Crime Blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes
September 12, 2012
Nicholls wants to stay healthy, find victories in ’12
September 12, 2012
The LSU football team remembers the way the 2011 season ended – an embarrassing 21-0 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game.
With an entire offseason to skew their anger, the Tigers are ready to correct last season’s wrongs.
Winning it all is the only thing on LSU’s mind this season as it seeks to show the country it will remain one of the top teams in America.
“I think our players understand the culture in this room and what we expect – that they will get their degree, that they will compete in the classroom, compete on the field, and play for championships,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “I like where we’re at and I like the position that the program is in.”
“We learned from that loss and we’ve built from that,” defensive lineman Bennie Logan added. “We also had a great summer workout and camp, and our guys are just eager to go and be successful this year.”
Offensively, LSU returns six starters from last year’s team. But about a dozen contributing reserves are back for what is an experienced unit.
Experience aside, only one player is on the minds of every LSU fan – junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger.
After one season as a reserve, the University of Georgia transfer will take the reigns from graduated seniors Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee.
With a massive 6-foot, 5-inch, 230-pound frame, Mettenberger possesses a big arm and the ability to make plays down the field.
Miles and offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa said they plan to accommodate the junior’s skillset by opening up the team’s play calling.
One game into the season, the change was evident, as Mettenberger completed 19-of-26 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown.
“We are excited about what he is doing and the leadership by taking over the team since last year,” Studrawa said. “He has looked forward to this opportunity and done many things during the offseason to make this team better. Zach has the confidence to zip that ball and make those throws, which is what we want to see.”
Mettenberger said he embraces his opportunity and believes he will have a successful season.
Senior wide receiver Russell Shepard is a believer, adding the team will be far more balanced with Mettenberger under center.
“The thing was to become a balanced team,” he said. “Let’s throw it 30 and run it 30. It is all the same thing, balance is balance. We feel like we have all of the pieces to do it and we are ready.”
The pieces Shepard mentioned are comprised along the Tigers’ wide receiver group.
LSU returns several young, but talented receivers – a group led by Shepard, but also consisting of sophomores Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry, who coaches tout may emerge as the hidden gem in the bunch.
His talents were on display in the season opener when he hauled in eight receptions for 82 yards.
His emergence will allow the team to make up for the loss of Rueben Randle, who went to the NFL after last season.
“We have to really come together and make each other better,” Shepard said. “That includes being competitive, watching a lot of film, and everyone being accountable for each other. We feel that if we can come together and do our part as a receiving core, we can make up for losing a great weapon like Rueben.”
The Tigers can talk about balance and the passing game as much as they wish.
The truth is the team’s makeup still heavily favors a run-heavy attack.
LSU returns all of its four-headed stable of backs, a list including juniors Alfred Blue, Michael Ford, Spencer Ware and sophomore Kenny Hilliard.
Against North Texas, LSU flexed its muscles on the ground, rushing for 316 yards on 46 carries.
Studrawa said having so many options at halfback allows the team to break its opponents down from the inside-out.
“You can bet we are going to run it and we are going to try and do some different things,” the offensive coordinator said. “We want to evolve the running game just like the passing game and making it as solid as it was and getting them carries. We watch all of our guys and we get better in the second half. There wasn’t a game where we weren’t better in the second half because you wear people down and the backs keep coming at you and you get tired of tackling.”
On defense, LSU also returns six players from last year’s group that was No. 2 in America.
On the defensive line, defensive ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery return.
The one-two punch is arguably the top duo in the country. Analysts anticipate both will be top selections in the 2013 NFL Draft if they opt to forego their senior seasons.
“(They) will be as good as there is,” Miles said.
“I don’t think I would trade them for any two defensive ends in the country,” defensive coordinator John Chavis said. “These are guys that are very talented. They fit our style of play and have been very productive for us.”
While Mingo and Montgomery seek to pressure opposing passers, the Tigers also boast players like Logan and Anthony Johnson on the inside who will seek to stuff the run.
Josh Downs and Ego Ferguson will also see time at defensive tackle.
Chavis said every dominant defense he’s coach has had one thing in common: depth in the middle of its defensive line.
“That gives you four good tackles,” Chavis said. “That is four tackles that you can compete and win in the SEC with. We have good depth there, and that is very important for us.”
At linebacker, LSU will try to replace graduated seniors Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois with a young group consisting of Tahj Jones, Kevin Minter, Lamin Barrow and also true freshmen Deion Jones, Lamar Louis and Lorenzo Phillips.
To most teams, linebacker youth would be a problem.
But Chavis’ specialty is coaching up that position.
“We are going to be able to provide some outstanding depth,” Chavis said. “We are going to need some time with the young guys to get them mature.”
In the secondary, LSU was expected to return the best defensive player in the country – Tyrann Mathieu.
But those plans changed in August when the Honey Badger was dismissed from the program for an unspecified violation of team and university rules.
Multiple media outlets have reported Mathieu failed a drug test.
With Mathieu out, the Tigers will have to replace three of its top cornerbacks from 2011 – a trio consisting of Mathieu, Morris Claiborne and Ron Brooks.
But the Tigers will answer their departures with a group of talented players consisting of safeties Eric Reid, and Craig Loston and cornerback Tharold Simon.
Jalen Mills and Jalen Collins will split the duties of replacing Mathieu in the team’s 4-2-5 base defense.
“Those guys really show they have what it takes to get ready to play,” Chavis said.
“We are going to have to get them ready to play especially in our nickel and dime packages.”
The talent is in place, and the schedule isn’t as fierce as it was in 2012.
Now, everyone around LSU is anxious to try and win the big one that eluded them last season.
“We’re ready,” Mettenberger said. “We’re anxious to try and win one more game than we did last year.”
LSU sophomore halfback Kenny Hilliard runs the ball into the end zone during a season opening win against North Texas. Hilliard has four touchdowns in the first two games of the season for LSU, who again has national championship ambition.
