LSU Versus Alabama Film Study -- The Tigers Continue Their First Drive

LSU WR Randle battled CB Menzie all game on Nov. 5.
Photo via Naples News

This piece is a part of the "LSU Versus Alabama Film Study." To read the opening piece on the ultimate reason why Alabama lost to LSU, click here. Here is Part I & Part II of Alabama's first offensive drive. Here is the first part of the LSU offense. 

                                                                        Play #9

Jarrett Lee to Odell Beckham Jr. for 13 yards. 

Fantastic play call by LSU offensive coordinator Greg Studwara after a great run on first down. Alabama crowded the line of scrimmage, Rueben Randle goes into motion and stops right next to right tackle Alex Hurst. 


Hurst, like he did on the first play, gets beat at the line of scrimmage by Courtney Upshaw off the snap. While pass protection everywhere else was good on the play for LSU, Upshaw gets to Lee quickly. 


Beckham has been fantastic all year on intermediate routes, especially when Lee has been in at quarterback. He is sharp getting in and out of breaks and does a great job not giving away his route to the defensive back. In this case, the defensive back was Coaches All-American cornerback DeQuan Menzie.


Lee does a great of getting rid of the football before Upshaw is able to get to him.  

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LSU Versus Alabama Film Study -- The Tigers Earn Five Tough Yards on the First Play

Ware wore down the Tide with jabbing runs.
Photo via Uni Watch

This piece is a part of the "LSU Versus Alabama Film Study." To read the opening piece on the ultimate reason why Alabama lost to LSU, click here. Here is Part I & Part II of Alabama's first offensive drive. Today we check in on the LSU offense. 




I would like to first off wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I always love celebrating the birth of my risen savior. But I would like to issue an apology for not posting for over a week now. I had a feeling this would happen.



I have been home with my family in El Dorado, Ark. for the Christmas holidays. During Christmas, I am a volunteer for the Salvation Army. There is not a more rewarding experience than spending time working for them. Plus time with my family is valuable and watching people my age playing football on replay isn't as important as being around my bloodline.


But on top of that, I had to emcee and manage a rock concert put on by "The Swoops" two days before Christmas. Two of the three members are childhood friends and the other is a friend I've made since I've been in college (Yes ladies, all three guys and the sexy emcee/manager is single). It was a rush to be on stage with a damn strong band. 


But now let's get down to business.


Tiger fans were raving about the performance from LSU running back Michael Ford. He rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries while starter Spencer Ware rushed for only 29 yards on 16 carries. 


While the numbers and highlights show Ford had a better game, Ware was just as important. Despite his smaller stature, Ware punishes wimpy tacklers that stand in front of him. 


The comparison between the two can be compared to a boxer's punches. Ware's runs served jab punches to the Alabama defense while Ford connected on flashy hook punches. Like the final devastating left hook thrown from a championship boxer, Ford's run in overtime was the most highlighted offensive success replayed from this game. Most of Ford's yards came from brilliant execution on option plays. While Ford did a nice job, his yards were more of a byproduct of the play instead of impressive individual runs. 


Ware's case is the exact opposite. The three-man front of Alabama abused the LSU offensive line at crucial moments in this game. But Spencer broke and pushed back numerous tacklers for tough yardage. We will see it here on this play...

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LSU Players Use Twitter to Support Jordan Jefferson's Return

Jefferson scored in his first game back w/ LSU.
Photo via AP

Social media has changed sports.


LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson made his return to the LSU football team versus the Kentucky Wildcats last Saturday. He was showered with boos when entered the game in the first half.


Les Miles wasn't pleased with LSU fans after the game. He said he had never booed at a sporting event and fans should be their to support the team.


His players reiterated the same message to the media. But some even went to Twitter to voice their opinions, all backing the senior quarterback.


LSU receiver Rueben Randle left Tiger fans no wiggle room with his tweet.


"I don't preciate how our fans booed JJ wen he got in. Either u wit US or not. That wasn't necessary."


LSU offensive guard T-Bob Hebert said fans who showed their displeasure shouldn't be Tigers fans anymore.


"Anybody who booed #jj9 today needs to stop watching #LSU games and stop cheering for the tigers, we don't need you and don't want you"

Nothing changes on the defensive side of the ball. Morris Claiborne, who was written Jefferson's number on his bicep for every game the quarterback has missed this season, said the team will never leave the Jefferson's side.


"S/O to my boy JJ9 it's good to have u bk man. U no we will always have your bk #team LSU!!"


Twitter has revolutionized sports. With limited interview access to student athletes, Twitter allows them to voice their opinion at any time.


Last week I took a deeper look into which players use Twitter.

LSU Offensive Midterms

The brains behind it all
Photo via collegefootballfansite.com

If I had to sum up LSU's offense in one statement, it might just go something like this:

"Damn, Les Miles is pretty self-conscious."

Seriously, only "The Mad Hatter" would be stubborn enough to keep playing a quarterback who is completing only 53% of his passes, has a TD-INT ratio of 2:7 and averaging 5 yards an attempt.

And, best of all, this so called "mobile" quarterback is bruising out a whopping 3.3 yds per carry.

The only conclusions I can think of that is keeping Miles from pulling Jordan Jefferson are either he doesn't want to hurt the kid's feelings or he doesn't want to admit he was wrong for letting JJ keep the keys to the offense for so long, which is garbage when you have a team with National Championship talent.

Now that my Jefferson bash is out of the way, lets take a look at the rest of the offense.

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"Lucky Les" is the Luckiest Coach in America

"Lucky Les" sure is Lucky
Photo via cfbexaminer

Les Miles is the luckiest coach alive.

I am not the only person who agrees with that statement.

When the clock struck zero for the first time, LSU fell to 4-1 in the season. The Tennessee Volunteers pulled the upset of the day in college football. Derek Dooley pulled of his signature win in front of the fifth largest crowd in the history of Tiger Stadium.   

But only Les Miles gets a second chance for the clock to run out.

The Tigers, like they did versus Ole Miss last year, had problems managing the clock when it mattered most. LSU had first and goal on the Vols two-yard line with 36 seconds remaining.

On the first play, Miles attempted a play action pass on first down with Jarrett Lee that fell incomplete. Lee said after the game the ball was targeted for Rueben Randle.

On second down, Miles subbed in struggling Jordan Jefferson to play quarterback. His number was called to the right side, where he was stopped at the one-yard line.

Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock.    

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T-Bob Hebert -- LSU vs Tennessee Postgame

LSU center T-Bob Hebert talks about LSU's stunning 16-14 victory over Tennessee.