INSIDE SLANT
LSU finally found its running game in its 42-0 whitewash of Tulane.
The Tigers, who have been inconsistent throughout the year, ran for a season-high 267 yards, averaging 6.5 yards a carry against the Green Wave. Running back Charles Scott led the way with 18 carries for 112 yards, his first game over the 100-yard mark this season.
"We had a point to try to come out here and focus on things we could improve on going into the next game and going into the back stretch of the season," said Scott, who rushed for two touchdowns. "One was to run the ball, and I feel like we did that pretty well today."
It was the biggest output for the Tigers on the ground since a 321-yard game against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 10, 2007. LSU added 188 yards through the air..
"We wanted this game just like it is," coach Les Miles said.
"We wanted to be tested by a good club and answer those challenges. We wanted to rush the football better and get some other guys in the game, and we were able to do that and still run the ball efficiently. Certainly 450 yards (actually 455) is the best total output we've had."
The game served, at least in part, as a tune-up for the upcoming contest at Alabama that likely will decide the Western Division representative in the SEC championship game.
The defense also was sharp, holding the Green Wave to just 26 yards rushing and 216 total yards. The shutout was the Tigers' first since a 44-0 victory over Middle Tennessee early in the 2007 season.
The Tigers allowed the Wave past midfield on only three drives. The visitors got to LSU's 49-yard line on their first possession and were thrown for a 6-yard loss on the next play. They ended up punting from their own 41.
They drove to LSU's 14-yard line early in the second quarter but lost 9 yards on second and third downs and missed a field goal attempt from 43 yards. Their last foray past the 50 reached LSU's 19, but ended when cornerback Patrick Peterson came up with his second interception of the season.
"It was a good feeling," linebacker Jacob Cutrera said of the shutout.
"That is something that our defense has been working toward every week. It was a good feeling for us to finally get that goose-egg up there. It has given us a lot of confidence going into Alabama week."
NOTES, QUOTES--QB Jordan Jefferson was 11-of-17 passing for 163 yards and two touchdowns against Tulane, giving him 10 touchdown passes for the season. He was intercepted once and sacked twice.
--WR Brandon LaFell extended his streak of games with at least one reception to 36 with his four catches (85 yards, two touchdowns). In that stretch, he has had more than one catch in 35 games. It's the fifth longest such streak in the nation.
--Trindon Holliday had 105 yards on three punt returns, including a pair of 50-yard runbacks. The senior sprinter now has 475 punt return yards in his career, No. 10 on LSU's all-time list.
GAME BALL GOES TO: RB Charles Scott -- Scott finally broke through with his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, logging 112 yards on 18 carries. It was almost a year to the day since he had last reached triple digits. He had 114 yards against Tulane on Nov. 1, 2008. Scott also scored two touchdowns, giving him 34 rushing touchdowns in his career.
KEEP AN EYE ON: QB Russell Shepherd -- The true freshman continues to become more involved in the offense. He scored on a 19-yard run on his first carry on LSU's second series and had a 20-yard run after taking a pitchout from Jordan Jefferson early in the second quarter. He ended up with 48 yards on five rushes.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The offensive line gave me great time whenever I needed to pass, and our running game looked really good. We're just looking real good right now." -- QB Jordan Jefferson, after going 11-of-17 passing in the win over Tulane.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
LOOKING GOOD: The Tigers got their ground game going for 267 yards, with RB Charles Scott rushing for 112 yards and FB Steven Ridley going for 73 on just eight carries. QB Jordan Jefferson was 11-of-17 passing, and WRs Brandon LaFell and Terrance Toliver had four catches each.
--LB Kelvin Sheppard had a career-high 13 tackles with three for losses (one sack). CB Patrick Patterson had an interception.
--In addition to Trindon Holliday's two 50-yard punt returns, the Tigers also blocked a punt (junior Daniel Graff) that led to their first touchdown.
STILL NEEDS WORK: The punting game was largely ineffective. Freshman Drew Alleman's first punt covered only 18 yards to the Tulane 29-yard line, and his second attempt at backing up the Green Wave resulted in a 33-yarder fair caught at the 17. P-PK Josh Jasper had more success with his only attempt, which covered 41 yards and was downed inside Tulane's 5-yard line.
ROSTER REPORT:
--TE Richard Dickson was shaken up in the second quarter but returned to the game. He ended up with just one catch for 5 yards.
--LT Ciron Black made his 48th consecutive career start.
-- LB Ryan Baker (six), CB Morris Claiborne (three) and DE Chase Clement (two) each recorded career-highs in tackles.
--P Derek Helton (hip) did not play.
Previous Report: 10/28/2009
|
|
 |
