LSU's Good Start
LSU's Good Start
After eight months of anticipation, The 2013 LSU football season kicked off in the Cowboy Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX with a 37-27 victory over TCU. Although the score was relatively close, statistically, LSU dominated. LSU nearly doubled TCU’s yardage output while winning the battle of third efficiency converting 62%. LSU also had 26 first downs to TCU’s 13. Why then was the score closer than the stats indicated? Well, Les Miles is still the head coach. In typical Milesian fashion, some of the old bugaboo’s of poor discipline and confusion reared their ugly heads. By giving up a 100 yard TD kickoff return, committing a huge roughing the passer penalty on third down and fumbling at their own six after a bad decision by the punt returner, LSU made this game more of a struggle than it needed to be. But the positives outweighed the negatives and LSU came away with a good victory against a solid opponent and fans were reassured of the value of Les Miles’ recruiting prowess.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Ask LSU head coach Les Miles. At least six new starters needed to be replaced on LSU’s defense. No problem. In a testament to the recruiting factory LSU has become, they didn’t miss a beat. Keke Mingo and Sam Montgomery exit as DE’s, enter Jordan Allen, Danielle Hunter and Jermauria Rasco. Benny Logan vacates the DT position, Ego Fergurson fills the void. Eric Reid, Tharold Simon and Kevin Minter move on. Craig Loston, Jalen Collins and Lamin Barrow step up. This new and maybe improved version of LSU’s defense held TCU to just 259 total yards while intercepting one pass and coming up with huge stops. What was an off-season of hand rubbing over the loss of six starters now has become an opportunity for new guys to shine in John Chavis’ defense.
The bigger, more pleasant surprise was the play of the LSU offense. New offensive coordinator Cam Cameron unveiled an offense heavy on balance while piling up 448 yards. LSU gained 197 yards rushing but the big news was LSU’s 251 passing yards as Zach Mettenberger looked like the QB LSU fans were waiting to see since the 6’5” gunslinger signed. Save for a couple of dropped balls and missed blocking assignments to clean up, it looks like Cameron will have an enormously positive effect on what was once the laughing stock of SEC offenses.
With improved play from the offense and another stingy defense, LSU looks primed to make another run for the SEC and dare I say BCS title. A tough schedule lies ahead, but as 2011 reminds us, LSU doesn’t fear tough opponents, they thrive on them.
On 2 Sep 2013 at 08:44 am - Sports Report - by Mike Fazende
