With TCU and two cupcakes in its wake, LSU should really like its position heading into Southeastern Conference play against Auburn next week.
Averaging 46 points and nearly 500 total yards per game, the Tigers’ offense has been a revelation, moving the ball at will through the air and on the ground.
The offense has put up video-game numbers, something I didn’t think I’d ever see from a Les Miles-coached team — especially with the Gary Crowton era fresh in my mind.
You don’t need to be a quarterback guru to see that the difference begins with Zach Mettenberger.
We’ve all heard a lot about Mettenberger’s improvement under offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, but I can’t believe this is the same guy I watched last season. He’s thrown for more than 250 yards a game, completed 65.2 percent of his passes and tossed a school-record nine touchdowns in his first three games.
The only semblance of the Mettenberger from last season is his responses to the media — he still gives the same sarcastic deadpan answers when asked about breaking records.
Well, maybe he’s a little happier this season.
After the running game took a back seat to Mettenberger’s five touchdowns against UAB, Miles said all week he wanted the ground game to get back on track against Kent State. He said his linemen needed to finish their blocks so the Tigers could run with greater efficiency.
Miles’ team heard him loud and clear, responding with 307 rushing yards on 37 carries — 8.3 yards per carry — against the Golden Flashes on Saturday night.
But perhaps the biggest development to come out of Saturday was the return of the old Jeremy Hill, who showed the burst and power that made him so effective last season. After the game, Miles said he still thinks Hill isn’t fully back yet. With 117 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries, it’s going to be scary if Miles is right.
Again, I know the last two defenses LSU faced were awful, but this offense appears to be
firing on all cylinders, and I think they’ll continue putting up points all season long.
I’m much more curious to see how the LSU defense does once the level of competition cranks up.
The Tigers had some issues with tackling and missed assignments in the secondary during the second quarter against UAB. As a result, defensive coordinator John Chavis is working in a number of young players in the secondary.
I wanted to see how the defense would handle Kent State running back Dri Archer’s explosiveness Saturday night, but he was hobbled by an ankle injury and only played a handful of downs.
Auburn’s up-tempo offense will provide an interesting test for the Tigers’ defense next week, but nothing LSU has seen thus far compares to the fire power it will face against Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M down the road.
But given the way all those teams have scored and given up points so far this season, defense might be on the decline in the SEC.
All the Tigers have done thus far is take care of business, but I’ve been really impressed with the way they’ve done it. Miles has this team growing more
confident by the week and he has to like the way they are rolling into SEC play.