Judging by many, many of the comments I heard around me or said to me at Waloo’s Sports Bar during the game, add several texts and Face Book messages you’d think LSU lost. Not only lost but that all hope is lost and Tiger fans will have to face another miserable season of mediocrity.
Wow.
“I have more confidence in the Saints defense this year than I do in the LSU defense,” said one message to me.
“This is the same defense as last year. Chavis sucks,” this told to me after Washington score on it’s opening possession.
Game was just seconds old and the Huskies faced a 3rd and long. LSU brings the house and Washington calls a perfect play, a screen. Tigers’ defensive end Lazarius LEvingston has a shot at making the tackle, doesn’t and Johri Fogerson scampers for 51-yards to the LSU 15. Chants of “we suck,” and “uh oh we’re in trouble,” or “I can’t believe we’re going to lose to this team” is audible in the bar.
Again, wow.
Any other play call on that play by the Huskies, and quarterback John Locker is picking rubber pellets out of his eye balls thanks to the four Tiger defenders flattening him on the synthetic turf. Oh yea, and the LSU fans would be screaming, start saving for your BCS Championship game tickets cause we gotz a defense this year baby!
I can go on and on. Look it wasn’t a 50 point beat down, but let’s look at the game as we should shall we? College football analysts all week talked about how this could an upset game, no not cause they wanted to insult LSU, but because a pair of USC coordinators had taken over Washington’s program in Steve Sarkisian as head coach and offensive coordinator, and Nick Holt assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. It was a trap game and quite frankly I was proud of LSU’s poise on the field and ability to counter tough moments in the game and handle an excited crowd.
LSU also had to travel a ton of miles, adjust to late kick off out on the west coast and oh yea it was the season’s first game. There’s no preseason in college football which is why many schools that will hope to contend for a national or a conference championship play crème’ puffs (Florida, Kentucky, and Mississippi St and Vanderbilt got into the act this year). Credit Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and LSU for opening the season with a quality opponent.
Yea I know, the Huskies were 0-12 last season, but when the schedules were made the team wasn’t that bad plus it’s a program that regularly contends for a Rose Bowl bid and won a title in the 90’s. It’s better than Kattengell State is what I’m saying.
LSU’s win had some good and some bad, frankly what you would expect from the season’s first game. Honestly I feel head coach Les Miles is happy the Tigers got a good game from the Huskies because there is so much more you can learn about your team from a win like Saturday’s as opposed to a 50-point shellacking against Thanksforacheck University.
GOOD AND BAD
Since the Purple and Gold nation has that ”just happy to get the win” feeling this morning, I’ll start with a bad take but contrast why it’s not the end of the world. Here are my takes on the game.
LSU D LINE
Washington’s John Locker at times was pressured, but yes at other times he threw the ball freely, or ran the ball well. Locker isn’t a bad quarterback and he has some speed on him. That said it was disappointing to see the defensive ends more often than not lost containment, that’s correctable through coaching. What wasn’t lost on me was the speed. The D-line is fast and when it came to stopping the fun, I thought they did a good job. Their biggest struggles was getting pressure on the QB and keeping the scrambling Locker in check. In short, the D-line looked and got winded, at least to me. I’ll give the benefit of the doubt to the travel, time and first game of the season to them. Can’t simulate game speed at practice folks, you just can’t and it’s why I’m not too worried.
TACKLING
LSU left some tackles to be made out on the field, but again it’s correctable. Felt a few times the defenders looked to make the knockout blow and highlight reel rather than make a secure stop. Coaches will let them know that’s a no-no.
SEONDARY Felt at time I was watching the Saints secondary or LSU’s for that matter, from last season. Safetys at times played too deep leaving too much room over the middle. I did love the pop the defensive backs brought to their tackles. I like me some Patrick Peterson, the cornerback (#7) had some nice pass blocks and hits in the game.
DEFENSE AS A WHOLE
259 Yards in the first half is unacceptable first game or not, crème puff or not. 478 total yards of offense is alarming. It’s the first game of a new defense and a coordinator. Give it time. Washington isn’t a bad team and Locker wasn’t a scared QB of the purple and gold attack or of the bright lights. He was legit and the Huskies had a few skill players. That said, I agree there were not SEC caliber and LSU must play much better next week against Vanderbilt.
JEFFERSON EXCELLS
I like this kid. I really, really do. LSU fans tell me you see the difference between last year, no quarterback, and this year where you have a quarterback. Jefferson’s 6 play 67 yard drive late in the 4th quarter that ended in a TD pass to Brandon LaFell to clinch the game was excellent. I heard many times during the game about disappointment the Tigers didn’t attack more down field with the pass. I felt the coaching staff called a very good game taking into account everything. Jefferson was not asked to win the game, but manage it and provide plays with his legs and decision making ability, both of which he did very well in.
Jefferson was 11-19 for 172 yards in the air with 3 TD tosses, and all of them were solid throws. Jefferson also had 42 yards on the ground on 8 carries.
THROW IT TO TOLIVER
What a great night by Terrance Toliver, four grabs for 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Toliver seems to have a nice little connection with Jefferson.
RUNNING BACKS
Charles Scott was stipped of the ball early in the game but had an okay night. 12 carries for 52 yards. Keiland Williams had 51 yards on 7 carries. The Tigers didn’t show the power running game I believe many thought they’d see against Washington. The offensive line has some new starters in it, again give it time. You can’t coach speed and the Tigers have plenty of it.
AROUND THE SEC
The Georgia Bulldogs was the only team in the conference to lose on Saturday. Oklahoma State picked up a 24-10 win at home.
South Carolina beat NC State 7-3. Tennessee beat Western Kentucky 63-7. Kentucky beat Miami Ohio 42-0. Mississippi State beat Jackson State 45-7. Auburn beat La Tech 37-13. Arkansas over Missouri St 48-10. Florida 62-3 over Charleston Southern. Vanderbilt 45-0 over Western Carolina. Alabama outlasts Virginia Tech 34-24.
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Great reporting of the game.
Great reporting of the game. It’s is the frist game of the year.