LSU coach Nick Saban said most people, when reviewing the performance of wide receivers, look at statistics for how many balls the receiver caught and for how many yards and make their opinion of his performance based on the numbers.
So based on this evaluation, Michael Clayton’s 2002 season (44 catches for 572) has been a disappointment compared to last season, where he caught 47 passes for 754 yards and six touchdowns, right? Not according to Saban.
“That’s not at all true with Michael Clayton,” Saban said. “He’s played his role on this team as well as any wide receiver that we have, and he’s done it without complaining. He’s always trying to do what’s most helpful to the team.”
That is because Clayton wants to win whether it means he is catching passes or blocking.
“Win by any means necessary,” Clayton said after LSU’s 14-13 win over Ole Miss, where he caught six passes for 77 yards, including the game-winning touchdown. “We’re going to take every approach we can to win the ball game, whether it’s running, passing or whatever.”
Following an All-American in any sport is a difficult task. Clayton follows All-American receiver Josh Reed, who caught 94 passes for 1,740 yards. That is more yards than all LSU receivers combined this season with 1,594.
Clayton leads LSU receivers in catches and yardage this season, but his role in the offense has changed, just as the entire offense has changed from a pass-run to a run-pass setup.
“I think he’s played outstanding,” Saban said. “I think he played outstanding [against Ole Miss]. He was our offensive player of the week, not just for the passes that he caught but for the blocking that he did and the toughness that he showed.”
According to teammate and receiver Reggie Robinson, Clayton is one of the best run blockers on the team.
The LSU football team has a knockdown chart, which records every time an opposing player is knocked down on a block. Robinson said Clayton leads the team in knockdowns and takes great pride in run blocking.
“I believe he likes blocking more than he likes catching the ball,” Robinson said. “He gets excited blocking, especially on bigger guys. He enjoys hitting people. He could be like a starting free safety if he wanted to be.”
Offensive tackle Rodney Reed said Clayton is a vital part of the team.
“He’s also an emotional leader,” Reed said. “When the time is needed for him to say something, he says it at the right times. He’s a leader on this team and a real productive player. He makes big plays when we need big plays made.”
Clayton still is LSU’s “big play” receiver in clutch situations, and he showed why Saturday against Ole Miss.
With the Tigers trailing the Rebels 13-7 in the fourth quarter and LSU holding the ball third and four from the Ole Miss 27-yard line, LSU called “Buffalo X-Whip,” a play designed to get the ball to the tailback swinging out of the backfield while Clayton is supposed to run downfield and cut to the sideline.
But the Ole Miss linebacker overflowed early to cover the back and Clayton recognized this and stopped his route. Quarterback Marcus Randall read this and dumped the ball to Clayton who caught the pass and bolted 27 yards into the end zone for the winning touchdown.
“I faked a slant and when I stopped I guess the defender slipped, and Marcus put it in there,” Clayton said. “He read it and saw that I had sat down. When I caught it I was wide open into the end zone.”
With the loss of second-leading receiver Devery Henderson, LSU needs a big performance from Clayton Friday against Arkansas if it wants to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division and travel to the championship game against Georgia.
“We as players are going to have to step up,” Clayton said. “We can’t make as many mistakes or we’re not going to win. The coaches are going to step it up, and it’s going to be tough this week in practice, and we’re going to come out with our heads up on Friday.”