What's Changed?

We're at the halfway point of the season, and I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how the week 7 version of LSU football is any different than the week 1 version. It seems like we're talking about the same things and asking the same questions over and over again. There's the lack of sacks, the playcalling on offense, the offensive line, no power run game, Jordan Jefferson's development, and on and on and on. There's only two questions I think I have answers to.

Question number one, asked after the Washington game: Will the defense tackle better than it did against the Huskies?

Answer: Absolutely. There's still a blown assignment in the secondary now and then, and the line looks very blockable at times, but I think the defense has been tackling and hitting better and better as the season has progressed. The linebackers in particular have really been smacking some people around. It's been nice to see. I was filled with doubts about the linebackers before the season, but they've played far beyond my expectations.

Question number 2, asked after--oh, every single game: Will the offensive line play better?

Answer: Define "better." If you mean better than they did in the first three or four games, then yes. Against Georgia and Florida they blocked okay on running plays. If you mean will they actually turn into a good SEC offensive line, then no. They're still a long way away from that.

I hope the second half of the season sees very positive responses to the rest of our unanswered questions.

A Wild One to Remember

LSU came from behind with 1:09 left in the game when Charles Scott answered A.J. Green's touchdown reception with a 33-yard touchdown scamper. This was a hard fought game, and kudos to Georgia for hanging with us. This win was the first in Athens since 1987 for the Tigers, and it was another memorable game; one that no Tiger fan will forget anytime soon.

Scott scored his first and second rushing touchdowns of the season in this game, and on the last one, he bounced off a pair of tacklers and sliced through the secondary en route to the end zone. An amazing grab by LaFell for the two-point conversion put the Tigers on top 20-13 with just over :40 left to go.

Perry Riley sealed the deal on the ensuing UGA possession by intercepting a Joe Cox pass near the LSU sideline. The play was reviewed, as it was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but Riley clearly had his feet inbounds when he secured the ball.

I'm elated with the win, but one disappointing thing comes to mind for me. The three-man rush and soft zone coverage on the Georgia drive that put them on top 13-12. In my opinion, you've got to continue applying pressure and playing man coverage. Chris Hawkins had no business covering A.J. Green, and it showed on that drive as Green caught one just above Hawkins' head, bringing it down securely for the go-ahead touchdown.

It was nice to see the spread offense working to near perfection. I said it earlier in the week that we may need to try it out, and it worked wonders on the drive that put us up 12-7. After giving the lead away on the next UGA possession, a pair of penalties against the Dawgs set us up with great field position after another great return by Trindon Holliday. It took Scott two carries to find the end zone and put the Dawgs away. I'm at a loss for words right now, but nonetheless, the Tigers showed me they do in fact have an identity. They find a way to win. They left it all out there like I asked for. The intensity was there at times, and from what I saw today, this team has the makings of something special. The defense played very well today, minus a few big plays here and there, and they stuffed the run all day long, allowing only 45 yards on the ground. Let's hope we can feed off the momentum from this win and bring it with us next week as we host the defending national champion, unbeaten, and top-ranked Florida Gators.

Geaux Tigers!

Halftime in Athens...

Currently, LSU is clinging to a 6-0 lead, but it should be much worse than that. An interception in the end zone on our first offensive possession, followed by a pair of field goals (one from inside the red zone), and a failed fourth down conversion inside the red zone have prevented us from letting this one get out of control--in our favor, that is. We're keeping them in check on defense--UGA has 49 total yards of offense--and on offense, we're moving the ball fairly well by attacking the edges and through the air. Toliver is playing terrific right now, and the passing game is definitely in sync. Georgia's defense has started to snuff out the option attack, and they've done a good job in the latter part of the first half defending it.

Hopefully we start finishing drives and putting more points up. We've got an excellent opportunity to make a statement to start the second half. Let's hope the Tigers drive it right down their throat and punch it in the end zone this time. I know Miles wants the fourth down inside the red zone back, because it could be at least 9-0 right now, but oh well; let's make up for it right here.

Geaux Tigers!

4-0, but far from perfect...

So it's the beginning of October, and this can mean only one thing: Football season is in full swing. We're 1/3 of the way through the regular season, and right now, LSU controls its own destiny. That's in conference play and on the national scale. Many of us are capable of objective reasoning, and although the Tigers are unbeaten, many of us have noticed some lingering issues that have yet to be resolved. One of my LSU brethren posed an interesting topic for thought the other day. Identity. Does this team have one? Like many others, I feel the answer is no. I think the only positive things I've seen are a huge turnaround in turnover differential and Toliver emerging as that all-important third target in the passing game. R.J. Jackson had flashes of greatness against Vanderbilt, and he hauled in a 40-yard reception against Mississippi State, but aside from those two games, he hasn't been involved.

So here's a list of the negatives the casual observer should be able to point out:

1-- Running game is stagnant.

2-- Offensive line is atrocious in run blocking.

3-- Defense is playing bend but don't break the majority of the game, and missed tackles, breakdowns in coverage, and some other issues are allowing for the big play, and the big play is allowing teams to hang with us.

4-- Offense isn't keeping the defense off the field for long, which is really hurting us late in the game.

5-- Special teams had more than enough blunders last week against Mississippi State. Hopefully things will turn in the right direction for this unit. Aside from Chad Jones returning a punt for a touchdown, there really wasn't much to brag about. In fact, special teams play was as poor as the offensive line's run-blocking abilities.

Now, as an optimist, I would like to think things can drastically improve, and this team will finally put all the pieces together. The truth is, I haven't seen enough desire in this team to be sure they can accomplish this. Jefferson is improving, albeit slowly, with each game, but after the ULL game, he began to worry me because of some of the throws he made--trying to force it in there when his target had a blanket wrapped around him. We can sit here and harp on what needs to improve all day if we wanted to do so, but I'd rather talk about what I'd like to see against UGA tomorrow afternoon. I'm reluctant to make any predictions at this point because admittedly, I'm a homer; and homers tend to favor their team(s) no matter what. I know some people will say, "Realistically, LSU has no shot." The truth is, "realistically," both teams have a shot. Anything can happen on any given Saturday. Isn't that why we love college football?

Anyway, onto what I'd like to see tomorrow:

1-- Pressure on Joe Cox. I would really love to see us line up and play man coverage, mix up some blitzes, and really turn up the heat on this young QB. He's already shown he's well capable of racking up huge numbers, hence the reason I feel it is critical to knock him out of rhythm before he even gets into one.

2-- The clash between A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson. Peterson's name hasn't been called much this season aside from the Washington game in which he racked up a number of tackles and recovered a fumble; and also, this past week when he returned an interception for a touchdown. Green is obviously the go-to guy for the Dawgs, and Peterson, who is arguably the best lockdown cornerback in the nation, is the only player I trust to cover this standout wide receiver. It should be a lot of fun to watch these two tussle.

3-- Please, for the love of God. Run. The. Damn. Ball. And do it well. If ever a time were more ripe for the line to jell, it's now. We need to have the threat of a ground game in the upcoming stretch of games; otherwise, Jordan Jefferson is going to have to lead us to victory with his arm, and I really don't like our chances if that's the case. Unless the Wizard has some tricks up his sleeve he has yet to reveal, without a running game, doom appears imminent.

Aside from those few things, I just want the Tigers to go out there and play with some intensity. Keep it respectable, and leave it all on the field. A win would definitely do wonders for this team's morale, and most importantly, their identity. On top of that, it would restore the faith within the fan base, which is all but gone at the moment.

That's all I've got for now. Geaux Tigers!