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In the world of high-definition fiber optics, it’s a black-and-white wooden console TV. In the world of the laser-guided bombs over Baghdad, it is trench warfare at Verdun. In a world of spread-out, no-huddle, up-and-down-the-field, big-play offenses, it is a line-of-scrimmage slugfest.
It’s LSU versus Auburn.
Think the football equivalent of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Keith David’s fight scene in John Carpenter’s “They Live.”
The past four meetings have been decided by a combined 14 points. The home team has won every year this decade, and in six of the eight the winner has represented the SEC’s western division in the championship game.
The game has fashioned into a brutal rivalry, not one built on intersectional hatred so much as the fact that these are the two biggest, baddest bullies on this block and somebody’s gotta win. It hasn’t been pretty. There have been missed kicks, missed calls and crazy conversions. Whether it’s Flynn to Byrd with three seconds left or Campbell to Taylor on fourth and the game, you can bet that there will be something memorable and/or controversial about the ending on Saturday.
The games themselves have been nothing if not raw, defensive brawls the last few seasons, which isn’t surprising given the talent both squads have had along the line of scrimmage. But this season, it’s the two offenses that will be the pre-game focus, though not for the best of reasons.
Auburn made a well-publicized switch to offensive coordinator Tony Franklin’s no-huddle spread attack this offseason, and once they’re done cursing the spitting, most Auburn fans would tell you it doesn’t appear to be working. The Tigers (plains version) are averaging just 21 points per game through their first three (including last week’s uggo against Mississippi State), with eight total turnovers and 25 penalties. Quarterbacks Chris Todd and Kody Burns have a combined 101.39 passer rating and one touchdown, and with six fumbles, the running game has been less than we’ve all come to expect from Auburn.
LSU made a well-publicized decision to boot Ryan Perrilloux this offseason, and through two games the combination of Andrew Hatch and Jarrett Lee aren’t exactly striking fear into opponents. The two have thrown for a mere 402 yards with a 121.1 rating, frustrating fans with their inability to stretch defenses through the air.
The question isn’t which passing attack will rise to the occasion. It’s which will avoid the big screw-up.
The Tigers (bayou version) have had the bonus of running back Charles Scott running like a man possessed through two games. Granted, those two games were against Appalachian State and North Texas, but the 230-pound junior has taken the early lead in LSU’s running back derby with a bruising north-south presence combined with the speed to outrun defenses. Whether they’ll be able to lineup and ram the ball on Auburn’s beastly front-seven is another matter. The beauty of LSU’s running gave, however, is its versatility. Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton will use anything, from the classic power-O to the shotgun zone-read, and if Auburn can stop Scott between the tackles it will still have to deal with Keiland Williams and Richard Murphy on option pitches and even Trindon Holliday on jet sweeps. A possible x-factor for LSU may be true freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who saw mop-up time last week and could play a role as a running QB on Saturday.
LSU’s defense has gotten somewhat of a warm-up opportunity against spread no-huddle teams in the first two games, but with the passing game’s struggles, Auburn will likely begin to return to their roots this week. Even with Brad Lester limited by last week’s neck injury, Auburn’s running back stable is still capable, and LSU will be lining up without senior middle linebacker Darry Beckwith. Expect both offenses to couple their running games with quick, short passes to try and move the chains.
Defensively, the coordinators may change but Auburn’s defense rarely does. They’ll try and stuff the run with a fast and physical front seven, and disguise and mix-up coverages in the secondary in hopes of confusing quarterbacks long enough for speedy pass-rushing defensive ends to apply pressure. On LSU’s end, the new corners have done a solid job, though the defensive strategy against App State and UNT appeared to be “let ‘em throw short and make the tackle,” and you have to wonder how that will play out in a game where every yard will count.
LSU’s special teams have been a mixed bag. Brady Dalfrey is averaging a pathetic 29 yards per punt, but has still managed to drop three of seven inside the 20-yard line. Field goals are solid with returning all-conference kicker Colt David, but the Tigers (bayou version) still struggle getting kickoffs deep, though a group of speedy freshmen have improved the coverage unit. Auburn’s Robert Dunn has been the team’s best big-play threat at punt returner, with a 21-yard average and a touchdown, but LSU is once again dangerous on punts now that Holliday has learned how to catch them. Against UNT (his first attempt at returning punts in two seasons) the tiny sprinter gained 163 yards, including a 92-yard TD.
Both teams will have a lot of unknowns on Saturday. After last week, Auburn’s offense has almost nowhere to go but up, while LSU will have their first week of prep that won’t be affected in some way by an advancing hurricane. One thing that is known, however, is that both teams will have bruises to ice down on Sunday.