#11 LSU beat Washington, but how well did they play?

I will get this disclaimer out of the way. I consider myself a LSU football fan and have followed them since I was young, and closely since 2003. I will try and write a game recap after each of their games. So here we Geaux…

LSU opened their 2009 season against a Washington Huskies team that didn’t win a game last year! The Huskies hired former USC offensive coordinator and famous QB coach Steve Sarkisian to turn around Washington.

The first thing I want to say is that Sophomore Jordan Jefferson isn’t a great QB, he is mobile, but his accuracy is below average and decision making is average at best. That being said, I think the Tigers should do what they can to develop Freshman QB stud-in-waiting Russell Sheppard and get him out there. Jefferson is fine for now, certainly better than that nerd-alert Jarrett Lee. Jefferson has a solid receiving corps that can make up for passes that aren’t right on the money and a good running game to help him out. Jefferson played decent vs. Washington. If you look at the box score, you would think he had a great game, but really he faced a sub-par defense and Terrance Tolliver made some great plays. Jefferson ran the option a lot and had good judgment.

Jefferson’s Performance: B

The Running Backs have been a strong point of LSU for years. This year, similar to last year, they will feature Senior Charles Scott, some of Senior Keiland Williams and the track superstar and Senior Trindon Holliday. Scott, more of a power back, with great patience, struggled. He was getting decent running lanes, but looked average at best, and was replaced, at least for this game, by Keiland Williams. Williams has been a stud since Day 1 of stepping onto LSU’s campus with great speed and size; however he has been behind Jacob Hester and Charles Scott on the depth chart, but has some real ability. Williams played well, on 7 rushes he gained 51 yards, playing a solid compliment to Jefferson in the option. I wouldn’t be surprised if Keiland and Scott are switched around based on the style of defense they are playing in the future.

Scott’s Performance: C

Williams Performance: A-

LSU has All-Americans at receiver each year and usually challenge secondary’s each Saturday. This year’s team feature’s potential 1^st round pick and Senior Brandon LaFell plus the number 1 receiver out of high school 2 years ago, Junior Terrence Tolliver. While LaFell may have started since his sophomore year, Tolliver is the real prize in this bunch of receivers. Each year, LaFell has been expected to take a larger role in the offense, but never challenged Dwayne Bowe, Craig “Buster” Davis, Early Doucet, and Demetrius Byrd for the number 1 spot. I don’t expect this year to be any different. LaFell drops too many passes and never has performed consistently to earn the number 1 spot. LaFell caught a late touchdown, but was otherwise nonexistent Saturday. Terrence Tolliver played outstanding. Tolliver was easily the MVP of the game for LSU. He only caught four passes but two of the catches were touchdowns. On one catch, he broke a tackle and blew past the secondary for a touchdown and the other he juked a corner out of his shoes and took it to the house without being touched. Tolliver showed his athleticism and his ability in the open field. Other than these two receivers, only 3 other passes were caught. Tight End and Senior Richard Dickson was nonexistent, but should be a bigger presence in the passing game as the season progresses.

LaFell: C+

Tolliver: A

Rest of Receivers: N/A

The Offensive line played well. They gave Jefferson time to pass, as well as running lanes to run the option. They controlled the line of scrimmage as well as they could on pass plays. Their run blocking between the tackles was poor. They didn’t open up any holes for Scott or Keiland to run through. As a result, a majority of their running success went off tackle, in the option. They should have dominated each aspect of blocking against a clearly inferior opponent.

O-Line Grade: B-

Washington ran 83 plays of offense compared to LSU’s 48, ouch. LSU played a bend but don’t break defense. They allowed 478 yards, but only gave up 23 points. The defensive line played decent, getting in the backfield for some run plays and having sustained pressure on QB Jake Locker. The linebackers were decent; they missed several tackles early on, but played better as the game progressed. The secondary was gashed on a couple big passes and should have done better against an inferior receiving corps. LSU’s defense was bailed out by Washington’s Johri Fogerson having a pass go off his chest in the end zone. And D’Andre Goodwin stopped running at the goal line as Locker’s pass darted through the back of the end zone. Washington committed 11 penalties to LSU’s 3. If this was against a SEC opponent, they would have allowed 40 points and lost.

Linemen: B

Linebackers: C

Secondary: C

As a whole, this game showed that LSU is a talented team, but they need to sure up several aspects of their team. If they can find ways to get Dickson involved in the passing game and get better at the fundamentals of defense, they can compete for the SEC West. Their schedule is brutal this year having to travel to Athens, Oxford, and Tuscaloosa. Up next for the Tigers is Vanderbilt. This should be a cake walk for their home opener.

Overall Game Grade: C+