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bfollins writes "The Road Less Travelled
by Bryan Follins
The 2010 LSU football is an unknown quantity. Or, is it an unknown quality? Will it produce?
On offense, the good news is that the Purple and Gold return a lot of players who saw considerable action last season. The bad news is that the same offense was ranked last in the SEC in total offense.
The Tigers ranked 11th in the league in rushing offense last season, despite having senior running backs Charles Scott and Keilland Williams. Something was missing, most notably an offensive line. Returning starters Josh Dworaczyk, Chris Fauk, and T-Bob Hebert all saw considerable playing time, and were pushed around most of the time they played. Will there be improvement in the line play? Time will tell.
Jordan Jefferson returns after logging most of the time at quarterback last season. Jefferson completed 61 percent of his passes with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Only three quarterbacks in the league had fewer interceptions last year, Tim Tebow (Florida), Chris Todd (Auburn), and Greg McElroy (Alabama). The other player at that position with any game experience is Jared Lee, and most of that experience is bad. Both Jefferson and Lee are juniors.
Highly touted Zach Lee was supposed to bring help and depth to the quarterback position, but Lee chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The running back position lost seniors Charles Scott and Keilland Williams. Senior Richard Murphy returns at running back after suffering a campaign ending leg injury early last season. Junior Steven Ridley was solid in spot action least season. Ridley average four yards per carry while running for 180 yards.
Receivers Terrence Toliver and Reuben Randle showed signs of brilliance last season. Toliver averaged 13.9 yards per catch in 13 games, which was second on the team. Randle average 15.7 yards per catch in four games. These two players are high caliber threats.
However, the big X factor for the Tigers is Sophomore Russell Shepard. He is a player who can break a big play any time he gets his hands on the football. For the Tigers to be successful this season, Shepard must be a big factor in the offense. Last season he averaged 6.8 yards per catch and 6.2 yards per rush.
On defense the Tigers return two very good football players in Kelvin Sheppard and Patrick Peterson. Sheppard had 119 total tackles last season, fourth in the SEC. Peterson was second in the league in the passes defended category.
Other defensive players saw a lot of action last campaign. Will they hold up for an entire season? The often injured Pep Levingston returns on the defensive line, as well as Lavar Edwards, and the enigmatic Drake Nevis, who has shown flashes of brilliance in his three years in Tigertown.
Successful football teams have good offensive and defensive lines. These are unproven areas for the Purple and Gold.
The positives for the Tigers are that Shepard (Russell), Sheppard (Kelvin), Jefferson, Randle, Toliver, and Peterson are playmakers. LSU has to have these players involved in the bulk of their schemes to have any success, at least until other players prove themselves.
LSU will not have to wait long to prove themselves because a solid North Carolina awaits them in Atlanta on Labor Day Weekend.
That is when some questions will begin to be answered.
Links:
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2009/Internet/conf%20stats/2009000000911PD.HTML
http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/09stats/indgbg.htm?DB_OEM_ID=5200#IGBG.DEF"
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LFives writes " 2010 Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 04 North Carolina at Atlanta, Ga. (Georgia Dome) 5:00 p.m. Sat, Sep 11 Vanderbilt * at Nashville, Tenn. (Vanderbilt Stadium) 4:00 p.m. Sat, Sep 18 Mississippi State * Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 5:00 p.m. Sat, Sep 25 West Virginia Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 5:00 p.m. Sat, Oct 02 Tennessee * Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 5:00 p.m. Sat, Oct 09 Florida * at Gainesville, Fla. (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium) TBA Sat, Oct 16 McNeese St. Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 5:00 p.m. Sat, Oct 23 Auburn * at Auburn, Ala. (Jordan-Hare Stadium) TBA Sat, Nov 06 Alabama * Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 5:00 p.m. Homecoming Sat, Nov 13 UL-Monroe Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 5:00 p.m. Sat, Nov 20 Ole Miss * Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 5:00 p.m. Sat, Nov 27 Arkansas * at Little Rock, Ark. (War Memorial Stadium) TBA SEC Championship Game
Sat, Dec 04 TBD (if nec.) at Atlanta, Ga. (Georgia Dome) 1:00 p.m. CBS, |
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Football: Knowing the Enemy - Penn State
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Lfives writes "by Bryan Follins
Game Thirteen
The Capital One Bowl
Penn State
Record: 10-2
Wins:
Akron (31-7)
Syracuse (28-7)
Temple (31-6)
Illinois (35-17)
Eastern Illinois (52-3)
Minnesota (20-0)
Michigan (35-10)
Northwestern (34-13)
Indiana (31-20)
Michigan State (42-14)
Losses:
Iowa (21-10)
Ohio State (24-7)
Catfight
Penn State is probably one of the few college football teams who have not changed the appearance of their football uniforms in over 40 years. They also have not changed their style of play much, either. The Nittany Lions do not have many surprises. Watching a Penn State football game is like going to see one of those kickboxing brawls in a caged ring. Win or lose, against the Nittany Lions, they usually leave some bruises.
Penn State’s defensive teams are usually good, and this team is no exception. The Nittany Lions have a trio of linebackers who finished in the top ten in the Big Ten in tackling. Senior linebacker Josh Hull was fourth in the league with 110 tackles, 40 solos. Junior Navarro Bowman had 84 total tackles, 45 solos, good for seventh in the league. Senior Sean Lee had 80 stops, 43 solos. Bowman and Lee piled up their stats despite each player missing three games.
Bowman has had nine games in his career with double figures in tackles. He was tenth in the nation in tackles for losses, averaging 1.55 per game.
On the Nittany Lion defensive line is 6-5, 296, 2009 All-Big Ten tackle Jared Oldrick. The senior had seven sacks, five unassisted, during the season. Sophomore defensive lineman Jack Crawford had 17 tackles for losses, ten unassisted, during the campaign.
Penn State was eighth in the nation in total defense and tenth in the nation in rushing defense. They were also number one in the country in red zone defense.
The Penn State offensive line is anchored by starting tackle Dennis Landolt, a 2009 All Big-Ten selection. Junior center Stefen Wisiewski is an All-Big Ten performer.
Junior running back Evan Royster ran for over 1100 yards in 2009, gaining him first team all conference honors. Royster averaged 5.87 yards per carry for the season. Royster was third in the league in all-purpose rushing.
All-Big Ten quarterback Daryl Clark is the conference leader in passing efficiency. Clark passed for 23 touchdowns and was intercepted 10 times during the season. He passed for 37.5 percent in a loss to Iowa. He passed for 42.9 percent in a loss to Ohio State. Clark was intercepted three times in the Iowa game. He passed for at least three touchdowns in five games.
Wide receiver Derek Moye averaged 3.75 receptions per game, but he averaged over 16 yards per catch. He had three 100 yard receiving games (Eastern Illinois, Minnesota, and Northwestern).
Hopefully the toughest cats in this contest will be wearing the Purple and Gold.
Links:
gopsusports.com/120409aab.html
gopsusports.com/2009-2010
web1.ncaa.org
Notable Penn State Alumni
Chu T. Ming
roswellpark.org/Chu_T_Ming_PhD
Donald P. Bellisario
Wikipedia/Donald P. Bellisario
IMDB/Donald P. Bellisario
Valerie Plame
CBS News
Wikipedia/Valerie Plame
The Quote
“There are several differences between a football game and a revolution. For one thing, a football game usually lasts longer and the participants wear uniforms. Also, there are usually more casualties in a football game. The object of the game is to move a ball past the other team's goal line. This counts as six points. No points are given for lacerations, contusions, or abrasions, but then no points are deducted, either. Kicking is very important in football. In fact, some of the more enthusiastic players even kick the ball, occasionally.” ~ "Alfred Hitchcok""
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Game Twelve
by Bryan Follins
Arkansas
Record: 7-4
Wins:
Missouri State (48-10)
Texas A&M (47-19)
Auburn (44-23)
Eastern Michigan (63-27)
South Carolina (33-16)
Troy (56-20)
Mississippi State (42-21)
Losses:
Georgia (52-41)
Alabama (35-7)
Florida (23-20)
Ole Miss (30-17)
The Tigers end their regular season at home against Arkansas, a team that likes to put the ball in the air. Ryan Mallet, a transfer from Michigan, is the Razorback quarterback. Mallet has gaudy passing statistics. He is sixth in the nation in total passing yards (3195), third in the country in passing efficiency (165.18), and eighth nationally with 290 passing yards per game. Mallet threw for over 400 yards in a game earlier in the season against Georgia, but Arkansas lost the contest.
It is interesting to note, however, that Mallet has not done very well against solid defensive teams. In a loss to Alabama, he was 12 of 35 for 160 yards (one touchdown, one interception).
In a defeat to Ole Miss, Mallet was 12 of 34 with one touchdown. He did throw for 254 yards. In a loss to Florida, he was 12 of 27 for 224 yards and one touchdown. His completion percentage drops drastically against good defenses.
The disturbing note is that the Purple and Gold is eighth in the SEC in pass defense.
Mallet spreads the ball around. Six of Arkansas’ players are in the top 100 in the SEC in receptions per game. All six average in double figures per catch. Wide receiver Greg Childs is seventh in the league in receptions per game (3.65), as well as third in the SEC in receiving yards per game. Childs averages 18.45 yards per reception. Another wide receiver, Jarius Wright, averages three receptions per game. He averages 16.09 yards per reception. D.J. Williams, a good tight end, averages 2.82 receptions per game at 12.87 yards per catch. Arkansas’ receivers are dangerous catching the ball and dangerous running with it after they catch it.
Offensive tackles Ray Dominguez and DeMarcus Love anchor a solid Razorback offensive line.
In case anyone forgets about the rushing game, Dennis Johnson is a pretty good all purpose runner. He is ninth in the league, averaging 111 all-purpose yards per game. Broderick Green, a 6’2, 248 pound bruiser, averages 4.4 yards per run on the season. He has 10 touchdowns on the year.
Arkansas knows what to do when they get the ball in the opposing team’s red zone. They lead the nation with a .98 red zone efficiency rating.
The Hogs are not good defensively. They are last in the conference in total defense, last in the conference in pass efficiency defense, last in the SEC in pass defense, and eighth in the league in rushing defense.
Arkansas comes to Tiger Town bowl eligible. They have won four games in a row. However the teams they have beaten in that streak (Eastern Michigan, South Carolina, Troy, and Mississippi State), do not exactly strike fear into an opponent.
It is a big game, however. If the Purple and Gold can figure out that a football game runs by a clock, they could come away with The Boot.
Links:
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com//pdf5/626744.pdf?SPSID=30726&SPID=2419&DB_OEM_ID=6100
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/mainpage.jsp
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&KEY=&SPID=2419&SPSID=30726
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/pdf5/657850.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=6100
Notable Arkansas Alumni
J William Fulbright
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Fulbright
George Howard, Jr
http://www.lincolnu.edu/Files/Alumni/Honorable%20George%20Howard%20Bio.pdf
Pat Summerall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Summerall
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/18/sports/football/18sandomir.html?_r=1
http://www.nfl.com/players/patsummerall/profile?id=SUM191673
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Game Eleven
by
Bryan Follins
Ole
Miss
Record:
(7-3)
Wins:
Memphis
(45-14)
Southeastern
Louisiana (52-6)
Vanderbilt
(23-7)
Alabama
Birmingham (48-13)
Arkansas
(30-17)
Northern
Arizona (38-14)
Tennessee
(42-17)
Losses:
South
Carolina (16-10)
Alabama
(22-3)
Auburn(33-20)
Stretch Run
The Purple and Gold travel to Oxford, Mississippi to face a
Mississippi Rebel football team playing good football. Both teams are bowl eligible, and in a fight
to be playing somewhere on the first of January.
The Johnny Rebs are fresh off of a 42-17 dismantling of
Tennessee, in which running back Dexter
McCluster had a game for the ages. McCluster
rushed for 282 yards and ran for four touchdowns, as Ole Miss beat the Vols for
the first time since the 1983 season.
McCluster, who is 5’9, 170 pounds ran at, through, and around Tennessee
for the entire game. His longest scoring
jaunt was 71 yards. He had 324
all-purpose yards for the contest. He
has rushed for 755 yards on the season.
The Rebel offense has other weapons. Sophomore running back Brandon Bolden has rushed for 569 yards and four touchdowns on the year. Bolden has led the Rebels in rushing four
times this season.
Click Read More to continue...
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LFives writes "The following statement is excerpted from the the November 12th issue of LSU sports net.
"SEC OFFICIALS
We have received numerous
e-mails about the LSU vs. Alabama game and the performance of the
officials in that game. Please be assured that there is a mechanism
within our conference that allows coaches and administrators to voice
their opinion about the performance of officials in SEC athletic
contests. We will continue to refrain from making public comments about
officials, but that does not mean we do not speak out loud and clear as
an institution to the league office when appropriate."
LSU Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director, Joe Aleva.
"
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Football: Knowing the Enemy - Louisiana Tech
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Game Ten by Bryan Follins
Louisiana Tech
Wins:
Nicholls State (48-13) Hawaii (27-6) New Mexico State (45-7)
Losses: Auburn (37-13) Navy (32-14) Nevada (37-14) Utah State (23-21) Idaho (35-34) Boise State (45-35)
Louisiana Tech comes to Tiger Stadium with a 3-6 overall record on the season. They have not won a road game all year. On paper, it seems like the ideal game for the Purple and Gold after a war with Alabama. The Bulldogs are in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), home of Boise State.
Tech has played one team that LSU has played this season. That was Auburn. They lost to Auburn 37-13 back in September. Things have not gotten much better for them since that time.
It is hard to say Louisiana Tech is good, even when they finish high in a statistical category. For instance, the Bulldogs are third in the WAC in total defense. That figure is misleading. They give up an average of 387.78 yards per contest on defense. Their defense allows an average of 5.69 yards per play. So, even though they are fourth in the WAC in total defense, they are 80th in the nation in total defense. Not good.
In their three wins they have averaged over 40 points per game. However those wins were over Nicholls State, Hawaii, and New Mexico State. Those three teams have a combined record of 7-20 on the season. Not good.
Click Read More to continue...
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Game Nine by Bryan Follins
Alabama Record: 9-0
Wins:
Virginia Tech (34-24) Florida International (40-14) North Texas (53-7) Arkansas (35-7) Kentucky (38-20) Ole Miss (22-3) South Carolina (20-6) Tennessee (12-10)
Losses: None
Time left of the Tricky Nick Era at Alabama 2 years, ?? months, ??days, ?? hours, ??minutes, ??seconds
All Hands On Deck…
It is not hard to see why Alabama is undefeated. They control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. When a team’s offensive and defensive line controls the line of scrimmage, that team will win more than it will lose.
The Tide is second in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 65 yards per game. The Tide is fifth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 11 points per game. Alabama is fourth in the country in total defense, allowing 241 yards per game.
Tricky Nick plays a three-four defensive set. The three down linemen are key to the Tide defense.
Click Read More to continue...
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Game Eight Tulane by Bryan Follins
Record (2-5)
Wins: McNeese State (42-32) Army (17-16)
Losses: Tulsa (37-13) Brigham Young (54-3) Marshall (31-10) Houston (44-16) Southern Mississippi (43-6)
Tulane comes to Tiger Town this week sporting a 2-5 record. They are winless in league play. The Greenies play in Conference USA (C-USA). So far, this has not been a good team. In their losses, the Green Wave has given up an average of 41 points per game. Out of 23 statistical team categories, in a league of 12 teams, Tulane is above eighth place in only two categories. They are pass defense and passing efficiency.
Click Read More to continue the article...
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by Bryan Follins Game Seven
Auburn Record: 5-2
Wins: Louisiana Tech 37-13 Mississippi State 49-24 West Virginia 41-30 Ball State 54-30 Tennessee 26-22
Losses: Arkansas 44-23 Kentucky 21-14
Fourth Weekend of Deadly October
The Auburn Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen come calling to Tiger Town with a 5-2 overall record, and 2-2 mark in the SEC. They have lost their last two games to Arkansas and Kentucky. Like the Purple and Gold, the Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen are fighting to stay alive in the SEC West.
The Auburn first year head coach is Gene Chizik, the former head coach at Iowa State. Chizik was also formerly a defensive coordinator at Auburn.
The Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen are seventh... (click Read More) |
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