SB Nation User Blog: Purple Reign

Feeling Out a 3-0 Start

Purple Reign — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:13:04 -0000

Much has been made about LSU's start, at least within LSU circles. The offense looks terrible. The line isn't blocking. Jordan Jefferson doesn't have great accuracy. We've heard it all. But take a step back and re-assess the games this team has played.

LSU struggled defensively in a win at Washington, but still only allowed 23 points, seven of which came on the final play of the game. That's right, take out the final two minutes of prevent and the last play of the game and the Huskies score the exact amount they put up on USC. Yeah, the same USC that has was all the rage until they lost to the very same U-Dub team the Tigers beat. And LSU traveled across two time zones in doing so.

Vanderbilt came to town for the home opener and took its 23-9 loss before going home. The Tigers only led by seven in the fourth quarter before a put-the-game-away touchdown drive. However, the previously porous defense allowed just 12 first downs, one-third of which came on the Commodores only scoring drive. Sure the Vandy offense isn't much, but it's defense just showed better against Mississippi State than Auburn did (15 points compared to 24).

Every one knows ULL is supposed to come in, pick up a check and take their 48-3 pounding. Unfortunately, it didn't work out exactly that way, but it's not like the game was ever in doubt. LSU was methodical, although not spectacular, and scored touchdowns all three times it was in the red zone. Twice, the Tigers started drives inside its own five-yard line and had drives of 10 plays or more that just didn't result in points. They did, however, allow LSU to "flip the field" which helped lead to shorter, scoring drives after that.

To me, the unease about LSU's first three games comes from two areas. First is last season's 8-5 record. Tiger fans are chomping at the bit to find something that makes them believe that is behind them. They haven't seen it just yet and are beginning to show their nerves. Second is the way LSU has pummeled teams in the past. I've often said over the past five or six years that "nobody throttles a mediocre team like LSU." There were days when the Tigers would trounce a bowl-bound Kentucky team 45-0 or Louisiana Tech 49-7 after being up 42-0 at halftime. That's not happening this year.

However, I don't think anything is a reason to sound the alarm just yet. While, clearly the performances could have been better, I think it's a fair statement to say that the team has been better each time out than it was the time before. I don't think, at any point in any of the three games, that I've felt like LSU even had a chance to lose. There's something to be said for that. Also, as Richard so astutely pointed out earlier, we're not seeing signs of the things that plagued us last year. Jordan Jefferson is protecting the ball. The defense isn't a sieve. The team's turnover margin is a healthy +3 and even the penalties are down to just 13 for 113 yards total (compared to 22 for 167 for opponents).

These are all signs that the foundation is there for this team to do some very good things. The only real thing I see missing at this point is the big play. Let's face it, a couple more big plays and the margins of victory are a little larger, the highlights look a little better and everyone is happier. The team's longest run is 21 yards and that was just once. The two longest pass plays were both in game one and had Terrance Tolliver on the receiving end. Brandon LaFell's longest reception is 21 yards. And the return game has been downright pedestrian.

But is it such a stretch to believe that at some point, the big plays will come? There are game-breakers all over the LSU offense. At some point, you have to believe that the hole will open up for Keiland Williams and he will 4.4 his way for 60 yards. Or Terrance Tolliver will beat a defender on a deep ball with his 6'5" frame. Or Brandon LaFell will streak across the middle, catch one in stride and be off to the races. Or heaven forbid Russell Shephard get the ball in space (without fumbling of course).

Like most of you, I'm on edge too. But mostly because I'm aching for a return to the big time. Right now, LSU, despite being ranked seventh, is pretty much an afterthought in any college football discussion that doesn't take place in the state of Louisiana. The Tigers are as far under the radar as a top 10 team can be. Even the Georgia game will be easily overshadowed by Washington-Notre Dame and USC-Cal. And truth be told, I'm kind of okay with that. Let the team go unnoticed while working out its kinks and trying to put it all together.

Let them be an afterthought until finally they're put on that stage. On a Saturday Night in Death Valley. On Oct. 10 against the number one team in the country. That night, that game is when we want it all to come together in a perfect storm of defensive dominance and offensive execution. Until then, they work, they improve, but most importantly, they just keep winning.

Olympic Sports Report

Purple Reign — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:43:21 -0000

This definitely won't become a regular feature because of all the things I will write about, this will be the one that gets lost in the suffle. However, I do plan to give some of the less recognized sports some pub because, well, they deserve it. Every Division I athlete puts in just as much effort as football players and baseball players and do it not for the spotlight, but for the love of the game. I realize most of you won't read it, but we're going to throw it to the wall anyway and see what sticks every once in a while.

The LSU volleyball team has come agonizingly to upsetting two top 10 teams this year. Against both Stanford and Nebraska, the Tigers led two games to one, but couldn't close the deal and lost 3-2 both times. The team is on the cusp of the top 25 and gets another shot at a big win when it plays Long Beach State this weekend. Brittnee Cooper and Brittney Johnson have been outstanding so far.
The LSU soccer team, ranked in the preseason, played extremely well in an exhibition to beat a top 20 Texas squad. However, exhibitions in soccer are similar to what you might see in the NFL, so take it with the appropriate grain of salt. Since dropping their opener to Memphis, the Tigers have been unbeaten in their last three. Melissa Clark leads the way with three goals while Mo Isom has pitched two shutouts in four contests.
The LSU women's golf team is playing in the national collegiate match play event and dominated Georgia. However, a date with top-seeded Florida awaits.
The LSU men's golf squad is ranked 17th nationally.

Times are slow early on. Hopefully there will be more great things to report on down the road.

Analyzing What I Was Looking For

Purple Reign — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:02:46 -0000

Prior to LSU's victory over Washington, I wrote about eight things I was looking for out of the Tigers on Saturday night. Here's my run down of LSU's performance based on those eight points.

1) Jordan Jefferson - Jefferson played well enough. He did everything I was looking for. He managed the game well. He played within himself and made plays when he had to. He did not turn the ball over. He did not take sacks. The biggest thing was he went into a hostile environment (did you see the camera shaking all night) and handled himself and the offense with composure. That's no easy feat for the youngest starting quarterback in the SEC.

2) Russell Shepard - Talk about your let downs. Earlier in the week Miles said Shepard may touch the ball as many as 10-12 times. However, I don't recall seeing him on the field at all. Now we must wait for his debut another seven days.

3) The Defensive Line - This was a disappointment. LSU managed a single sack and there was not consistent pressure. I realize the team was facing a very mobile, smart quarterback, but if it struggled this much with Jake Locker, facing Tim Tebow is going to be a nightmare. I did like what I saw out of Drake Nevis. I'm not the best judge of line play, but I seemed to notice him making plays a lot whether it was on the outside or wherever. However, outside of him, everyone else was pretty listless.

4) Patrick Peterson and Chad Jones - Patrick Peterson was a man amongst boys on Saturday night. He was everywhere and showed that he is ready to be the best cornerback in the SEC this season. However, Jones was mostly non-existent from what I remember. He had just four tackles and I don't recall any big plays or pass breakups. He quarterbacks the secondary and LSU gave up 321 yards through the air and couldn't get U-Dub off the field on third down. He needs to be a playmaker for the Tigers defense to be successful.

5) The Return Game - Its tough to judge this. LSU forced just three punts and returned one while a second went for a touchback. The Huskies kicked short all night and while the Tigers had no kickoff returns of more than 10 yards, they started past the 30-yard line all four times they started a drive after a kickoff. We'll reserve judgement for a week.

6) Wide Receivers - On Friday I asked, "Will Terrance Tolliver finally become a stud?" Um, yes. He and Brandon LaFell are now likely the best 1-2 punch in the SEC, and maybe the nation. The problem is that there is still no third or fourth receiver. Like, at all. No other receiver had a catch and only once was another one targeted, Chris Mitchell. Reuben Randle was not used. See above about Shepard. I was curious about Chris Tolliver. I still am. What about Trindon Holliday?

7) Killer Instinct - Through the middle of the decade, from 2003-07, LSU would just destroy teams that it was better than. It would leave no doubt. That didn't happen last year and it certainly didn't happen last night. The Tigers still need to learn how to start fast and keep the pressure on like it did against Georgia Tech in the Peach Chik-Fil-A Bowl.

8) The Backfield - I was interested in seeing what mad scientist Gary Crowton would come up with given his never-ending string of gamebreakers. However, we didn't see Russell Shepard. Charles Scott was average and even lost a fumble. It was interesting to see Jefferson line up in the "Pistol" with Keiland Williams behind him and run a speed option out of it. Williams looked as good as I've seen him (outside of the Virginia Tech game in 2007). Richard Murphy didn't get a touch and I don't remember seeing him much. Trindon Holliday, the fastest man in college (not just football, all of college) only got one touch.

Overall, I was slightly disappointed in LSU's play, particularly on defense. I'm hoping the offense was holding things back, which obviously it was by not playing Shephard. However, it seems like getting him and Randle as many live snaps as possible would be nothing but helpful with Georgia and Florida only a month away.

I'm also trying to convince myself that the 2500-mile trip had something to do with it also. As always, we'll know more next week.

"I can tell you this, that they have a much easier road to travel," Miles said. "They’re going to p...

Purple Reign — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:04:06 -0000

"I can tell you this, that they have a much easier road to travel," Miles said. "They’re going to play real knockdown drag-outs with UCLA and Washington, Cal-Berkeley, Stanford — some real juggernauts." (emphasis mine)

Miles Calls Out Pac 10
I'd forgotten the statement until today. That was Miles two summers ago when talking about the possibility of LSU playing USC for the national championships. I have to say I agree with the sentiment though, and lets add Oregon to the list after last night. However, it has apparently been bulletin board material around Seattle over the offseason.

I'm a fan. This is what I am interested in.

Purple Reign — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:28:10 -0000

Here at ATVS, we all bring our own unique insight to LSU and creative writing style. But when it comes down to it, we're just fans. We're the guy that wakes up at 6 a.m. to go to the grocery store and pick up fresh cut meat at the grocery store for the grill/tailgate. We're the guy that wakes up at 11:30 a.m., barely, with a throbbing headache from the previous nights activities (usually not from being on the wrong end of a LaGarrette Blount right cross). And everything in between. We are just like you and we're all excited about wiping the 8-5 taste out of our mouth. We're all excited to see LSU v.2009. After the jump is specifically is what I can't wait see out of the Tigers on Saturday night.

1) Jordan Jefferson - I think this one is probably at the top of most people's list. The quarterback situation last year was miserably unstable. Everyone knows that LSU is dripping with talent all over the field on offense. Brandon LaFell, Charles Scott and Ciron Black are among the best players in the SEC. You've got gamebreakers all over the place and one of the league's best offensive lines. The only question is Jefferson. I don't really need to see him be spectacular or make big plays. I just want him to play smart and play confident. He has the tools and the talent around him to be successful. I want him to play within himself and make a play when the opportunity presents itself.

2) Russell Shepard - In theory, watching the defense should be second on my list at worst. However, there has been so much buzz around Shepard it's hard not to be pumped to see him with the ball in his hands. How will LSU use him? Wide receiver? Running Back? Quarterback? Is he really the Reggie Bush/Percy Harvin-type gamebreaker that could elevate the Tiger offense to something utterly special?

3) The Defensive Line - As much talent as LSU has had on the defensive line over the past two years, it has struggled mightily to put pressure on quarterbacks consistently. I want to see the D-Line get after it. I want Rahim Alem in the backfield all night. Can Pep Levingston step up at the other end spot? He wasn't a four or five-star recruit like everyone else on LSU's line and he's got big shoes to fill after taking over for Tyson Jackson. Charles Alexander seems like he's been on campus for a decade. Will he finally make it through the season healthy and be a difference maker. And Al Woods and everything you want in a tackle. Can he be the rock against the run LSU will need to match up with Alabama, Florida and Georgia this year?

4) Patrick Peterson and Chad Jones - Peterson and Jones are arguably the two most talented defensive players in the SEC this side of Eric Berry. LSU's pass defense last season was suspect on a good day and down right awful the day after Thanksgiving. These two players have the opportunity and ability to turn last year's weakness into a strength. But outside of just playing the pass better, I want to see them ball hawk. Creating turnovers as well as flipping field position and momentum is a huge part of college football. These two guys should be every offensive coordinators worst nightmare.

5) The Return Game - This is probably my biggest pet peeve about LSU's football team over the past few years. It baffles me that a team with the best athletes in the country (yes, I'm counting Florida and USC too) can't have a better punt and kickoff return game. It's amazing that even though the Tigers have set up the return on every punt I have seen in the last few years, there aren't any better returns and there are that many fair catches. Hell, if you're going to fair catch 75 percent of the time anyway, go after the punt and try to block one every once in a while. And Keiland Williams just seems like he caught a toss sweep on kickoff returns.

6) Wide Receivers - We all know that we have a legit No. 1 receiver in Brandon LaFell. But, after that, it's just potential. I'm interested to see who the second, third and fourth receivers are and how they're used. I want to see who steps up. Will Terrance Tolliver finally become a stud? How good is Reuben Randle? What unknown, overshadowed receiver will become a solid option. Can Russell Shepard and Trindon Holliiday be difference makers on the outside?

7) A Killer Instinct - Throughout most of this decade, I've often said that, "nobody throttles a mediocre team like LSU." The Tigers used to get a team down, then step on the throat and crush them. It was laughable how they would destroy a mid-level bowl team 38-7 and rest the starters the whole fourth quarter. The team seemed to be missing that last year and it cost them in the Arkansas game and almost the Auburn game. Hell, LSU only beat Mississippi State by 10.

8) The Backfield - LSU has so many options at running back, and even quarterback if you include Shephard in the mix. How creative will Gary Crowton be with his personnel groupings? I've been aching to see Charles Scott and Keiland Williams in the same backfield for two years. Will LSU run any Wing-T type plays with Shephard at QB, Scott and either Williams or Holliday as the pitch man. Or just straight up triple-option plays? Where do Richard Murphy and Stevan Ridley fit in? It reminds me of 1997 when Herb Tyler was coming back with Kevin Faulk, Cecil Collins, Rondell Mealey and Tommy Banks. The possibilities are endless.

What are you most interested and excited about to see in LSU's season opener?

Poll

What are you most interested in seeing about LSU's 2009 team during Saturday's season opener?

Jordan Jefferson

45 votes

Russell Shepard

39 votes

Defensive Line

19 votes

Secondary

18 votes

121 votes | Poll has closed

Your Abbreviated Pundit Round Up

Purple Reign — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:44:09 -0000

On Fridays, I plan to search every nook and cranny of the internet for game predictions for Saturday. WIthout further ado, your Opening Weekend punditry.

Chris Low, ESPN's SEC blogger:

LSU 34, Washington 10: It’s never easy to go all the way across the country to play a football game. That said, the Tigers will make this one look easy, as Jordan Jeffersonserves notice that he’s one of the best up-and-coming quarterbacks in the league and the defense returns to form under John Chavis.

That's what we're all hoping for at least.

Bruce Feldman, ESPN Insider (subscription link):

LSU Tigers 27, Washington Huskies 17 (Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

I really like the Tigers' running game. They could have a bruising attack similar to what Alabama had in 2008. However, this will be a fascinating debut for new Washington coach Steve Sarkisian and the re-emergence of QB Jake Locker. I don't think U-Dub has enough firepower to pull off a shocker, but I will not be surprised if the Huskies keep it interesting deep into the second half.

College Football News, who I consider the best in the business:

What Will Happen: Washington will score first. LSU will score often. The Huskies will ride the wave of Locker’s return and Sarkisian’s debut for a while, but their lack of consistency on both lines will prematurely end the celebration. Too much Scott and too many whiffs from the offensive line will squelch hopes for a defining Week 1 shocker.
CFN Prediction: LSU 35 ... Washington 17 Line: LSU -17

Apparently, Poseur is as smart as the rest of these people. Kind of scary.

Stewart Mandel, of CNNSI.com

LSU's 2,000-plus mile trek to Seattle will mark the longest road trip in school history. The inevitable horde of purple-and-gold-clad supporters gathering in the stands should make the Tigers' trek a little easier, though ... as should the fact they're facing a team that failed to win a game in 2008.

Inevitable? Less than a decade ago, bowl games were worried about LSU fans traveling. My, how far we've come.

CBS Sportsline. Nothing to read here.

Baton Rouge Advocate, the homers:

Randy Rosetta - LSU 31-14
Defense, Jefferson take big first step

Gary Laney - LSU 38-17
Toughest part may be getting there

Nick Daschel, a Pac 10 beat writer also likes the Tigers, big:

Louisiana State at Washington (Tigers by 18): The Steve Sarkisian era will almost certainly start with a loss, but we’ll be looking for a couple of things nonetheless. Can the Huskies slow down a good running game? Has Jake Locker improved as a passer? Will Washington fight after getting knocked down a few times? Tigers 41, Huskies 21.

Things I Noticed

Purple Reign — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:11:30 -0000

Earlier today I wrote about what interested me in tonight's Thursday night games. So, what did I see?

Go SEC! South Carolina suffocated NC State giving the league a big non-conference road win against a BCS league.
South Carolina's defense is for real. They were everywhere on the field. However, I have a feeling NC State's offense isn't quite up to snuff right now. But still, 133 yards allowed to a team that won 10 games last year? Solid.
It's the same old South Carolina. Their offense is terrible. They barely had 250 total yards. Steven Garcia went 13-for-22 for 148 yards and a pick. Their starting running back ran 23 times for 66 yards. That's like falling down after you take the handoff. USC certainly isn't going to scare anyone on offense. It's only scoring drive came after a fumble inside the 30.
If Oregon is worth anything, then Boise State is for real. It was their defense that surprised me tonight. They were all over the place. Oregon didn't have a first down in the first half. Read that again. They only had four the whole game and racked up a grand total of 138 yards. The offense wasn't what's you'd expect out of a Bronco squad, but they dominated one of the best three teams in the Pac 10. That's really all that matters in the end.
Chris Peterson needs to go one size smaller on his gameday shirt.
I enjoyed the game, but the blue turf is tough to watch on TV.
If Oregon is supposed to be what passes for a test for USC in the Pac 10 this year, then the Pac 10 is still not going to get any respect.
Shaking hands before a game is a joke. The announcers are talking about it right now while Oregon's running back just laid out a Boise State player. As if shaking hands before the game means everything will be all well and good. That is so stupid. Yes, the Oregon player was out of line in his actions, but the fact that they were forced to shake hands while not caring four hours earlier means nothing. Why does the media harp on stupid crap like this?

What Interests Me Tonight

Purple Reign — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:19:04 -0000

Unlike Richard's post below, I am a die hard college football fan. I spend a good portion of my day wasting away reading about almost anything related to it that I can find. I can't wait to get to the local pub tonight, kill some brew and watch the 2009 season get started. It's finally time to end the talking (and believe me, living in Alabama, it has been non-stop since ... well, since the Tide beat Clemson last year) and start the hitting.

If at all possible I always like to try and find a rooting interest for games that are on TV. Sometimes it's just because I have a personal dislike or like for certain players or coaches, but most of the time it's based on how the outcome could theoretically affect LSU many moons from now.

I almost always cheer for the SEC in non-conference play (I say almost, the R! T! R! crowd makes it difficult sometimes). Sure, it doesn't really matter, but it does a little. The amount of respect the SEC has gained over the past six years, and in particular, the last three, becomes a tiebreaker for a spot in the national championship game. See 2007. That comes from performing well outside of the conference, particularly in marquee games. But even in mid-tier ones like South Carolina-NC State tonight. The SEC will face the ACC somewhere between 6-10 times this season (forgive me for not counting). It would not be helpful to lose more of those games than to win. So, I'll likely pull for the Gamecocks just to make the league look good. Besides that, I've always kind of liked Steve Spurrier, don't ask me why. Maybe it was because he told you he was going to beat you, then backed it up and poked fun at you afterwards. And there was nothing you could do about it but fume. It also wouldn't hurt to see a solid South Carolina team, one that might make Florida or Georgia sweat later on in the season.

Later tonight, I will absolutely be watching the Boise State-Oregon match up. It has the huge storyline of whether Boise can be a BCS buster this year. They're schedule is is pretty much tonight, then 11 wins, so it's sort of an all-or-nothing proposition for them. It's also two top 20 teams facing each other, which is always fun. And as much as I root for the SEC, I tend to root against other conferences in games like this. I want the Pac 10s second best team to get pummeled by a WAC team (even if it is Boise State). This game will also remind me of the good old days when you could turn on a BYU-Wyoming game at 11 p.m. and watch each team hang half a hundred on the scoreboard. What's better than buzzing, eating cold, leftover pizza and taking in a couple wide-open offenses cranking out big play after big play. I say not much.

So, let's tee it up and finally get this show on the road! It's not quite Saturday, but it's the appetizer to my main course. And I do love my cheese fries!

From the Notes

Purple Reign — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:19:13 -0000

Every week, I plan to go through the game notes so wonderfully put together by the respective SID staff at LSU and its weekly opponent to bring you the highlights. I say plan because, invariably something will happen on a Tuesday and I'll completely forget. It really is interesting some of the nuggets of information you can learn, even if they are completely irrelevant to the outcome of the game. So, without further ado, the opening installment of "From the Notes."

Saturday's game marks the farthest LSU will have ever traveled for a football game, a mere 2,550 miles. If you're planning on driving, leave Wednesday and take this with you. The distance of the trip is also changing the way LSU travels. The team will fly out on Thursday after practice and return home on Sunday afternoon. Generally, the team leaves the day before the game and returns on Saturday night.
It is LSU's first game on the west coast since 1984. Yeah, we bitch-slapped USC, 23-3, that year. All time, the Tigers are 12-3 against the Pac 10, including a 40-14 win over Washington in 1982. That's when the Huskies were good.
LSU's 42 wins over the last four years is the most in school history, but you probably already knew that. That's what turns me on about 'cha, your attention to detail.
Yes, LSU went 8-5 last year. But four of those losses were to teams that finished the year ranked in the top 14 (Florida - 1; Alabama - 6; Georgia - 13; Ole Miss - 14). No, I still don't know how the Arkansas game happened. I'm looking for rationalization, I've just been unable to find it.
I found this one particularly fascinating. LSU has won 19 straight games against non-conference opponents. That's the longest streak in the nation and encompasses the entire Les Miles era. That's right, he's never lost to a team not in the SEC.
LSU hasn't just beaten its non-conference opponents, they've marched the path of utter destruction. During the current 19-game streak, the Tigers have outscored opponents 694 to 170, or an average of 36.5 to 8.9 per game. And it hasn't been just beating up patsies. Against BCS opponents, its 285 to 85 in seven games, an average of 40.7 to 12.1.
LSU has won 16 straight games on the ESPN family of networks dating back to 2005. The Tigers have won 15 straight on the flagship dating back to 2002. Can we just go ahead and get a TV deal with them?
Charles Alexander. Dalton Hilliard. Kevin Faulk. That's the list of players in LSU history with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Charles Scott is poised to add his name to that list. I'm predicting he does it against Alabama. In a victory of course.
Ciron Black returns to man the left tackle spot and his start on Saturday will be his 41st in a row. Since the 2002 season, only Black and Andrew Whitworth (52 straight starts) have opened a game at left tackle for LSU. Stability sure is nice. Chris Faulk, you're next.
We all know that LSU kicks serious butt on a "Saturday Night in Death Valley," but it's not just there. In its last 24 night games, the Tigers are 23-1 (darn you Florida 2008). Seriously, if LSU could keep CBS from picking up games to play in the afternoon, it might never lose again.
Since 2003, LSU is 27-9 away from home. That's the fifth-best road record in the country behind USC, Texas, Georgia and Boise State.
Washington is one of only four teams to have never played a Division I-AA/Football Championship Subdivision Team. The others: Notre Dame, USC, UCLA. (Okay, Michigan State hasn't either, but they open with Montana State. Why would you ruin a perfectly good record?)
The 7:30 p.m. kickoff is the latest start for a game in Husky Stadium history.
This marks the 90th season of football in Husky Stadium, where Washington is 344-163-21 (.671) all time. The capacity, at 72,500, is relativaly large for the Pac 10, but relatively small for the SEC-not-counting-Vandy-or-Mississippi-State-or-Ole-Miss.
For you academics out there, U-Dub ranks as the 11th best public university in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. LSU comes in 64th. Yeah, well my dad can beat up your dad.

Lagniappe

Purple Reign — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:46:15 -0000

Brilliant.