Congratulations!!!!!!
Way to go Lisa and Charlie. Bailey Lynette Mackles was born Thursday evening at 6:14. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. Good Work guys. I can’t wait to meet her!
Week 5: September 29, 2007
(2) LSU vs. Tulane
Louisiana Superdome; New Orleans, LA
11 am, ESPN2
Point Spread:
LSU (-40.5)
Know Thy Foe:
Head Coach: Bob Toledo (1st Season)
Tulane is terrible. That’s all you need to know.
Week 1: Off
Week 2: Lost to Mississippi St., 38-17
Week 3: Lost to Houston, 34-10
Week 4: Defeated Southeastern, 35-27
LSU Offense vs. Tulane Defense:
Tulane gave up 27 points to Southeastern. Enough said.
Tulane Offense vs. LSU Defense:
The only playmaker on Tulane’s offense is RB Matt Forte, a former Slidell High Tiger. Forte rushed for 5 touchdowns and over 300 yards last week. I’ll give him 0 and 30 this week, respectively. Tulane will be starting Anthony Scelfo at QB in place of former starter Scott Elliot. Scelfo, also a baseball player, is more mobile than Elliot. I think we’ll see both of them this week.
Special Teams:
The LSU special teams must improve. Everyone remembers the fake FG, but LSU also had a missed FG, a partially blocked punt, a muffed punt return, a botched kick-off return, and a blown kick-off coverage. Credit some of that to the weather conditions, but LSU can still do a lot better.
Game Prediction:
LSU had a good week of practice, according to Les Miles.
Matt Flynn will start the game but Perrilloux will take over once Flynn re-establishes his timing with his receivers and renews his confidence. That shouldn’t take long. This will be another opportunity to get young guys some PT.
Tulane will provide slightly more competition then an off week. Seriously, every other team on our schedule would beat Tulane by 3 touchdowns. This isn’t baseball; they don’t have a snowball’s chance.
Give Me: LSU-51, Tulane-0
Speaking of baseball…
Collegiate Baseball has ranked Paul Mainieri’s 1st full recruiting class #1 in the country. LSU had several draft picks go unsigned, including several pitchers. This is great news for baseball fans. Buy stock in LSU baseball because it’s going up, WAY UP!
Don’t Forget:
LSU will be wearing new uniforms this game (see pics in right column). It consists of white helmets, white pants, and a specially designed purple jersey featuring a pelican/phoenix to symbolize the rebirth of New Orleans. LSU is only doing this for one game. Tulane will also be wearing special uniforms, but they will keep them for the remainder of the season.
A Whole Dollar!!!
Nike has pledged $1 for each special edition jersey that they sell. Wow!! Thanks Nike!! The 4 billion dollar Road Home shortage has been solved. New Orleans is back baby!!
Seriously, they’ll probably sell less than 200 of these jerseys. That’s $200. What a joke! They are selling this jersey to the public for $80 and only giving back $1. Nike should be ashamed of themselves.
Week 5 Games of the Week: (Predicted Winners in CAPS)
(5) WEST VIRGINIA @ (18) South Florida
(6) Califonia @ (11) OREGON
(22) Alabama vs. FLORIDA ST. (Jacksonville, FL)
Auburn @ (4) FLORIDA
(1) SOUTHERN CAL @ Washington
Lock of the Week: (1-1)
Penn St. (-3)
Upset Special: (2-0)
I’m tempted to say South Florida over West Virginia, but I won’t. I’d like to see the Bulls take down WVU like last year, but unlike last year’s game, White and Slayton are healthy. Instead, give me Georgia Tech to upset (13) Clemson.
Keep an eye on…
Drake Nevis. If you’ve never heard of him, that’s ok. He hasn’t played a single down yet. Nevis is a true freshman D-lineman who is being redshirted. But I believe that his redshirt will be pulled this week due to the injury to Charles Alexander. Nevis is big and strong and is showing signs that he could be really great in the next few years AD (After Dorsey). So if and when you see #92 play against Tulane, keep and eye on him. He’s the future of that D-line along with Al Woods.
Why????
For those of you watching the game on ESPN2, turn up your radio and mute your TV. Pam Ward will be the play-by-play announcer for this game. I’m not sexist, but I don’t like female play-by-play callers for football. It’s just not natural. Maybe it’s just me.
Another postponement:Patience. Les Miles report coming soon… (Probably after the Florida game)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Louisiana Cockfight!
#2 LSU defeats #12 South Carolina, 28-16
Saturday September 22, 2007
Death Valley, Baton Rouge
Salute:
Before I get to the game, I want to send out a message to a special soldier and the 75th Ranger Regiment. Even though I don’t think there are any terrorists reading The Samson Report, I’ve been told not to use his name, but you know who you are. Good luck over there and stay safe. Thank you for what you are about to do and everything that you’ve already done for this country. Although LSU football is very important to me, it is nothing compared to freedom.
Game Recap:
On a wet, nasty field, LSU did what it had to do to add another W to the win column. On the down side, LSU gave up 16 points and failed to cover the point spread which jumped from 16 to 17.5 points on Saturday. Matt Flynn had a below average game and WR Jared Mitchell couldn’t catch a cold. Flynn didn’t look like himself and it’s clear that his injury is affecting his game. Perrilloux came in and looked good running the ball which makes me believe that we may have a legitimate 2 quarterback system for the remainder of the season. The LSU defense was stout up front but Spurrier found a few holes in the backfield, especially late in the game. Over half of USC’s total offensive yardage came in the 4th quarter when LSU was winning comfortably 28-7. The offensive line looked great and they keep getting better each game. Trindon Holliday broke the sound barrier on his way to his first TD this season. And much to my surprise, Les Miles pulled a fast one on the Ole’ Ball Coach.
This win wasn’t fancy, but it was still very impressive considering the conditions.
In a game like this, the only stat that really matters is the score, and LSU should be happy and proud for beating the #12 team in the nation 28-16. In actuality, the game was not as close as the score may suggest. LSU took control of the game in the second quarter and South Carolina never threatened after that. The first quarter, however, was a tense one as LSU fell behind for the first time this season. I think that was very important for this team to fight back from a deficit and overcome adversity. I know that my stomach was in knots for a while and I’m sure the players and coaches felt it too. Next time they are down, I hope they remember this game. One thing is for sure, it certainly does rain in Tiger Stadium.
Game Stats:
Rushing: LSU-290, USC-17
Passing: LSU-70, USC-244
Total: LSU-360, USC-261
Play of the Game:
Without question, the play of the game had to be the fake field goal touchdown just before halftime. I think even Pistol Pete would have been impressed with Flynn’s no-look pass to Colt David. By the look on his face, Miles seemed very satisfied, and Steve Spurrier’s reaction was priceless. Instead of the old visor toss, Spurrier just smiled and shook his head in appreciation of the play call and execution. He knew he’d been had. Not only was it an exciting play, it gave LSU a boost of momentum heading into the locker room. FYI, the last time LSU scored on a fake FG was a 35 yard scamper by holder Blain Bech against Florida five years ago. You knew I had to throw that in there, didn’t you Blain.
Game Ball:
This week’s game ball goes to Glenn Dorsey. I know it sounds like a cliché or a broken record, but this guy is unbelievable. He is the main reason why USC only gained 17 yards rushing on LSU. His quickness and his power are unbelievable. And if the Heisman trophy actually went to the best college football player, he’d be making flight arrangements for New York this December. But like you said Glenn, those awards are for the pretty boys.
Whack Stats:
- LSU opponents average 0.9 yards/rush against the LSU defense. That’s Whack!
Week 4 Games of the Week:
(3) Florida defeats Ole Miss, 30-24
Michigan defeats (10) Penn St., 14-9
Syracuse defeats (18) Louisville, 38-35
(22) Georgia defeats (16) Alabama, 26-23 (OT)
(21) Kentucky defeats Arkansas, 42-29
Michigan St. defeats Notre Dame, 31-14
The QB Killers:
If, after 4 weeks of domination, you still don’t think the LSU defense is the best in the nation, consider this. LSU is a perfect 4 for 4 knocking out starting QB’s. And I’m not talking about injuries. LSU has overwhelmed QB’s this season with a myriad of different looks, blitzes, and coverage packages. They take pride in their ability to confuse offenses and force mistakes. So, for the 4th straight week, opponents have been forced to turn to their second string for help against the QB killers. Will it be 5 for 5? Chances are, yes. Tulane QB Scott Elliot won’t get much sleep this week.
Early Lines:
During my countless hours of research, I ran across this interesting footnote. If LSU and USC were to meet today, on a neutral field, LSU would be 3 point dogs to the Trojans. However, if the game was to be played in New Orleans, LSU would be 3 point favorites. If LSU met OU today, the game would be a pick ‘em, which means there would be no line on the game.
Primetime:
It looks like CBS will chose the LSU-Florida game as their one and only primetime game this season. That is great news. I really enjoyed the commentary from Vern Lunquist and Gary Danielson much more than Musberger and his band of idiots on the Pac-10 station, aka ABC. Expect the line on the Florida game to open at around LSU (-5). I’ll take it!
Injury Update:
No new injuries. Early Doucet and Will Arnold sat out the South Carolina game, as expected. I think they will both miss the Tulane game as well. However, unconfirmed reports say that the injury to Doucet is not as bad as initially thought and that he could be ready for the Florida game. Again, I’m not sure how accurate this is but it’s good to hear. The bad news is that a groin is very easily re-injured.
Poll Stat:
Of the top 20 teams, 17 are undefeated. 3 have one loss. Of those 3 one-loss teams, 2 have suffered their loss to LSU. And the other has lost to South Carolina, who LSU just beat.
Speaking of Polls….
The Harris Poll, which is a big part of the BCS formula, was released Sunday for the first time. Here’s the top 10.
1. USC
2. LSU
3. Oklahoma
4. Florida
5. West Virginia
6. California
7. Ohio St.
8. Texas
9. Wisconsin
10. Oregon
P.S. Those of you anxiously awaiting my report card analysis of Les Miles will have to wait a few more days. I just couldn’t get around to it this weekend.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Hat vs. The Visor
Week 4: September 22, 2007
(2) LSU vs (12) South Carolina
Death Valley, Baton Rouge
2:30 CBS
Point Spread:
LSU (-16)
Know thy Foe:
Head Coach: Steve Spurrier
The Cocks have always been a second tier SEC team. The arrival of Spurrier has helped, but they just can’t seem to join the ranks of Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia in the east. You can count on South Carolina to pull off one upset per season, but they will never be a true contender for the SEC Championship. This season, they have already upset Georgia. They were a missed field goal away from beating Florida in the Swamp last year. In 2005, they beat Florida and Tennessee. The talent gap between LSU and South Carolina is as wide as the Mississippi and it’ll show on Saturday.
Week 1: Defeated UL-Lafayette 28-14
Week 2: Defeated Georgia 16-12
Week 3: Defeated South Carolina State 38-3
LSU Offense vs. USC Defense:
The LSU offense will be without a huge contributor in Early Doucet. Still, LSU should be able to move the ball easily. The Cock defense is below average up front, and they will be without one of their starting tackles due to injury. The defensive backfield, rated #6 nationally, is their defensive strength. The db’s will run a lot of man-to-man against our young receivers. Other than blocking, this is the hardest thing for young receivers to master. The corners will be physical at the line and try to throw our receivers off their routes. Matt Flynn will have a decent night, but I don’t see him putting up huge numbers through the air.
USC Offense vs. LSU Defense:
Senior RB Cory Boyd is very good, but he is going to have a long day in Death Valley. South Carolina will take a ‘run first’ approach against LSU, but they will soon realize that LSU is for real. QB Blake Mitchell is without Sidney Rice, one of the best receivers in the country last season. Mitchell is not a threat to run, so LSU will be able to pin their ears back and go after him. That’s why I expect a lot of screens and other quick passes. Spurrier has abandoned the “Fun n’ Gun” for the “Cock and Fire”. Unfortunately for him, the LSU defense will prove that he’s shooting blanks.
Keys to the Game:
South Carolina has a lot to play for and will be pumped up to start the game. The key will be scoring first and taking the momentum. Once you knock them down once, they will not get up off the mat. We can’t give them any reason to think that they are capable of an upset.
Prediction:
Take a deep breath and calm down about this one. LSU is just way too good and South Carolina is a little over-rated due to a win over Georgia, who was also over-rated.
The offensive run/pass balance that we’ve seen from LSU will be lost this week. Look for a dominant game on the ground as LSU exploits the weaknesses of the Cocks. LSU should rush for over 250 yards and pass for another 125. South Carolina will counter with a run attack of their own, but they will not have much success. The run oriented game by both teams will keep the score relatively low. Spurrier will try some tricky stuff throughout the game because he knows the only way to score on LSU is to fool them on a trick play.
Give me LSU – 34, USC – 6
Another Tiger Goes Down:
LSU suffered another season ending injury at practice on Thursday. Fortunately, it is at the deepest position on the team. Charles Alexander, a starting defensive tackle, tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Marlon Favorite, who has played a lot, will now take over the starting spot and RS freshman Al Woods will move into the 2-deep.
Also, Will Arnold will miss this game due to the viral infection that has affected his knees.
Weather Report:
The weather could be very rainy if this low pressure system makes it’s way to LA. Hopefully, it will not strengthen into a tropical storm or Cat 1 cane, but it’s a possibility. The latest models show a more easterly track than originally predicted, which is good. If I had to guess, I would say it’s going to be a rainy mess all day. I think wet conditions give LSU a further advantage in this game so bring it on.
Check out the latest storm track in the right column.
Week 4 Games of the Week: (Predicted Winners in CAPS)
(22) Georgia @ (16) ALABAMA
(21) Kentucky @ ARKANSAS
(3) FLORIDA @ Ole Miss
(9) WISCONSIN @ Iowa
Lock of the Week: (Record: 1-0)
Florida (-21.5)
Upset Special: (Record: 1-0)
Michigan over (10) Penn St. This game will go a long way in deciding who will win the Big 10. Speaking of the Big 10, they should not get an at-large bid into the BCS this season.
Mike VI Update:
Contrary to some reports, Mike VI will not be in the stadium this week. It looks like he will make his debut for the Florida game. Mike is currently at 370 lbs and he’s gaining an amazing 10 lbs/week. He’s going to be one massive Tiger.
Gold Game:
This week is the “Gold” game for LSU. So if you’re going to the game, wear Gold.
My Thoughts of Miles:
This segment of The Samson Report was intended to be an editorial of my opinion of our head coach. However, as I began to write it, I realized that I have a lot to say about him. So, I will continue to document my thoughts over the next few days and include my assessment on the Monday report. I think this is called a teaser.
Monday, September 17, 2007
LSU Defense Pitches Another No-No
Game Recap:
Miles and Co. rack up another huge win 44-0 as LSU extends their winning streak to 10 games, tied with Florida for the longest in the nation behind Wisconsin (12). As expected, LSU barely broke a sweat in the second shut-out of this short season. Offensively, LSU didn’t seem to miss the 3 starters who enjoyed the game from the comforts of the sidelines, including Matt Flynn and Early Doucet (more on them later). Ryan Perrilloux looked better than expected in his first career start. He went 20 of 25 for 298 yards and 3 td’s. LSU finished with 505 total yards. LSU allowed only 90 yards on defense and seemed extra stiff when MTSU entered LSU territory. The Blue Raiders gained only 9 first downs, seven of them coming in the 4th quarter when LSU was suiting out some of the band members. I think the tuba player even had a sack.
I think one of Miles’ strengths is that he always has his teams prepared to play the big games, and in this case, the not-so-big games. When we are supposed to win big, we usually do. It was not always like this.
Whack Stats: (Back by popular demand)
- LSU gave up only 26 yards to MTSU during the first half. That’s Whack!
- LSU has out-gained opponents 137-7 this season. That’s Whack!
Quotable:
“Without my teammates, I wouldn’t be at this point. They stuck with me, stayed behind me and knew I was going to one day be able to lead this team.”
Ryan Perrilloux
“We know you’re going to make a few mistakes, but we’re behind you, so just go and play your game.”
Charles Scott to Ryan Perrilloux
"You better give me some of that calzone girl!!"
James Seymour
Game Ball:
This week’s game ball goes to Ryan Perrilloux. Not a perfect night, but he did a great job considering this was his first start. He looked very comfortable back there as the starter. His performance was exactly what he needed to repair his shaky reputation. If this is any indication of the player that he can become, we are in good hands for the next few years.
Injuries:
LSU didn’t have any injuries in the game itself; however, Early Doucet reportedly has a severe groin injury that he suffered in a walk-thru practice on Friday. Miles has been EXTREMELY tight lipped about this situation but reports say that an MRI is scheduled for Tuesday. The results of this MRI should tell us if Doucet will miss a few weeks, or a few months. If it is a groin pull, chances are that he could be back for the Florida game in a few weeks. If it is a groin tear, he will be out for at least 2 months. Unfortunately, groin injuries tend to nag. We’ll see what happens, but I’m very worried about this situation.
Will Arnold did not play due to a stomach virus. He’s ok.
Matt Flynn will be back for the South Carolina game. His ankle injury may slow him down a step or two, but he should be near 100%.
Week 3 game of interest:
(6) Texas – 35, UCF – 32
(1) USC – 49, Nebraska – 31
(5) Florida – 59, (22) Tennessee 20
Kentucky – 40, (9) Louisville – 34
Alabama – 41, (16) Arkansas 38
Utah – 44, (11) UCLA – 6
My Top 5:
LSU
USC
Oklahoma
Florida
West Virginia
Most Ridiculous Item:
People who do the wave during a game. Give me a break people. If you want to do the wave, go to Tulane or ULL. We’re better than that. If the game is so boring to you that you need to entertain yourself by standing up and putting your hands in the air, then please leave. You’re not welcome in Death Valley. Luckily, Ty was able to sneak in a little Crown to calm me down or I might have slipped into an involuntary rage that would have taken out section 411. I hate the wave. I hate people that do the wave. Even typing this is making me want to punch holes in the wall. I can’t control it; it’s one of my biggest pet peeves.
Did you notice?
Nobody from MTSU made the trip to Baton Rouge. Officially, I think they returned all but 650 tickets for the game. But I can tell you, there were only about 250 at the game. I know they are a small school, but most high schools travel better than that.
Miles and Co. rack up another huge win 44-0 as LSU extends their winning streak to 10 games, tied with Florida for the longest in the nation behind Wisconsin (12). As expected, LSU barely broke a sweat in the second shut-out of this short season. Offensively, LSU didn’t seem to miss the 3 starters who enjoyed the game from the comforts of the sidelines, including Matt Flynn and Early Doucet (more on them later). Ryan Perrilloux looked better than expected in his first career start. He went 20 of 25 for 298 yards and 3 td’s. LSU finished with 505 total yards. LSU allowed only 90 yards on defense and seemed extra stiff when MTSU entered LSU territory. The Blue Raiders gained only 9 first downs, seven of them coming in the 4th quarter when LSU was suiting out some of the band members. I think the tuba player even had a sack.
I think one of Miles’ strengths is that he always has his teams prepared to play the big games, and in this case, the not-so-big games. When we are supposed to win big, we usually do. It was not always like this.
Whack Stats: (Back by popular demand)
- LSU gave up only 26 yards to MTSU during the first half. That’s Whack!
- LSU has out-gained opponents 137-7 this season. That’s Whack!
Quotable:
“Without my teammates, I wouldn’t be at this point. They stuck with me, stayed behind me and knew I was going to one day be able to lead this team.”
Ryan Perrilloux
“We know you’re going to make a few mistakes, but we’re behind you, so just go and play your game.”
Charles Scott to Ryan Perrilloux
"You better give me some of that calzone girl!!"
James Seymour
Game Ball:
This week’s game ball goes to Ryan Perrilloux. Not a perfect night, but he did a great job considering this was his first start. He looked very comfortable back there as the starter. His performance was exactly what he needed to repair his shaky reputation. If this is any indication of the player that he can become, we are in good hands for the next few years.
Injuries:
LSU didn’t have any injuries in the game itself; however, Early Doucet reportedly has a severe groin injury that he suffered in a walk-thru practice on Friday. Miles has been EXTREMELY tight lipped about this situation but reports say that an MRI is scheduled for Tuesday. The results of this MRI should tell us if Doucet will miss a few weeks, or a few months. If it is a groin pull, chances are that he could be back for the Florida game in a few weeks. If it is a groin tear, he will be out for at least 2 months. Unfortunately, groin injuries tend to nag. We’ll see what happens, but I’m very worried about this situation.
Will Arnold did not play due to a stomach virus. He’s ok.
Matt Flynn will be back for the South Carolina game. His ankle injury may slow him down a step or two, but he should be near 100%.
Week 3 game of interest:
(6) Texas – 35, UCF – 32
(1) USC – 49, Nebraska – 31
(5) Florida – 59, (22) Tennessee 20
Kentucky – 40, (9) Louisville – 34
Alabama – 41, (16) Arkansas 38
Utah – 44, (11) UCLA – 6
My Top 5:
LSU
USC
Oklahoma
Florida
West Virginia
Most Ridiculous Item:
People who do the wave during a game. Give me a break people. If you want to do the wave, go to Tulane or ULL. We’re better than that. If the game is so boring to you that you need to entertain yourself by standing up and putting your hands in the air, then please leave. You’re not welcome in Death Valley. Luckily, Ty was able to sneak in a little Crown to calm me down or I might have slipped into an involuntary rage that would have taken out section 411. I hate the wave. I hate people that do the wave. Even typing this is making me want to punch holes in the wall. I can’t control it; it’s one of my biggest pet peeves.
Did you notice?
Nobody from MTSU made the trip to Baton Rouge. Officially, I think they returned all but 650 tickets for the game. But I can tell you, there were only about 250 at the game. I know they are a small school, but most high schools travel better than that.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Rent-a-Win
Welcome back to ‘The Samson Report’. Thanks to everyone who provided comments to my last report. Keep it coming!
Before we get to Middle Tennessee, I thought I’d share one last quote from last week:
"Virginia Tech went to da bayou Saturday night to show it belonged among college football's elite. Instead, it showed it belonged to the ACC."
-Bob Lipper - Richmond Times Dispatch
Now, let’s get to it…
LSU vs. Middle Tennessee St.
September 15, 2007
Death Valley, Baton Rouge
7 pm - Tigervision
Point spread:
LSU (-41)
(This is the biggest spread I can remember for LSU)
Know your foe:
Head Coach – Rick Stockstill
The MTSU Blue Raiders had to share the Sun Belt title last year, but they were considered to be the best team in that league. They made it to the Motor City Bowl, where they lost to Central Michigan. This year, they are expected to win the Sun Belt outright. The offense, led by quarterback Joe Craddock, exploded for 42 points last week against #9 Louisville. MTSU runs a spread offense.
Week 1: Lost to Florida Atlantic 27-14
Week 2: Lost to Louisville 58-42
Will Flynn Get In?
If you don’t already know, Matt Flynn has a slight ankle sprain. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. However, if I were Miles, Flynn would watch the game from the coach’s box next to Crowton. I don’t even know if that’s allowed, but it would be a great way for Crowton and Flynn to bond. Give the rock to #11 this week. Perrilloux needs the game experience. He needs a week of practice as the #1 guy. He needs to know what it’s like to prepare as a starter. He needs the chance to win over his teammates and the fans. This week is the time to do those things and develop the young talent at all positions. I expect to see a lot of young guys in the game giving us a sneak peak of next year’s team. The #3 QB is Andrew Hatch, a transfer from Harvard. He was impressive in camp allowing highly touted freshman Jarrett Lee to redshirt this season.
MTSU Offense vs. LSU Defense:
Some people say defense is boring. Those people have not seen LSU. This week, LSU will continue to impress. All of MTSU’s offensive production will come in the second half against our 2’s and 3’s. Craig Steltz will see limited action due to a minor injury (turf toe). LSU Dominates! End of story!
LSU Offense vs. MTSU Defense:
We need to see continued improvement from the offensive line, especially the right side. I expect Crowton to keep the game plan very basic and a little more run oriented. I hope we get to see a lot of Richard Murphy and Terrance Tolliver. It will be interesting to see the philosophy of the new offensive staff. Will we run up the score or call off the dogs?
Special Teams:
I don’t have any solid information, but I expect Early Doucet to hand over his punt return duties to Jared Mitchell and/or Chad Jones. Early is too valuable to lose. We needed his sure hands, but I think he was given directions to fair-catch everything last week. This week, I think you’ll see more returns from the young guys. Also, can any of our kickers get the ball to the goal line?
Key to the Game:
Does the LSU team bus make it to Death Valley on Saturday night? If so, we’ll be ok.
Game Prediction:
Ok, let’s not sugar-coat this thing. It’s going to be brutal. We can break-down each position and over-analyze each team, but the simple fact is that LSU’s 3rd team could probably beat MTSU straight up. So, let’s keep it simple. LSU rolls to an easy victory behind the arm of Ryan Perrilloux. MTSU collects their $510,000 paycheck and heads back to the smokies. This is the most unappealing game on LSU’s schedule so I would expect the team and the fans to be a little flat. If we can get some young guys in the game and we are injury free, I’ll be happy. I’ll take LSU-55, MTSU-10.
The Pistol:
No, not Pete. This is the name of the new formation that LSU has been utilizing on offense. It’s like the shotgun, only shorter. The quarterback lines up about 3 yards behind the line instead of the usual 5. This provides more run options out of a passing formation. So far so good.
Did you know?
- MTSU punted only once last week in their offensive slugfest with Louisville
- Last year, MTSU scored on 33 of 36 red zone attempts. That’s an amazing 92%
Week 3 Games of the Week: (Predicted Winners in Bold)
(22) Tennessee @ (5) Florida
(16) Arkansas @ Alabama
(1) USC @ (14) Nebraska
(21) Boston College @ (15) Georgia Tech
(10) Ohio St. @ Washington
Irrelevant Game of the Week:
Notre Dame @ Michigan: HaHaHa, we’re still laughing at you!
Upset Special:
(9) Louisville @ Kentucky:
This rivalry game will be very interesting to watch. Neither team plays very good defense, but both can light up the score board. Many people think the top two QB’s in the country play in Kentucky. Andre Woodson for Kentucky (6’-5”, 230) and Brian Brohm for Louisville (6’-4”, 226) are big, accurate QB’s that will go high in the April draft. Rivalry games are so hard to predict, but they are fun to watch. Just a hunch, but I think this game goes into overtime. Go Cats!
Lock of the Week:
Florida (-8)
We’re #1:
If it were released today, the BCS poll would have LSU at #1 according to the analysts at BCSguru.com. By tabulating unofficial weekly standings, they have been very accurate at picking the order of the BCS poll in past years. Last week, USC was #1. The official poll will not be released until October 14th.
The King Receives His Crown:
Later this afternoon, “Rosco” will shed his former identity and officially be named Mike VI. Welcome to the LSU nation Mike VI. You will undoubtedly reign over the most successful era in LSU athletics history. May your dynasty be long, and your roars loud.
Looking Ahead:
CBS has exercised their six day option for the LSU-South Carolina Game. That means they won’t announce what game they will televise @ 2:30 in week 4 until this Sunday. The other option is the Georgia-Alabama game. If Alabama beats Arky this week, CBS will probably pass on the LSU-USC game. ESPN-2 would jump on it for a 6:45 start.
New Look:
LSU will sport a new look when they face Tulane in Week 5. White helmets, purple jerseys, and white pants. In addition, the jerseys will feature pelicans on the shoulders as a tribute to New Orleans (see pic in right column). I believe they are doing this to raise money for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. I guess it’ll be ok just this once.
Also, this will be an 11am start so I guess we’ll have to do our partying after we slaughter the greenies.
Good Luck Lisa:
The countdown is on. Charlie, good luck with all those girls. You’ll need it.
Before we get to Middle Tennessee, I thought I’d share one last quote from last week:
"Virginia Tech went to da bayou Saturday night to show it belonged among college football's elite. Instead, it showed it belonged to the ACC."
-Bob Lipper - Richmond Times Dispatch
Now, let’s get to it…
LSU vs. Middle Tennessee St.
September 15, 2007
Death Valley, Baton Rouge
7 pm - Tigervision
Point spread:
LSU (-41)
(This is the biggest spread I can remember for LSU)
Know your foe:
Head Coach – Rick Stockstill
The MTSU Blue Raiders had to share the Sun Belt title last year, but they were considered to be the best team in that league. They made it to the Motor City Bowl, where they lost to Central Michigan. This year, they are expected to win the Sun Belt outright. The offense, led by quarterback Joe Craddock, exploded for 42 points last week against #9 Louisville. MTSU runs a spread offense.
Week 1: Lost to Florida Atlantic 27-14
Week 2: Lost to Louisville 58-42
Will Flynn Get In?
If you don’t already know, Matt Flynn has a slight ankle sprain. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. However, if I were Miles, Flynn would watch the game from the coach’s box next to Crowton. I don’t even know if that’s allowed, but it would be a great way for Crowton and Flynn to bond. Give the rock to #11 this week. Perrilloux needs the game experience. He needs a week of practice as the #1 guy. He needs to know what it’s like to prepare as a starter. He needs the chance to win over his teammates and the fans. This week is the time to do those things and develop the young talent at all positions. I expect to see a lot of young guys in the game giving us a sneak peak of next year’s team. The #3 QB is Andrew Hatch, a transfer from Harvard. He was impressive in camp allowing highly touted freshman Jarrett Lee to redshirt this season.
MTSU Offense vs. LSU Defense:
Some people say defense is boring. Those people have not seen LSU. This week, LSU will continue to impress. All of MTSU’s offensive production will come in the second half against our 2’s and 3’s. Craig Steltz will see limited action due to a minor injury (turf toe). LSU Dominates! End of story!
LSU Offense vs. MTSU Defense:
We need to see continued improvement from the offensive line, especially the right side. I expect Crowton to keep the game plan very basic and a little more run oriented. I hope we get to see a lot of Richard Murphy and Terrance Tolliver. It will be interesting to see the philosophy of the new offensive staff. Will we run up the score or call off the dogs?
Special Teams:
I don’t have any solid information, but I expect Early Doucet to hand over his punt return duties to Jared Mitchell and/or Chad Jones. Early is too valuable to lose. We needed his sure hands, but I think he was given directions to fair-catch everything last week. This week, I think you’ll see more returns from the young guys. Also, can any of our kickers get the ball to the goal line?
Key to the Game:
Does the LSU team bus make it to Death Valley on Saturday night? If so, we’ll be ok.
Game Prediction:
Ok, let’s not sugar-coat this thing. It’s going to be brutal. We can break-down each position and over-analyze each team, but the simple fact is that LSU’s 3rd team could probably beat MTSU straight up. So, let’s keep it simple. LSU rolls to an easy victory behind the arm of Ryan Perrilloux. MTSU collects their $510,000 paycheck and heads back to the smokies. This is the most unappealing game on LSU’s schedule so I would expect the team and the fans to be a little flat. If we can get some young guys in the game and we are injury free, I’ll be happy. I’ll take LSU-55, MTSU-10.
The Pistol:
No, not Pete. This is the name of the new formation that LSU has been utilizing on offense. It’s like the shotgun, only shorter. The quarterback lines up about 3 yards behind the line instead of the usual 5. This provides more run options out of a passing formation. So far so good.
Did you know?
- MTSU punted only once last week in their offensive slugfest with Louisville
- Last year, MTSU scored on 33 of 36 red zone attempts. That’s an amazing 92%
Week 3 Games of the Week: (Predicted Winners in Bold)
(22) Tennessee @ (5) Florida
(16) Arkansas @ Alabama
(1) USC @ (14) Nebraska
(21) Boston College @ (15) Georgia Tech
(10) Ohio St. @ Washington
Irrelevant Game of the Week:
Notre Dame @ Michigan: HaHaHa, we’re still laughing at you!
Upset Special:
(9) Louisville @ Kentucky:
This rivalry game will be very interesting to watch. Neither team plays very good defense, but both can light up the score board. Many people think the top two QB’s in the country play in Kentucky. Andre Woodson for Kentucky (6’-5”, 230) and Brian Brohm for Louisville (6’-4”, 226) are big, accurate QB’s that will go high in the April draft. Rivalry games are so hard to predict, but they are fun to watch. Just a hunch, but I think this game goes into overtime. Go Cats!
Lock of the Week:
Florida (-8)
We’re #1:
If it were released today, the BCS poll would have LSU at #1 according to the analysts at BCSguru.com. By tabulating unofficial weekly standings, they have been very accurate at picking the order of the BCS poll in past years. Last week, USC was #1. The official poll will not be released until October 14th.
The King Receives His Crown:
Later this afternoon, “Rosco” will shed his former identity and officially be named Mike VI. Welcome to the LSU nation Mike VI. You will undoubtedly reign over the most successful era in LSU athletics history. May your dynasty be long, and your roars loud.
Looking Ahead:
CBS has exercised their six day option for the LSU-South Carolina Game. That means they won’t announce what game they will televise @ 2:30 in week 4 until this Sunday. The other option is the Georgia-Alabama game. If Alabama beats Arky this week, CBS will probably pass on the LSU-USC game. ESPN-2 would jump on it for a 6:45 start.
New Look:
LSU will sport a new look when they face Tulane in Week 5. White helmets, purple jerseys, and white pants. In addition, the jerseys will feature pelicans on the shoulders as a tribute to New Orleans (see pic in right column). I believe they are doing this to raise money for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. I guess it’ll be ok just this once.
Also, this will be an 11am start so I guess we’ll have to do our partying after we slaughter the greenies.
Good Luck Lisa:
The countdown is on. Charlie, good luck with all those girls. You’ll need it.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Bayou Beat Down
WELCOME to the first edition of The Samson Report. My intentions are to update this blog every Monday and Friday. The moday report, as you might expect, will be a recap of the game and my personal opinions on the Tiger's performance. The friday report will be a preview of the upcoming game and other weekend events. This first update was thrown together in a hurry, so please don't expect much. Future updates will be much more in-depth and comprehensive. And now, without further ado...
LSU vs. Virginia Tech
September 8, 2007
Death Valley, Baton Rouge
LSU-48 VT-7
Game Recap:
Shocking!! That’s all I can say. I thought we’d win, but Saturday night’s clobbering of #9 Virginia Tech could not have been predicted by anyone. In front of a national primetime audience, LSU made a statement. Actually, it was more like a declaration. It went something like this:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Tigers are created better, that they are endowed by their coaches with certain unalienable abilities, that among these are touchdowns, field goals, and the pursuit of the quarterback.
Well, you know the rest. On this night, LSU showed why they are considered by some to be the best team in the land; Stifling defense, innovative offense, and clever special teams. LSU was able to do anything they wanted to a very good defensive team. The margin of victory was LSU largest against a top 10 team, and it was Frank Beamers worst loss as well. At least 5 tigers had career nights on offense, including Jacob Hester, Matt Flynn, and Keiland Williams. In my opinion, the most impressive aspect of LSU's nearly flawless performance was the play on 3rd downs. Gary Crowton always had a go-to play when he needed one the most. And even when VT forced a punt, Patrick Fisher once again delivered.
If I must be critical, I think the Tigers could have done better with the penalties. They need to show a little more discipline after the whistle blows. But in their defense, the personal fouls could have gone either way. There were no blatant infractions. More disturbing was the kickoff coverage. Virginia Tech actually had more return yards than total offense.
Game Ball:
Wow, this is tough. This week, the game ball goes to Gary Crowton. I know this is usually reserved for players, but the performance of the offensive coordinator was beyond words. For once, I am speachless. Jimbo who??
Other Games of Interest:
West Virginia -48 Marshall-23
Oklahoma-51 Miami-13
South Carolina-16 Georgia-12
Penn St.-31 Notre Dame-10
South Florida-26 Auburn-23
Washington-24 Boise St.-10
Oregon-39 Michigan-7
Am I Wrong?
How is LSU not ranked #1 in the polls this week after that performance. Wait a minute... On second thought, don't answer that. We all know how the system works. And we all know the silly little rules that have been spewed out so many times that they are practically law. #1 USC can't be jumped because they had an off week. What?? Why?? Has anyone asked the question why?? USC beat Idaho; and not that impressively I might add. Did I mention they played IDAHO? LSU and Oklahoma have shown more through week two than any other teams in the country. Both teams have looked incredible. The rankings should be an indication of performance. Instead, they are used by media members to validate their own predictions.
My Top 5:
1. LSU
2. Oklahoma
3. USC
4. West Virginia
5. Florida
Just My Opinion:
Ok. You heard it here first. LSU will meet Oklahoma in the National Championship Game in New Orleans. Sound familiar?
Whack Stats:
-LSU held Virginia Tech to 40 offensive yards in the first half. That's Whack!
-LSU had 17 points before VT had a first down. That's Whack!
Most Ridiculous Item:
Responding to Kirk Herbstreit's assertion that LSU has the best defense in the country, Brent Musberger had this to say... "I'm not willing to say that they (LSU) are better than USC's defense. But they're pretty good."
Mr. Musberger, please educate yourself before you say something that ridiculous. USC gave up 14 points to IDAHO! It is clear that you are on the Pac-10 payroll.
Shame on You:
-Shame on you Auburn for losing to South Florida. For the second week in a row, you have embarrassed the SEC. Did you forget to pay the ref's this week?
-Shame on you, Michigan and Notre Dame. You guys are terrible. The entire country is laughing at you.
Did you notice?
Did you notice the look on Glennon's face after he was taken out of the game and replaced by the freshman QB? He looked just like Henig last week. At least Glennon didn't cry on the bench like a little girl.
Extra Point:
LSU set an attendance record on Saturday night with 92,739 fans witnessing the beat down in Death Valley. I am proud to say that I contributed to the record setting night.
Off the Field:
The tailgating experience was one for the ages. 8am till 1am. That's a lot of tailgaiting, and a lot of beer. Thankfully, reinforcements arrived just in time. I actually got a standing ovation from other tailgating groups that were impressed with my ability to carry that much beer. The rain held out. The satellite dish was a big hit, especially to those without tickets. Good food. Good people. Good game. That's what it's all about. Oh yeah, and riding a buzz for 17 hours!
The Rumor Mill:
It was only a matter of time, but Les Miles' name has surfaced as a possible replacement for Michigan's Lloyd Carr. Carr is sure to be sacked after this season, and Miles will be #1 on Michigan's wish list. Now we have to listen to this crap for the rest of the season.
LSU vs. Virginia Tech
September 8, 2007
Death Valley, Baton Rouge
LSU-48 VT-7
Game Recap:
Shocking!! That’s all I can say. I thought we’d win, but Saturday night’s clobbering of #9 Virginia Tech could not have been predicted by anyone. In front of a national primetime audience, LSU made a statement. Actually, it was more like a declaration. It went something like this:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Tigers are created better, that they are endowed by their coaches with certain unalienable abilities, that among these are touchdowns, field goals, and the pursuit of the quarterback.
Well, you know the rest. On this night, LSU showed why they are considered by some to be the best team in the land; Stifling defense, innovative offense, and clever special teams. LSU was able to do anything they wanted to a very good defensive team. The margin of victory was LSU largest against a top 10 team, and it was Frank Beamers worst loss as well. At least 5 tigers had career nights on offense, including Jacob Hester, Matt Flynn, and Keiland Williams. In my opinion, the most impressive aspect of LSU's nearly flawless performance was the play on 3rd downs. Gary Crowton always had a go-to play when he needed one the most. And even when VT forced a punt, Patrick Fisher once again delivered.
If I must be critical, I think the Tigers could have done better with the penalties. They need to show a little more discipline after the whistle blows. But in their defense, the personal fouls could have gone either way. There were no blatant infractions. More disturbing was the kickoff coverage. Virginia Tech actually had more return yards than total offense.
Game Ball:
Wow, this is tough. This week, the game ball goes to Gary Crowton. I know this is usually reserved for players, but the performance of the offensive coordinator was beyond words. For once, I am speachless. Jimbo who??
Other Games of Interest:
West Virginia -48 Marshall-23
Oklahoma-51 Miami-13
South Carolina-16 Georgia-12
Penn St.-31 Notre Dame-10
South Florida-26 Auburn-23
Washington-24 Boise St.-10
Oregon-39 Michigan-7
Am I Wrong?
How is LSU not ranked #1 in the polls this week after that performance. Wait a minute... On second thought, don't answer that. We all know how the system works. And we all know the silly little rules that have been spewed out so many times that they are practically law. #1 USC can't be jumped because they had an off week. What?? Why?? Has anyone asked the question why?? USC beat Idaho; and not that impressively I might add. Did I mention they played IDAHO? LSU and Oklahoma have shown more through week two than any other teams in the country. Both teams have looked incredible. The rankings should be an indication of performance. Instead, they are used by media members to validate their own predictions.
My Top 5:
1. LSU
2. Oklahoma
3. USC
4. West Virginia
5. Florida
Just My Opinion:
Ok. You heard it here first. LSU will meet Oklahoma in the National Championship Game in New Orleans. Sound familiar?
Whack Stats:
-LSU held Virginia Tech to 40 offensive yards in the first half. That's Whack!
-LSU had 17 points before VT had a first down. That's Whack!
Most Ridiculous Item:
Responding to Kirk Herbstreit's assertion that LSU has the best defense in the country, Brent Musberger had this to say... "I'm not willing to say that they (LSU) are better than USC's defense. But they're pretty good."
Mr. Musberger, please educate yourself before you say something that ridiculous. USC gave up 14 points to IDAHO! It is clear that you are on the Pac-10 payroll.
Shame on You:
-Shame on you Auburn for losing to South Florida. For the second week in a row, you have embarrassed the SEC. Did you forget to pay the ref's this week?
-Shame on you, Michigan and Notre Dame. You guys are terrible. The entire country is laughing at you.
Did you notice?
Did you notice the look on Glennon's face after he was taken out of the game and replaced by the freshman QB? He looked just like Henig last week. At least Glennon didn't cry on the bench like a little girl.
Extra Point:
LSU set an attendance record on Saturday night with 92,739 fans witnessing the beat down in Death Valley. I am proud to say that I contributed to the record setting night.
Off the Field:
The tailgating experience was one for the ages. 8am till 1am. That's a lot of tailgaiting, and a lot of beer. Thankfully, reinforcements arrived just in time. I actually got a standing ovation from other tailgating groups that were impressed with my ability to carry that much beer. The rain held out. The satellite dish was a big hit, especially to those without tickets. Good food. Good people. Good game. That's what it's all about. Oh yeah, and riding a buzz for 17 hours!
The Rumor Mill:
It was only a matter of time, but Les Miles' name has surfaced as a possible replacement for Michigan's Lloyd Carr. Carr is sure to be sacked after this season, and Miles will be #1 on Michigan's wish list. Now we have to listen to this crap for the rest of the season.
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