Game Thread: LSU @ Mittippi Tate

[crimsonaudio]

Oregon isn't an offensive powerhouse?

Not against decent SEC defenses, no.

 

[BamaDude06]

Oregon was vastly overrated this season. They lost three starters on their offensive line and both of their starting receivers from the championship game. They had their top two rushers each had injuries, forcing them to use a 160lb true freshman back that fumbled twice. That's not an offensive powerhouse. Last year they were, but not yet this year.

Mississippi State is not an offensive powerhouse either. They put up huge numbers their first two games, but they played the #120 (Memphis) and #111 (*U) in total defenses. That's out of 120. Dan Mullen is the most predictable playcaller. LSU didn't look bad, but they didn't look all world either.

 

[twofbyc]

Oregon isn't an offensive powerhouse?

Not in my book...they (typically) score a lot of points (except when they play SEC teams lately), and they have a fast-paced offense, but a powerhouse? No, not IMO.
An offensive powerhouse, IMO, would be an offense that could run or pass successfully, practically at will - that is not the ducks. Do they score a lot? Yes (again, usually). But even as good as the Barn's D ended up last year (and that wasn't great, but it was good enough), ducks didn't own them.
So, again, no, not an offensive powerhouse. IMO

 

[RedStar]

Not in my book...they (typically) score a lot of points (except when they play SEC teams lately), and they have a fast-paced offense, but a powerhouse? No, not IMO.
An offensive powerhouse, IMO, would be an offense that could run or pass successfully, practically at will - that is not the ducks. Do they score a lot? Yes (again, usually). But even as good as the Barn's D ended up last year (and that wasn't great, but it was good enough), ducks didn't own them.
So, again, no, not an offensive powerhouse. IMO

Not agreeing or disagreeing with you, but who do you consider an offensive powerhouse?

 

[twofbyc]

Not agreeing or disagreeing with you, but who do you consider an offensive powerhouse?

You really want me to throw up, don't you? I think the Sooners, in the recent past and when key players were healthy, were the closest thing to a "powerhouse"...other than (gag, puke, clean up vomit) the barn.
No one stopped them last year, or this year (so far), when it mattered. That, to me, is an offensive powerhouse. Moreso last year, due to one player. This year the power company will pull the plug on them, I think.
There might be others, like the smurfs, but any of them would have to play a good SEC D (not Georgia) and come out on top.

 

[wood78221]

Same here. Was State completely lost out there, or did LSU just look that good? I think the reality may fall somewhere in the middle.

LSU wont face many(if any) offenses that run 3 straight QB draws when it's first and goal from the ten yard line. Likewise, LSU allowed several first downs in which Relf appeared to be dancing the robot in slow motion.

IMHO, LSU looked good, but not unbeatable. Their O is lacking. Lee looks like a senior QB who is just competent enough to keep his team from losing (think Joe Bauserman at OSU or even Todd Boeckman a few years ago for OSU.) But I'll admit that Ware looks better than Ridley did at any time last season, and to date, appears that he's just the slightest notch below the elite 2 RB's of the SEC, Richardson and Lattimore.

But no one on that LSU D looks as good as they did last year. Mathieu is no Peterson and Brockers is no Drake Nevis (who I still think may have been the best DT in the SEC last year.) Lots of their DL are actually undersized. Most of their DE's are LB's in our system. (Mingo, Montgomery, Maclin)

I'm not trying to overlook LSU by any means, but they don't scare me as much as they did after watching the Oregon game.

I feel the same way. I think Oregon was way overrated, and I think some people jumped the gun on LSU. However, I think they have a great team, but I feel we have better offensive skill set among our players than they do. But as far as the D is concerned, I think maybe we are real close.

I was not aware about their DL being undersized? I never paid attention...

 

[RedStar]

I was not aware about their DL being undersized? I never paid attention...

I guess it depends on who you compare them to. Their DE, Sam Montgomery, is 74 lbs lighter than one of our DE, Jesse Williams :biggrin2:

But who isn't undersized compared to our guys?

Alabama Depth Chart

LSU Depth Chart

If you just look at us on paper, every match-up we have is unfair. We're skilled enough to win every game, all we have to do is play to our potential.

 

[wood78221]

I guess it depends on who you compare them to. Their DE, Sam Montgomery, is 74 lbs lighter than one of our DE, Jesse Williams :biggrin2:

But who isn't undersized compared to our guys?

Alabama Depth Chart

LSU Depth Chart

If you just look at us on paper, every match-up we have is unfair. We're skilled enough to win every game, all we have to do is play to our potential.

You are right! I like

 

[Rush]

I didn't see nearly as much of the game as I would've liked.

And, admittedly, I'm not nearly as much of as student of the game as most of yourselves here.

That being said, LSU's defense looked ferocious...

[Reiniscent of Bama's last week - between Penn State's 1st and last drives...]

 

[Fishhead]

LSU's defensive speed is less than ours,IMO, our running backs are better, and with Darius Hanks, I like our receivers better, no question if Duron Carter qualifys, again IMO.

LSU's D should've dominated. I think the difference will be apparent when we go to Starkville....but the real difference will be Nov. 5th in BDS.

Wow...lulz. I wish our defense hadn't given up 139 yds rushing, but alas...they have...in three games, two against ranked run first teams.

MSU was averaging 588 yds/offense thru two games, and last night had 188. They were averaging 320+ on the ground, last night they had less than 50! I wish we had a dominant defense like you think we should. Brilliance.

Fact is, LSU has faced two ranked teams on the road, and will do so against another next Saturday. I'm pretty sure we know a lot more about LSU right now than anyone does about Bama. Obviously both teams are defense heavy, and that's what wins championships. But LSU has at least been tested.

And I don't get the comments about Lee, when it's very clear the LSU offense has been far better at this point in the year compared to last year with Jefferson. Lee has completed 30 of his last 38 passes for 349 yds, 2 TDs, one interception. That INT is his first in 132 attempts.

Maybe one day he'll be a decent qb and LSU will have a decent defense.

 

[red55]

But no one on that LSU D looks as good as they did last year.

I'm not sure how much you saw of LSU last year, but long-time observers of LSU football think this defense is clearly better than last year and probably the best since 2003. I have no idea how they match up with Bama, but they match up very favorably with last year's LSU defense.

Lots of their DL are actually undersized. Most of their DE's are LB's in our system.

But LSU plays a four-man line with sizable tackles and quick ends. John Chavis will never trade speed for size. LSU has two DE's with 4.5 speed. Two linebackers are converted safeties.

 

[WMack4Bama]

I'm not sure how much you saw of LSU last year, but long-time observers of LSU football think this defense is clearly better than last year and probably the best since 2003. I have no idea how they match up with Bama, but they match up very favorably with last year's LSU defense.

But LSU plays a four-man line with sizable tackles and quick ends. John Chavis will never trade speed for size. LSU has two DE's with 4.5 speed. Two linebackers are converted safeties.

And one of your safeties (Reid) looks like a converted linebacker. That kid reminds me of Ronnie Lott...And I've been high on Mathieu since before the season started. I don't have any qualms with LSU's defense. They're legit. It's the nature of the offense that I would be concerned about if I were an LSU fan. Against teams like Tennessee and Arkansas whose entire game is to go vertical, the defense will give up at least SOME points. And if LSU falls behind by more than one score, then that 3 yards & a cloud of dust, pound it down their throats til they love it strategy is out the door. The perimeter weapons are there with Randall, Beckam, and (soon enough) Shepard. It will be then, and only then, that we see if Jarett Lee really HAS taken that next step. Because then, it goes from, "Jarret, just don't lose the game" to "Jarret, we need you to win this one, buddy."

 

[Fishhead]

And one of your safeties (Reid) looks like a converted linebacker. That kid reminds me of Ronnie Lott...And I've been high on Mathieu since before the season started. I don't have any qualms with LSU's defense. They're legit. It's the nature of the offense that I would be concerned about if I were an LSU fan. Against teams like Tennessee and Arkansas whose entire game is to go vertical, the defense will give up at least SOME points. And if LSU falls behind by more than one score, then that 3 yards & a cloud of dust, pound it down their throats til they love it strategy is out the door. The perimeter weapons are there with Randall, Beckam, and (soon enough) Shepard. It will be then, and only then, that we see if Jarett Lee really HAS taken that next step. Because then, it goes from, "Jarret, just don't lose the game" to "Jarret, we need you to win this one, buddy."

This I can say is logical. I wouldn't say I'm 'worried' about the offense, because again...it's clearly better than last season's. LSU found itself in games last season where we had to pass, and when we needed it, we had it. Our losses last year actually were on the defense. (Arky and AU) We threw the ball well against OM as well, when the defense was trying to give up the game.

LSU hasn't needed it this year, but with Lee at the helm, I have little doubt it'll be there if needed. After all, it was Lee who provided it when needed last season. Tennessee, UF, and even in the end against you guys, although that was less about 'needing it' and more about Jefferson getting hurt in that game. But it was Lee who came in the game when we were behind against UF and Tennessee, and promptly led the team down the field thru the air.

Just don't see anything wrong with his performance thus far. Kid's played well, only one INT on a throw when it appears Randle ran the wrong route, or at least Lee THOUGHT he was supposed to run a different route. Not like he's throwing ducks a la 2008.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I'm not sure how much you saw of LSU last year, but long-time observers of LSU football think this defense is clearly better than last year and probably the best since 2003. I have no idea how they match up with Bama, but they match up very favorably with last year's LSU defense.

Honestly, from the two games I've seen, LSU's defense looks better than I remember it looking in YEARS. And that's saying something...

 

[GrayTide]

I agree with Red and Fish that LSU's offense is better than last years and it is, IMO because of better RBs and I may sound like a broken record, but both Lee and Mettenberger are better QBs than Jefferson. Jefferson is certainly more athletic than the others, but as far as QB skills they are light years ahead of him. After the Arkansas game we should know how our defense stacks up against LSU's. PSU's offense was not as good as MSU's, so we will have to wait a couple of weeks to get a clearer picture.

 

[red55]

I agree with Red and Fish that LSU's offense is better than last years and it is, IMO because of better RBs and I may sound like a broken record, but both Lee and Mettenberger are better QBs than Jefferson. Jefferson is certainly more athletic than the others, but as far as QB skills they are light years ahead of him.

There will come a time this season when LSU will miss Jefferson's legs. The threat of a quarterback draw at any time kept linebackers guessing. And that downfield block he threw on the reverse in the Bama game last year is not something that Lee is likely to be doing. But I agree, a passing quarterback serves LSU better since the running backs are quite capable.

 

[BEATtutorsee]

Not against decent SEC defenses, no.

Exactly. Oregon's offense is pedestrian at best against even a good SEC defense IMHO, let alone a great one.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Exactly. Oregon's offense is pedestrian at best against even a good SEC defense IMHO, let alone a great one.

auburn and Memphis defenses made Miss St offense look fantastic. NOT.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

I agree with Red and Fish that LSU's offense is better than last years and it is, IMO because of better RBs and I may sound like a broken record, but both Lee and Mettenberger are better QBs than Jefferson. Jefferson is certainly more athletic than the others, but as far as QB skills they are light years ahead of him. After the Arkansas game we should know how our defense stacks up against LSU's. PSU's offense was not as good as MSU's, so we will have to wait a couple of weeks to get a clearer picture.

Gray,

I respectfully disagree with your comparison between the PSU offense and the MSU offense. PSU looks average because the Bama defense made them look average. no? MSU appears more productive on the scoreboard since they played one of the worst teams in the FBS in Memphis and they look like an offensive juggernaut against another BAD auburn defense who is on track to be worst than last season!! :conf3:

When MSU came across a stout defense in LSU, they look ordinary and predictable. they had 2 maybe 3 playmakers on offense (Relf, Ballard and Bumphis). once the depleted MSU Oline took the field, LSU could solely focused on Relf and Ballard. they blitz more often than not to pressured Relf who is more of RB/FB playing QB. let's wait and see what PSU does the rest of the way in the BIG 10 before we pass judgement on their offense.

At the end of the day, MSU was what we thought they were. LSU just exposed them early for the rest of the country to see. IF they would have won auburn, I can at least say their season was a success. :rolleye2:

 

[CenLA Tiger]

I've read a lot of critical analysis about LSU and their play these first three weeks. I've also heard how much better Bama is than LSU in all aspects.

I will reserve judgement until Bama plays someone other than:

Kent State
A much overrated #23 Penn State with a very poor QB
North Texas (this weekend)

I will also reserve my critique of your QB's. All I have seen so far is 2 INT's from both against the schedule I mentioned above.

Individual Statistics
PASSING	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Yd/A	TD	Int	Rating
Jarrett Lee	40	59	67.8	444	7.5	3	1	144.4
Zach Mettenberger	8	11	72.7	92	8.4	1	0	173.0
RUSHING		Att	Yds	Avg	TD
Spencer Ware		54	226	4.2	3
Michael Ford		40	218	5.5	4

PASSING	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Yd/A	TD	Int	Rating
AJ McCarron	33	54	61.1	389	7.2	2	2	126.4
Phillip Sims	7	14	50.0	73	5.2	0	2	65.2
RUSHING		Att	Yds	Avg	TD
Trent Richardson		39	148	3.8	5
Eddie Lacy		19	143	7.5	1