Second-year Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt has historically designed game plans centered on his best athletes, and those plans have translated into offensive success against LSU in past years.Nutt-coached teams have averaged 427 yards of total offense and 35 points per game against the Tigers in the last three seasons, which turned into two wins for Nutt.Both wins — last season’s 31-13 Ole Miss victory at Death Valley and 2007’s triple overtime victory when Nutt coached Arkansas — came when LSU was favored in the game.But 2009 has been a different story for an LSU team looking to turn its fortunes against Nutt-coached offenses.The defense, under the tutelage of first-year defensive coordinator John Chavis, has allowed a scant 13.7 points a game compared to the 24.2 points a game allowed by the 2008 squad. The LSU defense also recorded its first shutout since September 2007 when the Tigers defeated Tulane, 42-0, on Oct. 31.”The biggest [difference] I see is they’re not giving up very many plays over 15 or 20 yards,” Nutt said about the LSU defense at his Monday press conference. “You think things are open, and then it closes up real fast.”Many of the yards racked up by Nutt’s teams have been through the use of the Wildcat formation, which has been made popular in the NFL by the Miami Dolphins.The Wildcat utilizes an athletic playmaker in the quarterback position to create confusion on the opposing defense through misdirection by sending several players who could all get the ball in different directions at the snap.Senior wide receiver Dexter McCluster runs Ole Miss’ version of the Wildcat, called the “Wild Rebel” and has had success in the formation this season.Last weekend, McCluster mastered the Wild Rebel formation to the tune of 282 rushing yards against Tennessee. The performance garnered him Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.”He’s the type of guy you’ve got to know where he’s at at all times,” LSU junior safety Chad Jones said of McCluster. “He could line up at running back and motion to wide receiver, then they just automatically shift and he’ll be the quarterback. He’s definitely the guy to watch. We’re going to keep our eye on him.”McCluster is one of several examples of Nutt’s prowess for finding the best ways to utilize his athletes.During his tenure at Arkansas, Nutt used two-time Heisman trophy runner-up Darren McFadden often in the “Wild Hog” formation. McFadden gouged the LSU defenses for 388 rushing yards in the 2006 and 2007 games.”Coach Nutt does a great job preparing them,” said LSU coach Les Miles “I think their offense with Dexter McCluster, [quarterback] Jevan Snead and [running back] Brandon Bolden is a very talented offense. They can run it and throw it. They’re very balanced.”Snead picked the LSU secondary apart last season thanks in part to the Wild Rebel formation. The Tiger defense, which was focused on stopping Ole Miss’ vaunted rushing attack, allowed Snead to throw for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Snead averaged 17.1 yards per completion.Snead has been the focus of some criticism this season, however. He has thrown 14 interceptions this season, which tops the SEC.”You definitely want to turn up the pressure,” Jones said. “Once you see him getting a little rattled, see things not going so good, you know you want to turn it up a notch.”—-Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]