LSU gets banged up in loss to Bama

2009 LSU Tigers ... Head Coach: Les Miles

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 10-2
2009 Record: 7-2

9/5 at Washington W 31-23
9/12 Vanderbilt W 23-9
9/19 UL Lafayette  W 31-3
9/26 at Miss State W 30-26
10/3 at Georgia W 20-13
10/10 Florida L 13-3
10/17 OPEN DATE
10/24 Auburn W 31-10
10/31 at Tulane W 42-0
11/7 at Alabama L 24-15
11/14 Louisiana Tech
11/21 at Ole Miss
11/28 Arkansas

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 9-3
2008 Record: 8-5

8/30 Appalachian St W 41-13
9/6  POSTPONED vs. Troy
9/13 North Texas W 41-3
9/20 at Auburn W 26-21
9/27 Mississippi St W 34-24
10/4 OPEN DATE 
10/11 at Florida L 51-21
10/18 at So. Carolina W 24-17
10/25 Georgia L 52-38
11/1 Tulane W 35-10
11/8 Alabama L 27-21 OT
11/15 Troy W 41-30
11/22 Ole Miss L 31-13
11/28 at Arkansas L 31-30
Chick-fil-A Bowl
12/31 Georgia Tech W 38-3

LSU Tigers

Oct. 7
at Alabama 24 … LSU 15
Julio Jones took a pass 73 yards for a touchdown and Leigh Tiffin hit three field goals as Alabama survived a battle to earn the West title and a date with Florida. LSU took the early lead on a 12-yard touchdown catch from DeAngelo Peterson, and took a 15-10 lead going into the fourth quarter with a eight-yard dash from Stevan Ridley. But LSU decided to go for two and missed. Bama scored 14 unanswered points, helped by an apparent missed call on a Patrick Patterson interception that would’ve given the ball to the Tigers down six. Instead, the Tide got a 40-yard field goal from Tiffin to put the game away.
Player of the Game: Alabama RB Mark Ingram ran 22 times for 144 yards and caught five passes for 30 yards.
LSU: Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 10-17, 114 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Charles Scott, 13-83, Receiving: Terrence Tolliver, 4-46
Western Michigan: Passing: Greg McElroy, 19-34, 276 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Mark Ingram, 22-144, Receiving: Marquis Maze, 6-88 
What It All Means: LSU played well and wasn’t bad at running the ball early on, but the injuries were too much to overcome. Losing QB Jordan Jefferson to an ankle injury meant the Tide defense could tee off on the running game, there was no real fear of getting burned by Jarrett Lee, but the loss of Charles Scott to an apparent collarbone injury was a killer. There simply weren’t enough weapons to mount a comeback after the Tide stepped up late. The Tigers might have lost the West, and it’s not going to get a BCS bid with Alabama and Florida almost certain to get the two slots, but there’s no reason to not shoot for an 11-win season with winnable games against Louisiana Tech, Ole Miss, and Arkansas to finish the regular season.

Oct. 31
at LSU 42 … Tulane 0
Tulane never had a chance as LSU got up to an easy 21-0 halftime lead helped by a 19-yard Russell Shepard touchdown run and a 39-yard Brandon LaFell scoring grab. Charles Scott added two short scoring runs and LaFell made a 13-yard touchdown catch to turn the game into a blowout. Tulane managed just 216 yards of total offense and 26 rushing yards.
Player of the Game: LSU RB Charles Scott ran 18 times for 112 yards and two scores.
LSU: Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 11-17, 163 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 18-112, 2 TD, Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 4-85, 2 TD
Tulane: Passing: Ryan Griffin, 21-29, 163 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Andre Anderson, 11-27, Receiving: Jeremy Williams, 8-78 
What It All Means: If confidence is a big deal going into a game like the one LSU has to deal with against Alabama next week, this is the game the team needed to have. Charles Scott and the running game came up with a tremendous performance while the defensive line rolled up ten tackles for loss and two sacks dominating the Green Wave O line all game long. Jordan Jefferson threw a pick, but he was solid in a game he didn’t have to be razor sharp, and now it’s on to Bama. He’s going to have to be perfect against the Tide, and he’ll have to take more chances down the field to give Scott a chance to work. Jefferson has to keep the Bama safeties off the line.

Oct. 24
at LSU 31 … Auburn 10
LSU got two touchdown passes from Jordan Jefferson, one from 14 yards to Terrance Toliver and one from 17 yards to Brandon LaFell, and he ran for 15-yard score as part of a 24-0 LSU lead. Auburn finally got on the board with a 24-yard Wes Byrum field goal in the third, but Russell Shepard ended any comeback hopes with a 69-yard dash. The LSU defense held Auburn to 193 yards forcing three turnovers and coming up with four sacks. Auburn got into the end zone with three seconds to play on a one-yard Philip Lutzenkirchen catch.
Player of the Game: LSU QB Jordan Jefferson completed 21-of-31 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran 12 times for 26 yards and a score.
Auburn: Passing: Chris Todd, 8-14, 47 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Ben Tate, 18-67, Receiving: Eric Smith, 3-31
LSU: Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 21-31, 242 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Russell Shepard, 6-71, 1 TD, Receiving: Terrance Toliver, 9-86, 1 TD
What It All Means: That’s the LSU everyone has been waiting for. After struggling to get anything going against the Florida defense, and with a sputtering attack that has yet to show enough in the running game, the O needed QB Jordan Jefferson to step up and become a bigger factor. The call was answered with a terrific game, but now the running game has to be more consistent. Getting some big plays out of Russell Shepard was nice, but to be a true national title contender, which is what LSU still is, Charles Scott needs to be more of a factor and the defense, paced by Kelvin Sheppard and his 13 tackles against Auburn and Harry Coleman with his nine tackles two sacks, has to keep producing. 

Oct. 10
Florida 13 … at LSU 3
Florida, led by Tim Tebow, who played the entire game two weeks after suffering a concussion, pounded away up the middle time and again rushing for 193 yards and getting two Caleb Sturgis field goals and a 24-yard Riley Cooper touchdown pass on the way to the win. LSU managed just 162 yards of total offense and only threatened once, but chose to kick an 18-yard field goal in the second quarter after having the ball on fourth down from the one. Florida came up with five sacks and held on to the ball for 36:30.
Player of the Game: Florida LB Brandon Spikes made 11 tackles with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
LSU: Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 11-17, 96 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 13-53, Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 4-44
Florida: Passing: Tim Tebow, 11-16, 134 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jeffrey Demps, 16-86, Receiving: Aaron Hernandez, 6-70
What It All Means: Florida is playing like a team that knows what it’s capable of and does what it needs to do to win without too much of a problem. Part of that means not taking a whole slew of big chances, and part of that is relying on the defense that stuffed everything LSU was trying to do. However, there was some risk involved. Had LSU connected on a big play and done something to change things around, was Florida ready to respond? The receivers aren’t doing much and Tim Tebow didn’t appear back to being his old self, as much as he seemed to try. Against Arkansas next week, the offense might have to open it up a bit.
What It All Means: LSU is good enough to get by on athleticism alone against teams like Mississippi State and Georgia, but it wasn’t anywhere near good enough to beat a team like Florida. Almost no team is, but LSU didn’t take the chances needed to come up with the win. It was like it was waiting for something that was never going to happen. Even with the way the lines were getting pounded, the Tigers were still in the game late but Jordan Jefferson and the offense couldn’t move the ball a lick. Losing to Florida was a problem, but if the offense isn’t able to crank out a few more long, sustained scoring drives, the Tigers will lose to Auburn in two weeks.

Oct. 3
LSU 20 … at Georgia 13
It was a snoozer for three quarters with LSU holding a 6-0 lead on two Josh Jasper field goals, and then the fireworks began. The two teams traded short touchdowns, with Georgia’s Shaun Chapas catching a one-yard scoring pass and Charles Scott running it in from two yards out with just under three minutes to play. The Dawgs answered with a 79-yard drive in six plays with A.J. Green catching a jump ball for a 16-yard score with 1:09 to play. But he got hit with a questionable celebration penalty to help give LSU great field position. Two plays later, Scott rumbled through a tackle for a 33-yard touchdown for the game-winner with 46 seconds to play.
Player of the Game: LSU RB Charles Scott ran 19 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns
Georgia: Passing: Joe Cox, 18-34, 229 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Washaun Ealey, 8-33, Receiving: A.J. Green, 5-99, 1 TD
LSU: Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 18-27, 212 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 19-95, 2 TD, Receiving: Terrence Toliver, 6-76 
What It All Means: This isn’t a great team, but it’s great when it has to be. Whether it’s the goal line stand against Mississippi State, or in the final minutes against Georgia, the Tigers win … even if it’s not always pretty. The biggest plus out of the win was the way the lines played. The defensive front had its best performance of the year stuffing the Georgia running game cold, while the offensive line did what it had to do to help the running game grind out 156 yards. As good a win as this was, there are bigger fish out there with Florida, Auburn, and Alabama in the next month.

Sept. 26
LSU 30 … at Mississippi State 26
LSU needed a goal line stand to hold on against a game MSU. Patrick Peterson started off the scoring for the Tigers with a 37-yard interception return for a score, but Mississippi State battled back with two short Anthony Dixon touchdown runs, with the second helped by an LSU special teams miscue with a errant punt snap. And then the big plays kicked in with Brandon LaFell catching a 58-yard touchdown pass, his second score of the day, to seemingly give LSU a comfortable lead, but Marcus Green came up with a 50-yard scoring grab later in the third. Chad Jones gave LSU all the points it would need on a 93-yard punt return for a score, but the Tigers had to stop MSU four times from the one to save the win.
Player of the Game: LSU DB Chad Jones made seven tackles and returned a punt for the game-winning score
Mississippi State: Passing: Tyson Lee, 15-38, 172 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Anthony Dixon, 27-106, 2 TD, Receiving: Marcus Green 5-100, 1 TD
LSU: Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 15-28, 233 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Russell Shepard, 4-26, Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 6-101, 2 TD
What It All Means: LSU got the win, but it was a shaky win. The running game got stuffed all game long with the offensive front having yet another underwhelming game, while the run defense couldn’t stop Anthony Dixon until MSU got around the goal line late. LSU has the athletes to be far better, but the team hasn’t jelled and it hasn’t figured out how to put teams away. On the plus side, the special teams were strong with the Trindon Holliday and the kickoff return game finally showing signs of life, and Chad Jones saving the day with his punt return for a score. Punter Derek Helton also had a nice day. To beat Georgia next week, the offense has to find a way to get something going on the ground, and the O line suddenly has to become better. 

Sept. 19
at LSU 31 … Louisiana-Lafayette 3
Brandon LaFell caught touchdown passes from 16 and 20 yards out and Trindon Holliday and Charles Scott ran for short scores in the blowout win. The defense, led by Chad Jones’ two interceptions, stuffed Louisiana-Lafayette allowing just 272 yards of total offense while forcing three turnovers. ULL’s only points came on a 40-yard Tyler Albrecht field goal in the second quarter.
Player of the Game: LSU S Chad Jones made four tackles with two interceptions
Louisiana-Lafayette: Passing: Chris Masson, 16-36, 159 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Undre Salis, 17-48, Receiving: Ladarius Green, 6-64
LSU: Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 16-25, 165 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 12-63, Receiving: Terrance Tolliver, 6-68
What It All Means: The LSU defense is hitting its stride at the right time. While Louisiana was able to move the ball a little bit, the Tiger defense didn’t allow anything big and never let the game get close. Charles Scott has yet to become the runner he was expected to be starting the season, but he should be good and rested for the start of the SEC season coming off a 63-yard performance on just 12 carries. The offense could stand to use more pop, but if the defense is playing like it did this week against Mississippi State, there won’t be any problems. 

Sept.12
at LSU 23 ...  Vanderbilt 9
Keiland Williams started off the scoring wit a six-yard touchdown run, and he locked up the game for LSU with a 14-yard scoring dash with just over 6:01 to play. The Tiger defense held the Commodores to a six-yard Larry Smith touchdown run, but the offense struggled all night coming up with three Josh Jasper field goals in between the two Williams scoring runs. LSU outgained Vandy 326 yards to 210.
Player of the Game: In a losing cause, Vanderbilt CB Casey Hayward made 13 tackles with five tackles for loss.
LSU: Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 20-29, 138 yds
Rushing: Keiland Williams, 10-72, 2 TD, Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 7-38
Vanderbilt: Passing: Larry Smith, 11-24, 88 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Zac Stacy, 20-89, Receiving: Austin Monahan, 3-25
What It All Means: Vanderbilt did a nice job defensively, but the LSU offense hasn't found its groove in the first two games. The defense never let the Commodores get in the game, with Harry Coleman and Rahim Alem coming up with fantastic games stuffing the Vandy ground game, but the offense needs Jordan Jefferson to do more. He was conservative, letting the D and the running game do the work, but with a pair of receivers like Brandon LaFell and Terrance Tolliver, there need to be more shots taken down the field.

Sept.5
LSU 31 ... at Washington 23
Terrance Tolliver caught touchdown passes from 45 and 39 yards out and set up another score in a surprising fight for LSU. Jacob Cutera returned an interception 29 yards for a first quarter LSU touchdown and an early 10-7 lead, but the offense eventually took over. The Tigers finally pulled away for good on a Brandon LaFell six-yard touchdown catch with just under two minutes to play, while UW made the score look better with Jake Locker's second touchdown pass of the game coming with no time left on the clock.
Player of the Game: LSU WR Terrance Tolliver caught four passes for 117 yards and two scores.
LSU: Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 11-19, 172 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Charles Scott, 12-52, Receiving: Terrance Tolliver, 4-117, 2 TD
Washington: Passing: Jake Locker, 25-45, 321 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Chris Polk, 21-90, Receiving: James Johnson, 6-63, 1 TD
What It All Means: The defensive line did a nice job against the Washington offensive front, but the LSU O line didn't dominate like it should've and Charles Scott was bottled up. On the plus side, Jordan Jefferson had an effective, solid game throwing the ball, and Terrance Tolliver showed that the passing game all about Brandon LaFell and showed that there are more than enough weapons to make plays. However, Charles Scott was held to just 52 yards and the O line will need to do far more for LSU to go from being a decent SEC contender to a possible player in the national title race.