LSU dominates early and often, remaining No. 1

Quarterbacks. Neither Jordan Jefferson nor Jarrett Lee threw an incompletion in Saturday’s rout. In a 60-minute road SEC game, that’ll earn a high mark.

Grade: A

Halfbacks. LSU had five … count ’em FIVE different halfbacks get 50 or more yards rushing in this game. None of the backs had more than 10 carries. This is arguably the best collection of halfbacks in college football history. All five could legitimately start for major college football programs. They are all sophomores and freshmen.

Grade: A+

Receivers. LSU threw the football just eight times because of the rout the team had created. Of the eight passes, only four were caught by Tiger receivers. You still can’t fault these guys for not being needed, though. In a game without an incompletion, they obviously didn’t have any drops.

Grade: B+

Offensive line. When one rushes for 353 yards and amasses seven yards per carry, the easiest grade of the week is earned. What a job by the LSU offensive line, manhandling the Ole Miss front.

Grade: A+

Defensive line. As big a blowout as this game was, the LSU defensive front did miss countless opportunities to take Rebels quarterback Barry Brunetti to the ground in the backfield. I’d have never guessed the Rebels would get 147 yards on the ground in this one.

Grade: B

Linebackers. Everyone knows about Ryan Baker, one of the SEC’s top linebackers. But how about an ‘atta boy to Kevin Minter who got a touchdown on a horrendous play call from ousted Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt.

Grade: A

Defensive backs. Ole Miss had fewer than 50 yards passing and the Tigers recorded a pick-6 in the game. Sounds like a nice night at the office to me.

Grade: A+

Special teams. The LSU kickoff specialist wasn’t very impressive, kicking the ball sometimes to just the 10-yard-line. The coverage units did their part to fill the void in another solid special teams showing.

Grade: B+

Coaching staff. One night after watching Oklahoma State get upset in a road trip game, the Tigers were relentless from the get-go, scoring 30 seconds into the game and never looking back in a landslide rout. With a big-time showdown looming Friday, LSU took care of business early and got everyone rest, something much needed at this time of the season.

Grade: A

Overall what else can you say? In a week where top-tier programs scuffled all across the country, LSU stood tall and scored another sound road victory. In the jumbled mess that is the BCS, it’s becoming harder and harder to find a challenger worthy of a crack at the Tigers should LSU remain unbeaten. If that’s the dilemma you face as a team, you’re doing pretty dang good.

Grade: A+

NSU COLONELS

Quarterbacks. LaQuintin Caston made a few costly mistakes with fumbles and interceptions, but he sure is a gritty player. One can win with Caston under center, it’s the rest of the team around the quarterback that needs a little fixing right now in Thibodaux.

Grade: B-

Halfbacks. Caston carries the football the vast majority of the time for the Colonels, so this is a tough position to grade. Marcus Washington had a nice day in limited carries for Nicholls, so we’ll give these guys a decent grade.

Grade: C+

Receivers. For the first time in quite a while, the Nicholls receivers were able to stretch the field, racking up more than 260 passing yards on the day. That’s one positive the team can take into its 2012 season.

Grade: B

Offensive line. The Colonels rushed for 146 yards, but allowing five sacks is just too much. The young unit progressed throughout the year, but still has plenty work to do to become what it needs to be.

Grade: C-

Defensive line. There wasn’t an individual back who did the damage alone, but both Zeke Jones and Latruan Weary accumulated yardage with ease in a 166-yard effort on the ground for the Lions.

Grade: D

Linebackers. The Colonels’ backers didn’t necessarily do anything wrong Thursday night, they just didn’t exactly standout either. With a team struggling for an identity defensively, that’s a unit you’d like to see do a little better.

Grade: C

Defensive backs. Southeastern has a solid passing attack. But teams have shut down the Lions before. Nicholls isn’t on that list, struggling to contain the Southeastern receivers in a close game that got away late.

Grade: D

Special teams. The return teams were pretty good, they have been all year. But allowing a 60-yard punt return is just something that can’t be done if a struggling team has hopes to win a big game on the road.

Grade: C

Coaching staff. Offensively, it surely looked like the Colonels got better and better as the season went on. But for whatever reason, Nicholls always found ways to shoot itself in the foot. I know the Colonels are young. I know the Colonels had 13 starters out due to injury. But any time a team finishes a season with just one win, the coach can share some blame. Things need to be better for Stubbs going forward.

Grade: C

Overall this game was a microcosm for the whole season for Nicholls. When things got going in the right direction, something catastrophic always seemed to arise to blow it to smithereens. The Colonels head into the offseason just a one-win team. That just has a nasty undertone to it. Things need to get better soon for the Colonels.

Grade: D

LSU defensive back Ron Brooks lassos a Mississippi State ball carrier during a game last season. STEVE FRANZ