The ninth-ranked LSU Tigers get a break
from their grueling SEC schedule this weekend and face the Tulane Green Wave
in an instate battle in Baton Rouge.
The Tigers bounced back nicely following a tough 13-3 loss to top-ranked
Florida, as they posted a 31-10 victory over Auburn this past weekend.
"This is a nice win, certainly, but not one that we are going to rest and
reflect on but choose to improve on ambitiously," said coach Les Miles.
The win improved LSU to 6-1 for the third time in five years under Miles, as
the program became bowl eligible for the 10th straight season. The Tigers now
step outside of the SEC and will try to extend their 21-game non-conference
win streak, the longest in the nation.
As for Tulane, it has been abused at times this season and brings a three-game
losing skid into the weekend. The Green Wave was last in action on Saturday,
when it suffered a 43-6 setback at Southern Miss.
"We work so hard as coaches and players and then to come into a game and
perform like that is really disheartening," said head coach Bob Toledo.
Tulane has had a lot of bad performances this season, with all five of its
losses coming by at least 21 points.
Things probably won't get a whole lot better this weekend, as Tulane has
dropped the last 17 meetings with LSU, which holds a 68-22-7 lead in the all-
time series. The Green Wave's last win over LSU came in 1982 and that was also
the last time the Tigers lost a game to a team from Louisiana.
The Green Wave turned the ball over four times and managed only 212 yards of
total offense, as it scored just one touchdown in a lopsided loss to USM this
past weekend.
"It's a comedy of errors," said coach Toledo. "I about had a heart attack at
halftime I was so mad. I was yelling and screaming. I haven't been that mad in
the three years since I've been here."
It was certainly another miserable performance by Tulane, which has committed
18 turnovers and failed to score more than 17 points against any of its FBS
opponents this season.
Tailback Andre Anderson was about the only bright spot, as he rushed for 91
yards and a score, while pulling in six passes for 24 yards. Anderson has now
rushed for 646 yards and six touchdowns and he will probably get a large chunk
of the work this weekend.
Redshirt-freshman quarterback Ryan Griffin made his first career start last
weekend and it didn't go so well. Griffin was sacked six times and hew threw
for just 158 yards, with two turnovers. He stepped in for the ineffective Joe
Kemp, who at least completed 65.0 percent of his pass attempts in the first
six games.
Jeremy Williams is the team's main weapon through the air and he paces Tulane
with 44 catches for 662 yards and three touchdowns.
Tulane's defense didn't offer much resistance to USM last weekend, but that
wasn't a big surprise from a unit that is allowing 407.6 total ypg on the
season. The Green Wave gave up 380 total yards to USM, with 253 of those yards
coming on the ground. Stopping the run has been a big problem for Tulane, as
the defense have given up 195.6 ypg and 18 touchdowns on the ground.
Creating big plays isn't a strength of this defense either. Tulane has forced
a mere eight turnovers, to go with a measly six sacks, and that simply won't
get the job done.
Chinonso Echebelem has given his best for the team and he leads Tulane with 70
stops and four forced fumbles.
Quarterback Jordan Jefferson threw for a career-high 242 yards and a pair of
touchdowns, leading LSU past Auburn on Saturday.
"During the off week we focused on a lot of things that we made mistakes on,"
said Jefferson, who also ran for a score. "Coming out and executing the way we
did offensively really gave us a confidence boost."
The sophomore quarterback has had his up and downs this season, but has
completed 63.6 percent of his pass attempts, with nine touchdowns and three
interceptions. His improvement each week will go a long way in helping the
Tigers' offense produce better than the mediocre 306.6 total ypg they are
averaging.
Terrance Toliver and Brandon LaFell are the squad's top options through the
air and they have combined for 67 catches, 835 yards and nine scores. Last
weekend, Toliver hauled in nine balls for 86 yards and a score, while LaFell
finished with six receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown of his own.
In the backfield, Charles Scott leads the Tigers with 347 yards and two
scores, but as a team, LSU is averaging only 123.6 rushing ypg, so they could
use improvement here.
Defensively, LSU has one of the top units around and that is evident in the
mere 13.9 ppg the group is permitting. The defense has been stout versus both
the run (127.0 ypg) and pass (177.0 ypg) and has also come up with 15
turnovers, including 10 interceptions.
Last weekend, the Tigers limited Auburn's potent attack to just 193 total
yards and that includes only 81 yards through the air. The defense forced
three turnovers and nearly matched its season total with four sacks. LSU
hadn't recorded a sack since the second game of the year, so it was certainly
a big effort from the defense.
"Certainly, a very good defensive unit has taken the field week-in and week-
out for us and is playing better and better," stated Miles.
Harry Coleman, who ranks second on the team with 47 stops, had a terrific game
against Auburn, posting nine stops to go with two sacks and a pair of forced
fumbles.
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