LSU - Vanderbilt: What did we learn?

Someone who had not watched the LSU-Vanderbilt game might look at the 27-3 score and surmise that all is well with the LSU Tigers and I suppose that there is something to that old adage: "all's well that ends well."  But the Tigers are just not quite there, yet.  Clearly, LSU's Tigers have the ability to dominate any team in the country but these first two games were sort of like watching a cat play with a mouse when you are not sure whether the mouse is going to get away or not.  Actually, in the first and third quarter of the Vanderbilt game both offenses kind of looked like mouses but definitely, LSU's defense is a big cat.

LSU's defensive line is dominate.  Drake Nevis registered 2 1/2 more sacks. Also Josh Downs, Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, and Michael Brockers played outstanding.  That is a pleasant surprise.  Before the season began, it looked like LSU would have to lean mostly on its defensive backs.  Vanderbilt only gained 65 yards rushing and only 70 yards passing, only converted 2 of 13 third down conversions.  There are only two things that would make this defense complete: 1. Regular interceptions - LSU has not intercepted the ball once in the first two games, and 2. preventing big third quarter plays.  If LSU's defense prevented Warren Norman's 51 yard run in the third quarter, LSU's defense would have given up only 14 yards rushing this week and would have shutout Vanderbilt.  When the defense only allows your opponent 3 points total, you have to be happy. So on defense we learned that LSU has very little room for improvement.  Fine tune the pass defense and come out disciplined and ready to play in the third quarter and it may not matter what LSU decides to do on offense.

On offense, the Vanderbilt game confirmed that LSU needs a competent quarterback and so far, that has not been Jordan Jefferson.  Jefferson was 8/20 for 96yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception.  I know Jarrett Lee has a proven record as an interception machine but, why did it take so long to put him in the game? He could not do much worse than Jefferson did in the first or third quarters.  On the flip side, LSU has found a running game.  All the disappointment that I had about Ridley's two fumbles against North Carolina were erase on his 65 yard run against Vandy.  Ridley protected the ball in this game also.  I am sad to say that Richard Murphy has not earned the amount of playing time he is getting.  I was surprised to see Alfred Blue getting so many touches and elated to see Blue score a touchdown.  Michael Ford and Spencer Ware ought to be getting those carries. But, Spencer did get a nice reception for over twenty yards and carried the ball once for 8 yards.  And Ford got three carries and gained 5, 9, and 2 yards. With those averages, you could hand the ball to those two all night and never have to worry about a third down again.  I know that no back is likely to maintain that kind of average and entire game but, there is a case to made for getting those two the ball earlier in the game.  If true freshman Alfred Blue can get touches earlier in the game, why not true freshman Ware and redshirt freshman Ford.  Don't tell me that it is because they have to learn blocking schemes.  I will simply suggest that you check on the records of South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore, or Alabama's Trent Richardson, or Texas A&M's Christine Michael, or - well you get the picture.  So what the Vanderbilt game taught us on offense is that Jordan Jefferson is still not ready to be the full time starter, we still need to get the ball more to our "all star receiving corps", and we have a running game, if we are committed to a "running back by committee" approach.

I watched the Auburn-Mississippi State game and both teams are going to be a challenge for LSU but I think LSU has far more talent than either team. Mississippi State actually has a fairly good defense this year.  I will have something on the Mississippi State game later this week.  LSU faithful - hang in there.  We have a team.  LSU is much better than their ranking.