We made it through game one.
Including me. Made it through the game without falling asleep, that is.
It's the season opener. College football. Still happy. If I were a smoker, I'd be kicking back in a Lazy Boy right now smoking a tiparillo with a glassy-eyed, satisfied smile on my mug. Wish this had been a better game, though.
As the entire rational world predicted, LSU pummeled hapless Mississippi State. Only the entrance of backup QBs Ryan Perilloux for LSU and true frosh Wesley Carroll for the Bulldogs kept me awake in the fourth quarter. Final was 45-0. Observations:
Mississippi State
- Michael Henig is a very poor quarterback. Hate to be so blunt about a young person who has the courage to face a defense like LSU's, but this guy just can't make anything happen. He completed only 11 of 28 passes for 120 yards and 6 interceptions. The few passes he did complete came mostly as a result of being backfield screen/flat passes or plain luck in lofting them downfield. He was able to help MSU convert only 3 of 14 3rd down conversions and one of those, to my recollection, came on a penalty. Maybe he'll look better against teams which are more to MSU's level.
- This defense is not bad. In fact I'd say they're an average SEC defense, which means they're pretty good in the national picture. They made some strong plays early and held LSU to 3 points in the first quarter. Keep them on the field for 33 minutes and yeah, they'll get worn out. Let their offense toss the ball to the defense six times (and again by turning it over on downs, on a fumbled snap no less) without even getting a field goal attempt off and yeah, they'll get dispirited, their morale will droop, and they'll start giving up yards.
- It seems to me this is a team which fields a decent O-line, a serviceable rushing attack and a decent... maybe even good?... top-to-bottom defense. Missing pieces: quarterback (I rate him a 1 out of 10... sorry, Henig) and wide receivers. In fairness to Henig, it appeared as though every MSU receiver was covered up with a blanket on every single play. These guys are not big enough, fast enough, or strong enough to beat LSU's defensive backs. Nor are they talented enough to make big plays happen. Miserable situation for the poor kid tossing the ball. The punter could also stand to boot the ball a bit further although punt coverage was also decent.
- It's just not fair to those Mississippi State students to crush their hopes this way. At 7:59PM their world was filled with hope and optimism. Now they're bracing for the reality of what will be their 2007 football season. Return trip to hell, coordinated by...
- Sylvester Croom and the coaching staff. Believe it or not, I think Croom has made strides in his time in Starkeville. He's had the misfortune of totally misfiring on two of three minimum components necessary on offense to win, or even compete in, ball games: he doesn't have a quarterback who's capable of moving the ball enough to compete even in a defensive struggle and his wideouts can't get open.
- Doug Flutie commented in the third quarter that months from now, no one will remember this game was closer than it appeared, especially in the first half. He's right. No one will remember. But riddle me this, Galoshes McGillicuddy, how is it that the #2 team in the country only manages 17 first half points on an MSU offense which went 3-and-out (punt), 3 plays for 3 yards (INT), 9 plays for a turnover on downs, 4 plays and punt, 2 plays and INT, 4 plays for 16 yards (INT), and 1 play and INT? You read that correctly. The Dogs punted twice and turned the ball over 5 times in the first half for 60 total yards of offense. The Tigers had seven possessions with which to work, most of them starting with excellent field position, and it still took a 4th and 1 effort at the goal line with 4 seconds remaining to make it 17-0 going into halftime.
- But then again, it is Matt Flynn's first outing as a starter since 2005. You could call the first half a long warmup. Flynn threw some nice passes, especially on 3rd and long, but never really blew anyone's pants off with his abilities.
- Speaking of which, he is a good runner. Looks like he's running too much, though. That's going to cost the Tigers if he goes down with an injury. It's also strange to see LSU transformed into somewhat of an option team, especially after their powerful offense of 2006.
- LSU broke Mississippi State's will with that last second TD in the second quarter. Had MSU engineered a stop they'd have started the second half down only 10-0. That was a gutsy, but appropriate, call by new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. It also paid dividends in the momentum department, setting up LSU's 28 point tear through through the rest of the game. The Dogs slumped and rolled over after that play.
- I think the jury's still out on Matt Flynn. He could still turn out to be a very good quarterback against better SEC teams or he might just be adequate. Either way the Tigers showed they're not yet a worldbeater, but they have the favorable schedule needed to heat up in their own due time.
- Glenn Dorsey scares me.
- Looks like Early Doucet's going to be the go-to guy in this offense. No surprise there.
- Is it just me or does it look like LSU's not especially fast/crisp when handing the ball off to their tailbacks? Hester is a powerful runner, and Holliday is a speedster. But no one ever seemed to really explode out of the backfield for LSU when the game was still on the line.
Miss. St.: Give Croom a decent quarterback and on stud WR, then judge him... if you're patient. I'm not sure Croom will survive his fourth year at Mississippi State. Which is a shame, really.
LSU: I see a potential train wreck here... or I see a national champion. Not sure which. I just can't get over Les Miles' cocksure attitude prior to this game; when interviewed by ESPN''s Erin Andrews, it was mentioned that he's allowed/encouraged his players to think of national title aspirations in the early going. If there has ever been a more talented team which is also more ripe for an upset, I don't know who it would be. The proper thing for Miles to say would be: "Hey, we didn't win a damn thing last year. We lost two games we maybe could have won, but blew it. We have a high pre-season ranking which means diddley. These guys will have to prove they're good on the field." But he didn't. And he won't.
Miles just thinks far too highly of his own team. Daaaaaaaangerous.
The jury's also still out on new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. Not to say his offensive unit didn't play well in this game -- on the whole, they did. But Mississippi State's back was broken on that second quarter TD run. They staggered, crumpled, and never regained their footing. Subsequently, the second half was a free-for-all, with Matt Flynn facing a shell of the defense who lined up against him at kickoff.
Remember, this is one of the SEC's best teams playing... OK, I'm calling it... the SEC's worst team. (Ole Miss or Vandy will have to really unimpress to take over the Rear Admiral slot.) Let's see how Virginia Tech does in their opener, then we'll make some predictions about next weekend's marquee matchup.
THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON HAS BEGUN! LET'S CELEBRATE!
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. State, the bottom line is that you guys *&^%-ing suck! Quit being so delusional in your sorry football program in the SEC. Jeez, I'll even admit if you guys played in C-USA you might have at least a decent showing; however i'm skeptical with this team (and I don't want to hear excuses about how State plays in the SEC, blah , blah , blah!) Wake up and smell the damn coffee next to a Dunkin Doughnut (or Krispy Kreme doughnut for ya'll farmin' engineers down south)and get a grip on life that cow tippin and rowdy parties on your campus frat row does not make a football winner.
Posted at 9:32AM on Aug 31st 2007 by DC Golden Eagle Fan
2. DC Golden Eagle Fan apparrently holds some form of hostility towards the Bulldogs. I don't know what everyone was expecting last night, but as far as I could see it was pretty close to what I had imagined. I said MSU's defense could keep it close and they did for a half. I said LSU's offense would be less than explosive and fairly vanilla in the play calling and they were. Lots of gaps and holes for LSU to fill on the offensive side of the ball and despite a statistical bonanza on defense we still don't know just how good they are because MSU was just that bad on offense. MSU will hopefully be able to pull together and find some chemistry on offense.
No matter what I still think Croom has the program going in the right direction as MSU was further in the tank than ever before when he took over. Perhaps the most difficult rebuilding job in the country. Just a shame the QB played scared from the start.
If LSU's offense plays that poorly next saturday night against Va Tech they may see their NC hopes go down the drain earlier than I thought. I still say LSU finishes with 2 losses in the SEC and could lose next week. It should be noted that LSU played a very vanilla look on offense because they could. I look for them to open up the playbook for real next week. But the lackluster performance on offense was due to a decent MSU defense as well as poor execution by LSU so they had better tighten up against Va Tech.
Can't wait for Saturday. War Damn Eagle.
Posted at 10:29AM on Aug 31st 2007 by Todd92
3. Fayetteville? When did they move?
Posted at 10:35AM on Aug 31st 2007 by Sir Loin
4. LOL you boys like that word vanilla I like the scores , for Miss State 45 to 0 is good they are a SEC team and are as good as VT , well 7 points is almost as good . The offense did the same against VT high powered defense. So I guess you will say it was a bad V offense again but that is ok , you liked the 4th quarter better , I guess.LSU had the Air Mcnair type QB last year made a name for himself , and could not win even a SEC title under him . Right or wrong ? Right or Wrong ?? OK ! This LSU team is the best that you or I have ever seen at LSU , this team will be then Team , when you say The team you will think of this team . This Team is not just this years team but 3 years at least this team will be around .But this years they have ever thing a team needs , it is up to them the players. If they want it it all belongs to them , no one can take it away from them .What ever they as a team want they can have ! If this team want to be #1 at the end of this season then that is what they will be ! These guys , players believe in each other , call them what you want too the are brothers on the same team , if I were you I might drop that V word , they may come after you !! They have an offense They run and pass , and block what else can you do when you have the football ??Oh , I forgot funble and punt!! Is that what you want This team to do ? I hope it don't happen , GEAUX TIGERS !!! I work for the Ladies that is not my web site , Thank you vey much !!
Posted at 9:21AM on Sep 9th 2007 by Mike