INSIDE SLANT
You might think that after winning its conference opener against Vanderbilt that LSU is looking for a bit of a break when it plays host to Louisiana-Lafayette in its upcoming game.
Tigers coach Les Miles would argue that you think wrong.
Asked what improvement he sees in the visiting Cajuns since the teams last met in 2006, Miles had a surprising reply.
"The only thing that comes to mind is that they are probably a better offensive team than the team we just played," said Miles, whose Tigers are coming off a 23-9 victory over the Commodores. "Defensively, they play very physical. It's a very capable defense, and I believe that they are playing with a real confidence.
"Obviously, coming off the Kansas State victory, that was a big win for that program. And I know Kansas State is a very quality football team, so we see the improvement really in all three phases."
When pressed, he even repeated his statement.
"I think that they are a better offensive team than the team that we just played," Miles said of the Cajuns.
He singled out Louisiana quarterback Chris Masson and tailback Undrea Sails for particular praise. The Cajuns are averaging better than 400 yards a game in total offense, with Masson throwing for 234 a game and Sails rushing for just under 95.
Vandy rushed for 122 yards but threw for only 88 against the Tigers.
After hosing the Cajuns, the Tigers will begin a stretch of four consecutive SEC games on Sept. 26 at Mississippi State.
NOTES, QUOTES--LSU has won the past 31 games it has played on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium, and they will go into the game against Louisiana with a 20-game winning streak in non-conference affairs. The last time the Tigers lost to a non-SEC team was in the 2004 Capital One Bowl against Iowa (30-25).
--Mike VI, the tiger who serves as the school mascot, may be back in the stadium when the Tigers take on the Cajuns. Mike was not in the stadium as he usually is for the home opener against Vanderbilt, but The Advocate of Baton Rouge reported that an earlier story that Mike did not want to get into his cage to make the trip across the street, as has happened, was in error. Mike led the band in the pregame parade, but it simply was too wet to take the cage onto the field. Mike stays in a facility between Tiger Stadium and basketball's Maravich Center.
SERIES HISTORY: LSU leads Louisiana-Lafayette 21-0 (last meeting, 2006, LSU 45-3).
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The offense hasn't been as consistent as hoped for, but that's not QB Jordan Jefferson's fault. Jefferson is completing 64.6 percent of his attempts with the Tigers playing a rather conservative passing game. RBs Keiland Williams and Charles Scott are two solid runners, but the Tigers have lost backup RB Richard Murphy. WR Brandon LaFell is one of the top receivers in the league.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: After a spotty performance in the opening win over Washington, the Tigers rose up and kept Vanderbilt pretty much in check all night. The switch of senior Harry Coleman from safety to linebacker is paying dividends, and DE Rahim Alem has two sacks in the first two weeks.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's important that we make improvement. I felt like we made improvement over last week. I felt like our team, in several areas made improvement and will continue to do so." -- Coach Les Miles, assessing the state of the Tigers in the early season.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNELTHIS WEEK'S GAME: Louisiana-Lafayette at LSU, Sept. 19 -- This will be the first of three games for the Tigers against in-state teams. LSU also plays Tulane (Oct. 31) and Louisiana Tech (Nov. 14).
KEYS TO THE GAME: LSU's defense needs to keep the Cajuns' running game under control and put pressure on ULL QB Chris Masson, who has completed 63 percent of his passes. The Tigers need to keep their running game going after rushing for 178 yards against Vanderbilt.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
RB Keiland Williams -- The Tigers look to be taking a running-back-by-committee approach in the early going, and it appears that Williams, not last year's leading rusher Charles Scott, is the committee chairman. Williams has 123 yards rushing in two games to Scott's 101.
WR Brandon LaFell -- The senior has 11 catches through the first two games, fifth in the SEC. He has yet to break off a big play, however, as his total yardage is only 72, giving him a 6.5 per-catch average. He averaged more than twice that (14.7) last year.
LB Harry Coleman -- Moved from safety for his senior year, Coleman has established himself as the Tigers' leading tackler with 17 stops. He has one tackle for loss and is credited with a quarterback hurry in addition to breaking up a pass.
ROSTER REPORT:
--RB Richard Murphy (knee) will miss the game against Louisiana-Lafayette and could also miss the next game when the Tigers play at Mississippi State, according to coach Les Miles. But the New Orleans Times-Picayune quoted sources as saying Murphy will need surgery and is done for the season.
--DE Lazarius Levingston (knee) likely won't play against ULL but could return against Mississippi State on Sept. 26.
Previous Report: 09/13/2009
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