After LSU pulled out its second comeback victory in three games, LSU coach Les Miles said he does not want his team to develop a “lucky” mentality.
“I don’t want to even think about those close games,” Miles said jokingly. “I would prefer for our team to get things done in the first three downs.”
ILLEGAL BLOCK
One player who might not benefit from Lady Luck is senior defensive tackle Glen Dorsey, who left the game after being chop blocked by two Auburn offensive linemen.
Dorsey was injured in the third quarter of Saturday’s 30-24 victory against Auburn after freshman offensive lineman Chaz Ramsey dove toward Dorsey’s feet and cut blocked the All-American, while Dorsey was tied up with another Auburn lineman.
After reviewing film of the block, Miles concluded the play was illegal and the Auburn player should have been penalized.
“I don’t think there was any question that it was a penalty, and I don’t think there was any question that it was not ethical,” Miles said. “I think it’s important that officials reach out and protect our players, both the quarterback and defensive lineman.”
Miles, who sent video of the block to the Southeastern Conference league office Sunday, said he talked to SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and was told that there should have been a penalty.
Miles also said he spoke with Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, and he assured him that the players responsible for the block were upset with themselves about what happened.
The cut block by itself is a legal move. But when combined with a “poster” – or one lineman to occupy the defensive lineman’s attention while another offensive lineman goes for the chop block – as was the case with Dorsey, the tactic becomes a very dangerous and illegal move.
Miles said he can remember a time when he played offensive line for Michigan in the ’70s when he was coached to block that way, but he said times have changed during the past 30 years.
“It’s been years now that [the chop block] really doesn’t have a place in football,” Miles said. “Coach Tuberville sees it that way, the league sees it that way. And it is important that we are all on the same page.”
Miles said he does not know he extent of the injury but said he is “optimistic” that the injury to Dorsey’s right knee is minimal.
FLYNN HONORED
For his efforts in the victory against Auburn this past Saturday, LSU quarterback Matt Flynn was named the SEC offensive player of the week.
Flynn, who has been bothered throughout this season with an ankle injury, finished the game completing 22-of-34 passes for a career-high 319 yards and three touchdowns, including the 22-yard, go-ahead scoring pass to junior wide receiver Demetrius Byrd that put the Tigers up 30-24 with one second remaining.
‘THE PLAY’
Already in field goal position and down by just one point, with one timeout remaining and the last seconds ticking off the clock in the fourth quarter, Miles signaled in a passing play to Flynn from offensive coordinator Gary Crowton.
After Byrd scored the game-winning touchdown reception with just one second remaining and a timeout still on the board, Miles defended his actions after receiving some heat from the national media for cutting it so close.
“Things could have happened in the next down,” Miles said. “I wanted a chance to score twice instead of once.”
Miles said he was comfortable with the play-call and the subsequent time left to attempt a game-winning field goal had that pass been incomplete, but still wished the ball would have been snapped earlier.
“There shouldn’t have been as much time elapsed between the play call and snap,” Miles said.
INJURIES Miles said after eight straight weeks of playing football games, the Tigers’ open week is timely because of the “bumps and bruises” his players have endured.
“We’ll need some time to get healthy,” Miles said. “It’s not inconceivable that we could be completely healthy for Alabama, but it is also possible that we could lose up to three guys.”
Dorsey went out with an apparent hamstring injury before the illegal block in the Auburn game, and junior linebacker Darry Beckwith left with a shoulder injury.
ALABAMA vs. LSU ON CBS
The SEC announced that the Nov. 3 game between LSU and Alabama will be televised by CBS at 4 p.m.
This is the second consecutive game at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the Tigers to be nationally televised by CBS. In 2005, LSU squeaked by Alabama with a 16-13 overtime victory.
—–Contact Jeff Martin at [email protected]