Fournette Express carries LSU over Mississippi State

Despite suiting up last week and playing for about 30 minutes against McNeese State before the game was called due to inclement weather, this one was billed as LSU's first game of the season.

The 15th-ranked Tigers came into No. 25 Mississippi State's home field in Starkville like a new team: Quarterback Brandon Harris looked poised and smart, the playcalls were diverse and aggressive, and the defense was playing lights out.

LSU took a commanding 14--0 lead in the first quarter, largely on the legs of sophomore Leonard Fournette, who finished with 159 yards and three touchdowns. LSU needed every last one of them.

But can they contend with the vicious SEC West? “We have the players, we have the coaches. It's time," Fournette told reporters after the game. We will see.

LSU beats MSU Bulldogs 21-19

MSU's Dak Prescott, frustrated most of the night by the Bengals D, finally solved LSU in the fourth quarter by lobbing short throws underneath that got them into easy down and distance. Scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs failed in the little things along the way to their first loss of the season.

They missed a crucial two-point conversion after scoring their second TD; they got called on a crucial delay of game near the end, which cost them 5 yards and probably the game.

LSU on the other hand, got long plays and touchdowns called back all night, negating big plays and huge chunks of yardage. Still, LSU hung on to win 21-19 on the road.

Fans will say Les Miles did all he could to lose the game -- and they're partially right -- but LSU's first game showed that the Tigers need a second wind to wear teams down -- and they need to stay aggressive down the stretch. Overall it was a solid B effort. #GeauxTigers

LSU mauls Mississippi State, 19-6

Mississippi State Bulldogs came out with fire in their eyes last night, trying to test the Tigers up front and in the secondary.
The offense looked pedestrian at times but the Tigers played it safe with a 19-6 victory over the Bulldogs.


The Tigers (3-0, 1-0 in SEC) were up to the challenge before a hostile 56,924 at Davis Wade Stadium. The Tigers were up against the SEC's best rushing attack.


"They came in averaging 300 yards rushing, and we came in trying to dominate and stop the run game," said LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers, who had three tackles for losses, including a sack. "We were flying to the ball. Everyone was doing their assignments, doing what we need to do to win. We don't want anybody to score on us."


The Tigers ate Bulldogs quarterback Chris Relf for lunch and made running back Vick Ballard eat turf like another Vick, holding a Bulldogs' team averaging 321 yards on the ground to 52 yards on 34 carries.


"We didn't get into a rhythm," Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said. "We got behind and had to throw the ball and play their game. Our playmakers have to make plays. We will be all right -- our guys always bounce back."


The lone blotch on the resume for LSU was Jarrett Lee's interception which happened because he overthrew the receiver but the veteran quarterback quickly regrouped.
Next up for the Tigers, West Virginia.

What's Wrong With Georgia?

The Georgia Bulldogs have mailed in three weeks of uninspired football -- all losses -- and it just doesn't look like the same UGA.
 What's up with the Dawgs? They've lost again, this time 24-12 to Mississippi State.
Mississippi State's Chris Relf, who ran for 97 yards and passed for double that, looked like Michael Vick out there as the Bulldogs were held to two field goals until the final minutes.
The absence of A.J. Green cannot be underestimated, but no one expected this. UGA coach Mark Richt has always done a fine job of not making the game about one player.
College kids go down all the time (i.e. Ryan Perriloux). The coaches are supposed to make the players forget about them and go on to the next guy on the bench, the next recruit.
In this regard, I'm surprised at Richt. He usually has a sound core with a few talented guys sprinkled in, but this quarterback Aaron Murray is making Joe Cox look like Joe Montana.
In all honesty, it's not all Murray's fault. There seems to be no senior leadership on this team --- and Bulldogs fans are getting restless.
Here's a snapshot taken from ESPN:

LSU cruises by Mississippi State but trouble brews

LSU clobbered Mississippi State on Saturday in Death Valley 29-7, but looks are deceiving.

The Tigers' average starting field position was their 48-yard-line, meaning LSU would not pile up tons of yards but they gave up 152 yards on the ground.

True, the Bulldogs quarterback Chris Relf is a scrambler with shifty legs but it wasn't necessarily his ability to break tackles that led to MSU outgaining the Tigers in overall yardage. No, Mississippi State's O line created such gaping holes, the likes of which I haven't seen this season opposite the Tigers.

 MSU backup quarterback Tyler Russell moved the ball decently against the Tigers -- when he wasn't throwing directly to them. LSU had five interceptions but should have had at least 40 points, but a stout MSU made an accounting of themselves. Stevan Ridley continues to have a strong season, finishing the game with just shy of 80 yards rushing and one touchdown.

Jordan Jefferson is basically in timeout since he threw a bad interception in the end zone against Vanderbilt. Les Miles and Gary Crowton have told him to just run the dang ball, and check down to his third receiver. He's done that and in doing so he's become a game manager, which is safer but not as dynamic.

LSU also continues to leave points on the board, this time at least 14 points due to several reasons and misques.

Can they beat the Auburns and Tennessees and Floridas with this kind of smashmouth run game and a ferocious defense? No, but they can compete. 

LSU has yet to hit on all cylinders offensively in a game since the days of JaMarcus Russell. And that's a Saban recruit.

box score

Will LSU be able to run on Mississippi State?

Last year in Starkville, LSU suffered mightily trying to ground up yards on the ground. LSU only managed 31 yards on 30 attempts, and Russell Shepard had 26 yards himself.

5 reasons LSU barely beat Miss. State last year

Jordan Jefferson had one of his best games throwing the long ball that day, hooking up with senior receiver Brandon Lafell for two touchdowns.
But it was the defense that saved the Tigers, ending the game with a goal line stand in the closing seconds.
This year, State, with a stout defensive line, is primed to turn the tables on the Tigers.
Will this be the game Jarrett Lee plays significantly? The offense has stalled under Jefferson, with the offensive coordinator effectively playing keep away last week at Vandy (one pass play after the first possession in the second half).
One thing is certain: The Tigers will need points.
"Defensively, they give up about 12 points a game and are a team that is really sticky against the run, " Miles said in an interview earlier this week.

5 Reasons Why LSU's Barely Beat Miss St. 30-26

Whew. Talk about nail-biters.
LSU's 30-26 win against Mississippi State last week probably looked worse on paper than it did in person.
I was there.
LSU had some key mistakes in the game, but somehow, someway it all still looks highly correctable. Here are 5 reasons why they barely beat Mississippi State.

It was raining cats and dogs before the game
Let it be known: The field conditions weren't an excuse for how LSU played; Mississippi State obviously played in the same conditions, but it was soggy and wet as marshland out there during the game. Why? Because there was somewhat of a torrential downpour before the game (as it's been all week throughout the South). The ball, although wiped off, wiped down and wiped clean continually, was still wet as a bar of soap. The Bulldogs mostly did handoffs and laterals, so they weren't as affected. LSU on the other hand had to curtail some things as a result. You saw the consequences. Again, not an excuse, but just a reason.

2. LSU's Running Game is So Last Year
Senior Charles Scott has seen bigger holes in donuts than he's seen in his offensive line this year. It's not just Scott either. Kieland Williams and track star Trindon Holliday won't be seeing daylight this year with the line not performing. So what's the matter you say? Nothing, except that the Tigers are missing the biggest baby ever born in the state of Louisiana, Herman Johnson.

3. Jordan Jefferson's Role has Changed When Jefferson won the starting signal caller role this spring he was basically going to be a game "manager" who picked his spots and basically watched the running game amass untold yardage and touchdowns. But now that the groundgame has been, well, grounded, Jefferson is actually being asked to, well, win games. That takes talent but it takes moreso leadership, something the sophomore hasn't acquired yet. Will he get it this year? Time will tell.

4. 3rd and Chavis Okay, you know i had to touch upon the defense. To be truthful, no way LSU is 4-0 without their defense, which won at least 2 games single-handedly. The rap on Chavis is that when he was at U-T he wouldn't adjust until way after halftime, sometime between the after-game showers and the drive home. And he seemed genuinely stumped when it came to the Florida games. Mississippi State runs a version of, you guessed it, Florida's offense. Chavis was genuinely stumped ... for a while, but evidently he settled down and adjusted (or did Chad Jones just ignore his assignments and single-handedly and instinctly react in the heat of the moment to win the game?) I'll take the former for 300, Alex.

5. Mississippi State is kinda good? Yeah, Miss. State is darn decent. They will beat a top 10 team this year, and I'm just glad it's not the Tigers ... this year. It's the SEC, baby, anything can happen. Give it time, and it will. Watch.

LSU wins but Pass Defense is a Joke

Sure, they beat a self-wound-inflicting Mississippi State team 34-24, but can they beat Florida or Georgia? I don't know, I tell ya. A steady dose of Charles Scott (27 carries, 141 yards, 2 TDs) kept the Bulldogs from sneaking away with the victory, but the pass defense? SUS. PECT.
Tyson Lee, junior quarterback for MSU, looked befuddled some of the time and like a giant-killer the other part of the time, throwing quick outs and slants to the halfback all day. His 175 passing was a rather good day for him, despite having the scrappy Christian Ducre drop a running sure-to-be touchdown (yet another break LSU got).
A sluggish performance can be expected this week with all the turmoil in the top 10, but LSU will no doubt be No. 2 when the polls open up Sunday evening at 6 PM. They'll have to start playing like it.
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