game you’re going to get tired.”

LSU stomps Florida, 41-11

2011-10-09T05:09:00.000-07:00

The LSU Tigers showed Saturday afternoon that it could blow a team out offensively and strangle it defensively in a 41-11 victory over the Florida Gators in Baton Rouge.

It's hard to stay focused.It's hard not to skip the next two games and talk about the Alabama game, but it's all coming to a head, folks.

We see Oklahoma. We see you Boise. But do you see us?

On the ground LSU relied on Spencer Ware, who bounced off and rolled over defenders to finish with 109 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

LSU (6-0, 3-0 SEC) struck first and never looked back as Jarrett Lee, on LSU's second play from scrimmage, riled back and launched a rainbow bomb that hit Rueben Randle in stride for a 46-yard touchdown.

On the other side of the ball, the18th-ranked Florida (4-2, 2-2) finished with 100 passing and 113 rushing behind third-string freshman quarterback Jacoby Brisset, who did what he could and no more.

Was it a dominating win? Of course. Did we enjoy it? Immensely, but let's be honest, folks. The Gators were without two-thirds of their offensive mojo: Speedster Jeffrey Demps and starting quarterback John Brantley or even Jeff Driskel. With them lining up, this game is still a Tiger victory, but it's worth another 10 points and buck-50 on the stat sheet.

"We showed everybody that we are capable of some special things against a really good Florida team," said LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery.

LSU backup quarterback Jordan Jefferson added a touchdown toss on a jump pass ala' Tim Tebow in the fourth quarter.

"It was not necessarily the first time it was run in football," LSU coach Les Miles said at the press conference afterwards. "I really enjoyed it."

Miles, according to the Advocate, said the thing he appreciates most is the schedule that the Football Gods have given him.

“I like the idea that we’ve played quality opponents,” he told the newspaper, “and had the killer instinct to really gain the advantage and then withhold the opportunity of victory from them. That’s finishing the game, and we did that.”

Next week the Tigers travel to Rocky Top to face a Volunteers squad that got ravished by Georgia.

Florida Gators concerned about Mathieu

2011-10-08T05:23:00.000-07:00

LSU sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu has the full attention of Florida coach Will Muschamp.

“Just an electric guy on the field,” Muschamp said of Mathieu. “[He] plays with great energy; tough, hard-nosed, great blitzer. Has just a knack for getting the ball off people as far as strips are concerned and interceptions. Just one of those guys that shows up in the right spots regardless of what’s being asked of him.”
The New Orleans native is being mentioned for Heisman consideration.

The Gators are right to be concerned, as Tampabay.com reports. Mathieu leads a deep Tiger defense with 35 tackles, four pass breakups, an interception, 1 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles.
To put that last number in perspective, the whole Florida Gators defense has forced four fumbles or the year.

Mathieu has two fumble return TDs.

Les Miles explained the force that is Mathieu in a way that only we can, Tampabay.com reports:

"We saw it in camp, that aggressiveness and want to compete even in high school,'' Miles said. "That allowed us to be very comfortable and anticipate that he’d be that kind of player in college. What happens with guys that make those kind of plays routinely, they envision each play as an opportunity to make a great play and if it just happens they are put in that position, they saw that great play they were about to make even before it ever happened. And I think there are few of those. Patrick Peterson certainly was one. I think there are a number of guys on our team who see it that way. But I don’t know that anybody predicts that until you get them on our campus and see it routinely. Really in the first year he showed he was that kind of player.,' he was quoted as saying.

Still, Florida with the speedy Demps and Rainey, will find a way to produce. Look for punt returns and flea-flicker trickery to put 14 points on the board. After that, it'll be all smash mouth football, which Tigers coach Les Miles prefers anyway.
Prediction: LSU 24, Florida 17.

LSU's Tyrann Mathieu: Heisman Caliber or Hype?

2011-10-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

"College football needs to pay attention to No. 7 at LSU. He's one of the most dynamic playmakers in all of college football," said none other than Kirk Herbstreit during the LSU-West Virginia telecast earlier this season.

"I keep using the comparison: Ed Reed, because he has that sixth sense to make plays. I don't know how he does it but he's always there to make plays," he said.

LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is gaining momentum as a Heisman candidate. The Bleacher Report says: "He's arguably the best player on arguably the nation's best team."

Not only that but "Honey Badger" plays with a swagger unparalleled in college football today. He simply has a nose for the ball. And people are starting to notice.

ESPN analyst Desmond Howard, who is perhaps best known as a player who exemplified the Heisman pose at Michigan (and a huge Les Miles fan) tweeted that Mathieu is the real deal.

"Tyrann Mathieu is most definitely on MY Heisman list. Talking about 'earning' a nomination. I love his game!"

Mathieu was personally willed the LSU Tigers to win at least two of their final three games, a 41-17 victory over Arkansas for the SEC West title, and the following week a 42-10 stomping of Georgia.

"I could hear my teammates in my ear saying, 'Man, we need you to go make a play,'" Mathieu said after the Razorbacks game in which he returned a punt 92 yards. "I was able to help the momentum really go in our favor."

"You have no idea how bad I just wanted to go out there and make a big play for our team. I was fortunate enough to be able to do that," the New Orleans native said.

"That was a huge turning point in the game," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "We were trying to get the ball punted to the sideline, but he miss-hit it a bit and punted it to the middle. ... (Mathieu) made a great cut and made us miss at the point of attack. He made a great play."

LSU trailed 14-7 when Mathieu fielded Dylan Breeding's end-over-end kick at his own 8, started left, made a hard cut straight up field, then angled left again to break into the clear.

"It made the statement that that lead was not going to stand up," LSU coach Les Miles said. "Our defense was going to continue to play well and our offense was coming."

Against Georgia, the Honey Badger was even more deadly. He took a punt at his own 38, found an opening, did and zig then a zag, and was gone — his second punt return for a touchdown in two weeks. Did he score? Yes and no. A replay shown repeatedly on CBS showed that Mathieu flipped the ball to an official just a mili-second before crossing the end zone. But the referee signaled touchdown.

Asked after the game if he knew he didn't score the Honey Badger fessed up. "Yeah, I kind of felt it," Mathieu said. "I looked at the referee. I'll have to remember not to do that next time."

Can he take what he wants at the Heisman ceremony?

Jefferson returns as LSU whips Kentucky, 35-7

2011-10-02T05:23:00.000-07:00

It wasn't pretty. It wasn't overwhelming, but the Tigers simply took all four quarters to grind out four offensive touchdowns and one defensive to whip the hapless Kentucky Wildcats 35-7.
The big news of the game was the return of veteran quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who scored on a one-yard sneak to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
To be honest, many of the Tiger faithful booed him when he trotted on the field. It was a mixed emotion-type thing.

Will Jarrett Lee, who got LSU to No. 1, be relegated to a backup role now? Will Jefferson get equal snaps now? All we know is that opposing defenses have that much more to worry about now.

"When Jordan Jefferson scored that touchdown, and (starting quarterback) Jarrett Lee celebrated, that's when I knew right then, that the word 'team' means so much more," LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery said. "Jordan's been through a whole lot, so now he can tell the story of how, 'I went through this, bounced back, came back on the team, and now we're all a big family again.'"

After the game, LSU coach Les Miles said Jefferson's return simply opens up the playbook.

"We will use Jefferson in a variety of ways," said Miles, who did not allow Jefferson to speak with reporters after the game. "At different times in the season, we will need every skill and every collective attribute of our team."

On the stat sheet it will show that LSU had their average of 178 (give or take) yards rushing, but in reality the Kentucky front line stuffed the Tigers more times than they will be given credit for.

With Spencer Ware leading the way (until he was injured) LSU’s power running game gained only a paltry yards on its first 12 carries.

“It’s really tough, because we came out and we thought we had them,” linebacker Ronnie Sneed said. “It was like, ‘Hey, we’re here to fight.’ I felt like we were showing them. We played pretty tough. Then it just slipped away from us.”

Wildcats starter Morgan Newton had an abysmal game, misfiring on his first nine throws and being sacked three times.

Kentucky coach Joker Phillips put true freshman quarterback Maxwell Smith in for the second half but he was even worse, going 1 for 5 before fumbling the ball on a sack.

"We just thought we needed a spark and wanted to give Morgan a chance to sit back and watch the game from a distance," Phillips said.

Phillips was piping-hot mad in the first quarter when LSU scored their first TD. Replay showed that the Tigers broke the huddle with 12 men, which should have been a flag. Instead, the referee touched his flag during the commotion but didn't throw it. If he had, the Tigers might have elected not to put Jefferson in and may have had to settle for a field goal.

Another controversial call was when Odell Beckham, who scored on a swerving 52-yard touchdown earlier, had a jump ball clearly taken from him in the second half. Replays showed that the defender had took possession from Beckham but the referees gave the ball to LSU at the Wildcat 5-yard line. It was a crucial play in the game if for nothing more it would have given Lee an interception.

The Wildcats were outgained 348 yards to 155, with more than half of that coming very late in the game. To put it another way, UK had 59 yards in the first three quarters.

After the game, Kentucky's coach indicted his players.

“We’ve got to find out if our kids are willing to continue to fight, scratch and claw,” Phillips said. “I think we’ve got a chance to turn this thing around … but we’ve got to start making plays, and we’ve got to start playing smarter.”

LSU wanted the shutout but couldn't keep it as Newton returned to the game and hit Matt Roark with a 4-yard pass with 6:09 on the clock.

LSU Tyrann Mathieu, who by now must be at least looked at for Heisman consideration, continued his strong play, scoring on a 23-yard fumble return that he forced on a sack. He set the school record for forced fumbles on the play. He had another in the fourth quarter.

"I was just sneaking up to the line and it was just getting to the quarterback," said Mathieu.

Next up for the Tigers, Florida.

Week 3: Saints come back on Texans, 40-33

2011-09-26T06:03:00.000-07:00

These New Orleans will play with your emotions in the first half of games but make no mistake: They will be somewhere in the thick of it come January.
Ask the Houston Texans, who scored at will in the Super Dome only to come away with a 30-33 whupping.
The Saints had no answer for Andre Johnson in the first half, but they doubled him in the second, shutting him out (He finished with 128 yards).
Matt Schaub (373 yards, 3 TD, int) played like Peyton Manning out there but Drew Brees (270 yards, 2 TD, 2 INTs) played like Brees.
Brees was picked off twice trying to go to new reciever Jimmy Graham, but forgave him when he scored a touchdown and was pretty much relentless with the undersized defensive backs for Houston.

"I love the fact that we can have something happen on the field that's a negative [an interception] ... and instead of him getting down like some young players might and having that affect what happens later on, he comes out and make a couple huge catches," Brees said. "He's mentally tough, physically tough, he wants to be great and he wants me to be able to trust him and have confidence in him, which I do to the utmost."

To be sure the Texans left points out on the field, especially in the first half.

"Our red zone performance wasn't good enough against a team like that, or any team, for that matter," Schaub said. "We needed touchdowns. We settled for too many field goals. We had to find a way to put it in the end zone."

LSU routes West Virginia, 47-21

2011-09-23T04:56:00.000-07:00

On the Tigers biggest stage yet this season a rapidly improved Jarrett Lee had perhaps his best game as an LSU Tiger, throwing three touchdown passes in the first half on the way to a 47-21 shellacking of West Virginia.

LSU could have gotten more but normally sure-handed receiver Rueben Randle dropped an easy touchdown pass on a slant route.

The win has thrust the Tigers into the No. 1 spot and raised the stakes for a Tigers team that is showing skill, toughness and swagger at every position.

Still, coach Les Miles is cautious about the hype.

"I like the position we're in, but I don't think we're the best team in college football today," Miles said. "I think there is a hope and want and desire to be there. I don't know if we're good enough right now to do everything we want to do. That's putting the cart before the horse."

West Virginia (3-1) outgained LSU 533-366 as awesome QB Geno Smith set school records for completions (38), attempts (65) and passing yards (463). He was picked off twice too though.

The play of the game came just before halftime, when LSU outstanding safety Tyrann Mathieu stormed in on a blitz, batted a screen pass into the air, caught it and raced from the West Virginia 17-yard-line to the 1.

LSU cashed it in two plays later as Lee found Chase Clement in the end zone for a 27-7 lead. Lee also tossed TDs of 11 yards to Rueben Randle and 52 yards to Odell Beckham.

LSU mauls Mississippi State, 19-6

2011-09-16T04:39:00.000-07:00

Mississippi State Bulldogs came out with fire in their eyes last night, trying to test the Tigers up front and in the secondary.
The offense looked pedestrian at times but the Tigers played it safe with a 19-6 victory over the Bulldogs.

The Tigers (3-0, 1-0 in SEC) were up to the challenge before a hostile 56,924 at Davis Wade Stadium. The Tigers were up against the SEC's best rushing attack.

"They came in averaging 300 yards rushing, and we came in trying to dominate and stop the run game," said LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers, who had three tackles for losses, including a sack. "We were flying to the ball. Everyone was doing their assignments, doing what we need to do to win. We don't want anybody to score on us."

The Tigers ate Bulldogs quarterback Chris Relf for lunch and made running back Vick Ballard eat turf like another Vick, holding a Bulldogs' team averaging 321 yards on the ground to 52 yards on 34 carries.

"We didn't get into a rhythm," Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said. "We got behind and had to throw the ball and play their game. Our playmakers have to make plays. We will be all right -- our guys always bounce back."

The lone blotch on the resume for LSU was Jarrett Lee's interception which happened because he overthrew the receiver but the veteran quarterback quickly regrouped.
Next up for the Tigers, West Virginia.

LSU blasts Northwestern State, 49-3

2011-09-12T04:26:00.000-07:00

Called a trap game by commentators, LSU vs. Northwestern State may have trapped pundits into thinking the Tigers weren't for real after they thrashed Oregon last week.
A 49-3 victory over Northwestern State settled that assumption.

"I like how our team approached this game," Miles said. "It's nice. It means that your starters were not taxed. It means you should be fresh, and as we go into a short week, that's key."

The highly touted juco transfer, quarterback Zach Mettenberger, made his debut in the second half of the game with the Tigers up 28-3.

Jarrett Lee continued his sharp play, finishing 9 of 10 passes for 133 yards and a TD. Mettenberger went 8 of 11 for 92 yards. He also threw a 19-yard touchdown pass.

"He did good," Miles said of Mettenberger. "He came in, got comfortable, made some nice throws. I felt like he handled the offense well."

Next up will provide the Tigers with their first real measuring stick in the SEC: Mississippi State.

LSU romps over Oregon 40-27

2011-09-04T04:18:00.000-07:00

The LSU Fighting Tigers opened their 2011 campaign against the mighty Ducks of Oregon last night, romping a PAC 12 team that almost won a national championship eight months earlier.

But it was the Tigers that looked like the champs last night, running away from Oregon with a score of 40-27.

With the fate of their quarterback Jordan Jefferson hanging in the balance, the Tigers took it to the Ducks.

"I asked them to put to the perimeter all the things that could be considered distractions," LSU coach Les Miles said. "I enjoyed Jarrett Lee's gutty effort. I liked how the offense did the things they needed to do."

Oregon's much-touted De'Anthony Thomas fumbled on consecutive possessions in the third quarter, leading to 14 points for the Tigers.

"Those are self-inflicted wounds," coach Chip Kelly said. "The drops, the turnovers and the penalties are the things that really killed us. Against a team like that, you're not going to win the game."

Jarrett Lee won the game for the Tigers, a quarterback that the Tiger faithful haven't seen start under center since 2009 against Louisiana Tech. But he was sharp.

"We've had a lot on our minds as team coming into this game," Lee said. "It's not something that we wanted to happen. But you have to put that to the side and move forward."

Next up for the Tigers, Norwestern State.

LSU handles Oregon, 40-27

2011-09-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

The LSU Tigers showed that their defense will be a force to reckon with Saturday with a gritty 40-27 win against No. 3 Oregon Ducks in Dallas, Texas.
Jarrett Lee looked like the 2010 version, which is better than he ever was in handling the Ducks blitz and stunts on the way to 14 unanswered points in the 3rd quarter, which broke the game open.

See ESPN for analysis

LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu got the party started with a fumble return for TD in the first quarter, staking the Tigers to a 9-3 lead before Oregon roared back.
LSU's committee of running backs wore down the Ducks in the third quarter, outrushing them 100 to 10 at one point, before a late Ducks drive.
Oregon coach Chip Kelly tried some things that worked against Auburn, but with 9 months to prepare, the LSU D was ready.
Reuben Randle caught a 10-yard TD pass that put LSU on top 13-9 in the second quarter.
Next up for the Tigers, Northwestern State.