Christien Louviere

It happened again.  Exactly one year from last year’s SEC opener against the Tennessee Volunteers  in Death Valley.  The LSU Tigers lost their SEC opener again but this time to their bigger rival in the Auburn Tigers.  Last year, I watched my Tigers lose to the Volunteers in person and this year I was able to see a game for the first time inside of Jordan-Hare Stadium.  I made the 2 hour trip from my new home of Atlanta to Auburn.

A quick side note about the stadium.  Jordan-Hare is a beautiful stadium and in many ways is almost the spitting image of Death Valley (or vice versa depending on how one looks at it).  The only real difference is I think LSU holds about another 10,000 passionate SEC fans.  My only criticisms are that they need to get another video monitor on opposite side of the stadium and vastly need to upgrade their sound system.  I know they have the cash so AU needs to step up right there.  I was sitting amongst the traveling Bengal Tiger faithful and after each play they would like up to the right to see the replay but to no avail as there was no video screen.  We’re used to that luxury in Tiger Stadium.

Anyway, Mr. Les Miles was simply outcoached again this year.  Last year, Fulmer had him outcoached and this year Tuberville had his number.  Yes, the refs absolutely blew two major calls in this game.  In the first half, JaMarcus Russell threw a pass in the back of the end zone to Jared Mitchell.  The man was completely bear hugged…no call.  I had a better view than the ref being on the goal line two rows from the field.  And then, on LSU’s 2nd to last drive, one of Auburn’s guys tackled Early Doucet before the ball was even close to him.  They throw the flag and then waived it off.  That was absolutely abhorrent reversal.  The ball had never been tipped until one of Auburn’s DBs tipped it before it got there.  Absolutely, it was pass interference.  ESPN radio and TV raved about it all night.  It reminded me of 2004 at Auburn when their kicker missed an extra point.  About five seconds later, the ref pulls a flag out of his pocket.  He calls us for jumping over a player’s back.  Another complete BS call, ESPN tore up the refs that day too as well they should.  I don’t know what the hell is going on down there with the refs but it’s crap and obvious too!

Now, I am not blaming Auburn football for the refs.  Those guys are out there to play not control the refs.  This is one of the best defensive football games I’ve ever seen at the college level.  This is why the SEC is heads above the rest when it comes to other college football conferences.  LSU annihilated Auburn…on paper.  LSU had 300 plus yards of offense compared to AU’s 150 plus.  As much as I hate to admit this, Tuberville is smart about making adjustments and Miles is not at all.  The things that Miles has to know going in:

1) Auburn’s punter is superb and our defense is stacked, therefore they would punt often and we would have to construct long drives.
2) Auburn’s front four is blazingly fast and strong.  Their linebackers are a complete package.  Outside of #4, their DBs are a major weakness.  They lack the height and speed to compete with LSU’s receivers.
3) Brandon Cox has the tools in the pocket but outside of it he is just an average  athlete.  Bring at least one every time. 
4) Will Muschamp is an amazing D coordinator and he knows LSU’s offense very well, since Jimbo Fisher was the O coordinator at LSU when he was there too.
5) Kenny Irons is a beast.  He only had 70 plus yards rushing, but when he needed those extra yards for the first he got them.

For whatever reason, Les refuses to use the pass to setup the run.  It’s like the only thing he knows is run to setup the pass.  Everytime, Russell put the ball over the middle or on a curl we were successful.  The man was 20 for 35 which proves amazing efficiency.  35 seems like a lot of passes but most came only after Auburn scored the lone touchdown and it was crunch time.  Bo Pellini did a great job with the D.  They held Auburn to under 200 yards and 1 touchdown.  The offense couldn’t get one.  They had their chances, but Miles lacks the killer instinct that Saban possesses.  The first time it was evident was against Tennessee.  It became evident in many other wins.  LSU’s talent alone is so high that it disguises his inability to adapt throughout the game.

I didn’t leave the game upset just disappointed.  The kids played their hearts out and they should have won that game but they are the victims of poor coaching decisions.  It’s a serious problem when people who know nothing about football ask questions about why things aren’t happening in the game.  Last year, my gf at the time asked me why does he keep sending the nickel blitz in when they (TN) are just nickel and diming us down the field?  Until that point, I thought she only knew how to keep score.  My first thought was, "Damn, if she sees that Fullmer must be having a field day." That thought was immediately followed by, "Wow, she’s really hot now too!" I digress.   This year, I was standing (you don’t sit in the SEC) next to a girl who was more focused on taking pictures than watching the game.  She said, "Why do we keep running the ball to the outside?  Auburn is too fast."  I thought, "Wow, if a LSU sophomore thinks that, then Tuberville must be having a field day."

Final thought: It can’t be Jimbo Fisher because he was the O-coordinator under Saban and we would crush opponents as well as out play them.  Saban has a killer instinct and Miles does not.  If you don’t agree come up with another example for me besides Miami in last year’s Peach Bowl.  The U is not the same U anymore.  The plays run may be Fisher’s call, but the game plan, and changes to it, are Miles’ call.   I don’t see us beating Florida this year because Meyer will outcoach him again if he doesn’t learn to make adjustments.  Talent will only get you so far and then you have to be able to use your brain.