Just Curious: What's your honest opinion of LSU?

[sandgk]

I haven't chimed in on this -

So, what does LSU look like to me?

Same in many ways as they looked at the beginning of the year.

Best overall squad in the country - and I really mean that. In fact, look back if you want (Or I'll find it) LSU was my pick herein to win the SEC. They also were lined up in my vision of how the season would run as getting into the Championship game - most likely against USC. I didn't, for the record, think Ohio State would get there, figuring that the downgrade by the voters post last year's BCS game would be their undoing. 12-1 and screwed by the BCS was the poll choice I clicked for the Buckeyes.

As for your team ...
LSU has great balance on Offense, great balance and talent on Defense. They are, in a word, formidable.

The only question mark I have ever had concerning LSU was right at the top - your head coach. I figured that at some crucial time one of these tendencies would be his undoing:

• his inability to marshal timeouts,
• his propensity to go away from what was working well before the opposition forced the issue,
• or his addiction to rolling the dice on 4th and something, anywhere on the field

and in a normal season, that undone fate would already have been sealed, twice.

But, this is apparently not a normal season. Else, neither LSU nor Ohio State would have climbed back up from #7 in the BCS rankings to face each other in New Orleans.

Thank goodness that happened, it should be a true barn-burner on 1/7/2008.

 

[Nutriaitch]

People want to point to the Kentucky and Arkansas games, but I think that the argument can easily be made that both UK and the Hogs saved their best games of the season respectively for the Tigers.

That is almost definitely the case. The way SEC scheduling worrks, teams from the east Rotate on and off our schedule evry few years. In '01 we scored a TD with 15 seconds left to beat Kentucky. In '02 was the "Bluegrass Miracle" (75 yard Hail Mary on last play of game) to beat them. Then they had to wait 4 years for another shot. Last year we took away their manhood. Slapped them all around Death Valley to the tune of 49-0. They nearly melted down in our visitors locker room. But they came together after that game. They went something like 10-2 between that game and the game this year. There was almost no way we were coming out of that game with a win. They had it out for us.

Arky is a "manufactured" Rivalry. When they joined the SEC in '92, some hotshot designed this ugly ass gold boot trophy to go to the winner of that game. Arky considers it a rivalry game. LSU fans for the most part look at it as just another conference game. We had won 5 straight and 6 of the last 7 against them. They were due, and probably knew they were playing for Nutt for the last time.

 

[MrCodeDude]

Tressel always mismanages a game a season. 2005 it was Texas, 2006 it was Florida, 2007 it was Illinois. He's met his quota for the year, so I hope we stick to our guns and pound the running game so we can go over the top to our WRs who are more talented than the LSU secondary. I think the crux of this game will be whether or not Ohio State will be able to throw the ball well enough to prevent the LSU LBs from stacking the box. Flynn gets flustered easily, but Perrilloux is nothing but bad news for Ohio State if he gets some plays in at QB.

Dorsey was a beast before his injury, that man would eat double teams. After the injury, while still good, he wasn't anywhere near the same as he was before. A month of off-time shouldn't hurt his recovery. The month break certainly benefits LSU more than Ohio State, Holliday is/was hurt and Hester looked banged up, those guys at their prime, and I'm scared.

I just hope for a good, hard-hitting, physical football game.

 

[Tigerkid05]

Really all OSU has to do to make the game interesting is direct snaps to beanie wells, that's if we're not healthy but other schools have had some success with that approach.

But, it would be wise for OSU to prepare for the option.

 

[Coqui]

Really all OSU has to do to make the game interesting is direct snaps to beanie wells, that's if we're not healthy but other schools have had some success with that approach.

But, it would be wise for OSU to prepare for the option.

We do good against the traditional option. It's the spread option that causes us trouble. What I've seen Perriloux do in the option is what we're best at stopping. Runs sideline to sideline is the forte of our defense.

Regarding direct snaps, I'd probably snap it to Saine over Wells (assuming he ever sees the light of day since he's for no reason at all gone MIA)

 

[Bluegras Buck-i]

My somewhat uneducated view of LSU:

• Besides Vandy seem to have the least "win at all costs attitude" than most of the SEC. See scandals that should have given AL the death penalty, et al scandals; see iliterate player at Auburn; see "special admissions" for those who don't meet minimum academic standards.
• Cool Helmets
• They won a lot of close games this year similar to FL last year. I thought OSU would blow FL out because FL squeaked by so many games. I just hope OSU shows up this year or it is going to be ugly.
• Produce a lot a great defensive players.

 

[BB73]

My somewhat uneducated view of LSU:

• Besides Vandy seem to have the least "win at all costs attitude" than most of the SEC. See scandals that should have given AL the death penalty, et al scandals; see iliterate player at Auburn; see "special admissions" for those who don't meet minimum academic standards.
• Cool Helmets
• They won a lot of close games this year similar to FL last year. I thought OSU would blow FL out because FL squeaked by so many games. I just hope OSU shows up this year or it is going to be ugly.
• Produce a lot a great defensive players.

To be fair, you did say it was a "somewhat uneducated view". :tongue2:

 

[NateG]

Regarding direct snaps, I'd probably snap it to Saine over Wells (assuming he ever sees the light of day since he's for no reason at all gone MIA)

I've noticed since his knee surgery that he has seemed pretty tentative to trust it and doesnt bust up in the holes as hard. Hopefully the month break will help build his confidence and he can come out like he did early in the season. We could definitely use him.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

While my "official" breakdown of LSU will be in the "Behind the Numbers" section of the Preview (when we post it: See Additional Information section); I will weigh-in here where I am not limited to a strictly statistical breakdown (not that I limit myself to that anyway).


Dorsey, Healthy


I'm not sure I really need more than two words, but for those who don't get my meaning...


I am not convinced that Ohio State has any answer at all for a healthy Glenn Dorsey. He's the most dominant Defensive Tackle I've seen since Dan Wilkinson.

If we had the kind of guards that we had in 1984, then I'd feel better. But we don't. not even close

I think the LSU posters we've seen on this site, with the exception of the few that were banned inside of their first two minutes, seem to have a good feel for the Buckeyes. Every other SEC fan on the planet is in for a rude awakening from our defense. They are much, much better than most people think.

Yes Holiday(sp?) is wicked fast. Yes Doucet is scary. Yes Hester is a freakin' beast. Yes, LSU will be the best offense we will have faced this season.

But OSU's defense, playing with emotion, with their own D-line in good health for the first time since the first half of the Youngstown State game... They'll give as good as they get.

But we may need our defense or special teams to get a score or two to win this game. This may not be a popular opinion on this site, but I just think Glenn Dorsey has the potential to flat take a game over. And I'm not sure we have the right personnel in the right places to stop him.

 

[pokey]

From what I see, I think that LSU's inconsistent play on offense is due more to its inconsistent o-line than the skilled players or even coaching. I don't know the reason for this: key injuries, sloppy technique, inexperience, etc.

LSU is a very talented but very inconsistent team. They have big playmakers at most positions but take a lot of plays off. They rely on key big plays because they lack the patience or discipline to maintain long possessions. Their defense relies on Dline pressure and they havent had that since Dorsey got hurt.

Long scoring drives will limit their opportunities, Tresselball is the perfect foil in my opinion.

 

[Nutriaitch]

From what I see, I think that LSU's inconsistent play on offense is due more to its inconsistent o-line than the skilled players or even coaching. I don't know the reason for this: key injuries, sloppy technique, inexperience, etc.

If it's coaching, our coaches need to quit passing the playbook down to each other. We've been that way since DiNardo.

For some reason, last year we could give Jamarcus all the time in the world to pass, but couldn't open a hole for any of our RBs. This year, we're blowing people off the lines (not always) and getting Hester to the 2nd level before contact, but Flynn gets pressured a lot.

 

[scarletngrey11]

What's my honest opinion of LSU?

A team with so much talent even Miles can't completely fuck it up.

 

[utgrad73]

Have we been on the LSU boards talking up our guys? I hear about Hester, well let's talk about Wells and Saine. We hear about Dorsey and Holliday College Football - Trindon?Holliday Player Page, what about Gholston and Small, Hartline or Robo?

We have comparable players at every position.

SI.com - College Football - LSU Team Roster

Football - Roster - The Ohio State Buckeyes Official Athletics Site - OhioStateBuckeyes.com

 

[bukIpower]

My HONEST opinion of LSU is this- great talent, dorsey is an animal, fast athletes everywhere, and a big hitting secondary. However, as stated the oline doesn't impress me becauase of CONSTANT pressure from pass rushes, and neither does the #7 linebacker impress me. To be completely honest I cant' stand LSU only because of LES MILES. He's too risky, and pretty cocky about his team IMO. I respect the hell out of LSU and I actually followed them in the Saban days but when Les took over that went out the window. I also was rooting against LSU this year because the fact the game would be in your back yard. that'd be like OSU playing at columbus crew stadium! I honestly would've felt horrible for LSU and their fans had they had a blown game due to Les' stupidity.

But daddybigbucks- Dorsey will not take this game over. I think vince wilfork is a good comparison from 2002. we've faced big time tackles before it's the great d-ends/safties that hurt our offense the most. Interior guys never have dominated games against us, and I have to think that Rehring at 6'8"340, Cordle at 295, and Person at 315 can MANAGE dorsey.

I think that the Va tech game was completely an overhyped game. Va tech the first game of the year scored 17 points against eastern carolina in a 17-10 I believe va tech victory. Tech has been abysmal on offense all season long and IMO va tech is the weakest top 10 team there is. I was impressed with what LSU did on offense but what lsu's defense did was not a surprise to me.

I think LSU SHOULD win this game, but to be honest I can't see Les Miles beating Jim Tressel. Les Miles' own stupidity and arrogance will get him burnt in this game more than once I think

 

[OCBucksFan]

I think LSU SHOULD win this game, but to be honest I can't see Les Miles beating Jim Tressel. Les Miles' own stupidity and arrogance will get him burnt in this game more than once I think

That sums it up for me, can Les Miles rely on his players to win the game?