Consolation Prize

Blog Changes:
In case you haven’t noticed, The Samson Report has converted to a once-a-week format coming out late on Wednesday nights. This is much easier on me so get used to it. Also, I’ve begun to moderate the comments section but I don’t want that to stop you from sharing your thoughts. I just wanted a way to delete comments that contributed absolutely nothing to the blog. Also, no anonymous comments will be posted. So tell me what you think, especially if you disagree with me, but make sure you leave your name.

Week 13: November 23, 2007
Arkansas def. (1) LSU, 50-48
Death Valley, Baton Rouge

Game Recap:
I thought by today that I’d be over this loss. I thought my blood pressure would have finally dropped below the dangerous levels that it reached last Friday. Well, thanks to a few bud lights and an entire bottle of Lipitor, I think I’ll be OK. It still hurts and it always will, but we all must learn to live with the fact that we let it slip away. It was in our hands, but we didn’t want it bad enough to hold on.

Offensively, I thought LSU played good enough to win the game. They didn’t set any school records, but they had a solid game plan and the execution was satisfactory. Matt Flynn had an average day throwing the ball but he did what needed to be done to put us in position to win the game. The biggest offensive mistake of the game belongs to Early Doucet. How is it possible that our receivers can’t figure out that you can’t cover up another receiver on the line of scrimmage? This has been a problem EVERY game. Matt Flynn can’t be responsible for checking the position of every player while trying to read the defense. The receivers have struggled with focus and concentration all season. Lining up correctly is not hard, it’s FUNDAMENTAL. They really dropped the ball on this one (pun intended). DJ McCarthy, the WR coach, needs to take some of the heat for this as well. If my position players were consistently making the same mistake over, and over, and over; I would have done whatever was necessary to fix the problem. Jacob Hester had another solid game.

Defensively, what can I say? The once proud LSU defense is no more. I have been in denial about this for several weeks, but it’s time for me to admit to myself that we can no longer trust our defense. They let us down again, and this time it cost us the game. Arkansas is not a great offense. I wouldn’t even call them a good offense. But they do have Darren McFadden. D-Mac, as expected, had another great game and LSU couldn’t stop him. But LSU’s defensive game plan was weak. Pellini should have known that Casey Dick was a below average QB who is very below average when the pressure is on. Why didn’t we blitz?? Why did we give him time to continually throw to the mismatched receiver (usually Danny McCray)? The 4th down conversion in the first overtime will go down in LSU history as one of the most disappointing defensive plays ever. Casey Dick? CASEY DICK?? CASEY %&#@ing DICK????? That’s the person you let beat you?? Pitiful Pellini!!!

This has got to be the most disappointing loss in LSU’s recent history. It’s a very hard pill. LSU had the world by the tail. They controlled their own destiny going into the last week of the regular season. Everything was there for us. Now, everything is lost. Most years, an SEC Championship is an amazing feat. This year, it feels like a consolation prize.

It is natural to place blame, so let’s get to it.
First up …. Bo Pellini, what’s going on? Have you given up on LSU because you’re going to Nebraska? Please tell me because your defense is a joke. You’ve transformed the most feared defense in the country into a national embarrassment. And you did it so quickly.
Neeeeexxxttt …. Les Miles, are you blind (or stupid)? Do you not see the problems this team has? The defense has been in a steady decline for the last 7 weeks. Penalties are killing us and may have cost us the game. Our offensive formations still aren’t right. Our coverage teams are terrible. Your best players are not always on the field. Linebackers can’t drop back into man coverage. Patrick Fisher can’t punt the ball less than 50 yards. And when he does, it gets returned for a touchdown. Etc. Etc. Etc. Make adjustments. Do something different. Go back to what works. Stop being stubborn (or lazy). You ignored the handwriting on the wall for too long. The players, the fans, and most importantly, the seniors deserved a better effort from you and your coaching staff. You and Pellini need to return half of your compensation for last week’s game for that half-ass coaching job.

Whack Stats:
The LSU defense has given up over 1000 yards the last two games against powerhouses Ole Miss and Arkansas. That’s Whack!!!

Coaching Changes:
I’m going to make this short and sweet. Miles is gone to Michigan. Pellini is gone to Nebraska. This WILL be a done deal by this time next week. Also, LSU is reportedly willing to nullify Miles’ buyout clause of $1.25 million if he continues to handle this situation with integrity. The top 3 candidates to replace Miles are: 1) Jack Del Rio, 2) Steve Spurrier, 3) Nick Saban. More to come in the next few days and weeks.

Rumor Mill:
Now that I have your attention, I need to say that the Saban thing is only a rumor at this point. But the same story has surfaced from several different sources. And before you tell me that I am crazy and I don’t know what I’m talking about, just remember who Saban’s agent is. Jimmy Sexton is a coaching pimp. He’s going to throw his clients into every coaching discussion across the country. Rumor has it that Saban has offered to take a long term deal with a huge buyout. Rumor has it that new LSU president John Lombardi favors Steve Spurrier. Rumor has it that Jack Del Rio has put out feelers for the LSU opening. Rumors, Rumors, Rumors… Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. The smoke is getting thicker. By next Monday, we’ll be choking.

BCS Top 10:
1. Missouri
2. West Virginia
3. Ohio St.
4. Georgia
5. Kansas
6. Virginia Tech
7. LSU
8. Southern Cal
9. Oklahoma
10. Florida

Tailgating Season:
Well another tailgating season has come to an end. I thought we had another successful year. The spot was great. The participation was great. The food was great. Thanks to Denis and Travis for everything they did this year.

Week 14: Saturday December 1, 2007
SEC Championship Game
(7) LSU vs. (14) Tennessee
Atlanta, Georgia
CBS 3pm

Point Spread:
LSU -7.5

Know thy Foe:
Head Coach: Phil Fulmer

Tennessee is a team that has improved throughout the season. They started out slow losing 2 of their first 3 games. Their last two games have come down to the last possession including a triple overtime win against Kentucky. They may be emotionally drained but so is LSU.

Week 1: Lost to California, 45-31
Week 2: Defeated Southern Miss, 39-19
Week 3: Lost to Florida, 59-20
Week 4: Defeated Arkansas St., 48-27
Week 5: OFF
Week 6: Defeated Georgia, 35-14
Week 7: Defeated Mississippi St., 33-21
Week 8: Lost to Alabama, 41-17
Week 9: Defeated South Carolina, 27-24
Week 10: Defeated UL Lafayette, 59-7
Week 11: Defeated Arkansas, 34-13
Week 12: Defeated Vanderbilt, 25-24
Week 13: Defeated Kentucky, 52-50

LSU Offense vs. Tennessee Defense:
The injury to Matt Flynn will give Ryan Perrilloux a chance to show us what he’s got. Les Miles has stated that Ryan P has improved greatly since the last time he started the game against Middle Tennessee. The Vols are a good defensive team but they will give up points.

LSU Defense vs. Tennessee Offense:
Eric Ainge is the Vol QB. He is a pretty good passer. He’s got a good offensive line to protect him as well and he’s only been sacked 3 times all season. Lucas Taylor is the favorite target for Ainge. Taylor, a native of LA, leads the league in receiving. Arian Foster is the Vol running back. It’s hard for me to predict this match up because our defense is unpredictable. Maybe the coaches and team will play a little looser with the pressure off.

Game Prediction:
I’m glad we’re playing Tennessee instead of Georgia, but Tennessee is still a very dangerous team. They will want this game more, that’s for sure. LSU is still in a funk after the heartbreaking loss. It will be the coaches’ job to prepare this team mentally and get them ready to win an SEC Championship. There’s still a LOT to play for but that’s not the vibe around town. This game is a big deal to the program. I’m not going to call for the upset, but I don’t have a good feeling about this one.
I’ll take LSU-33, Tennesse-31

Injury Report:
Matt Flynn looks like he’ll be very limited this week and may miss the game entirely due to a shoulder problem. Perrilloux will get the start.
Dorsey is still hampered by a back injury. He will not play very much if at all.
Trindon will play.
Beckwith is not 100% but will play.
Curtis Taylor has been practicing but he’ll be a game time decision after taking a helmet to the ribs in overtime. I really thought he broke his ribs.

Week 14 Games of the Week: (Predicted winners in CAPS)
(1) Missouri vs. (9) OKLAHOMA
(6) VIRGINIA TECH vs. (11) Boston College
(2) WEST VIRGINIA vs. Pitt
(12) Hawaii vs. WASHINGTON
Army vs. NAVY

Lock of the Week:
Arizona St. (-7) vs. Arizona

Upset Special:
Oregon St. (+5) over (17) Oregon

Bowl Scenarios:
If we win:
We will be in the Sugar Bowl. Our opponent will probably be Hawaii if they can beat Washington this weekend. If not, it’ll probably be Illinois. There is still a sliver of hope that we could sneak in the back door of the National Championship game if West Virginia loses to Pitt and Oklahoma beats Missouri. I think OU can beat Mizzou, but West Virginia is going to smoke Pitt like a cigar. Don’t get your hopes up.

If we lose:
We will probably end up in the Cotton Bowl, but there is a chance that we end up in Capital One Bowl against maybe Michigan. That would be interesting to say the least.

Good News:
Ricky Jean Francois will be in the game for the Tigers after being ineligible all season due to academic cheating. He’s been practicing and should be a welcomed addition to a worn down defensive front.