LSU’s offense is fairly anemic. That’s no surprise after the Tigers sunk to the bottom of the barrel in offense in 2009 (No. 112 in total offense) and 2010 (No. 86). After its third-best yardage day of the season against Auburn yesterday, LSU sits at 78th in total offense with its passing offense barely hanging on to Top 100 territory at No. 99.
But the difference between the LSU team that limped into Auburn last year and couldn’t win a game it should have and this year’s squad that handed the War Eagles their worst SEC beatdown in 15 years is a little farther down the stat sheet. LSU’s passing efficiency rank has rocketed up from 110th last year at this time to 10th now.
While LSU has attempted 14 fewer passes this year, the Tigers have completed two more. And on average each of those completions have gained three more yards this year. LSU has five more passing touchdowns and eight fewer interceptions in 2011. That’s how your team’s passing efficiency goes from 106.18 to 162.38 and from worst to first in the SEC.
Couple the Tigers’ highly-effective passing game with its productive ground game (LSU is averaging 189 yards rushing, up 10 per game from last season) and much better pass protection (.88 sacks allowed per game compared to 1.75 last year) and Les Miles now has a consistent and productive offense to execute his “just as much as we need to do” offensive gameplan.
And when your defense is giving up just 251 yards and 11.5 points per game, an efficient if unspectacular offense will take you a long way. Pile on top of that the nation’s No. 2 turnover margin (netting 1.88 per game) and No. 6 net punting game (flipping the field 41 yards per kick) and LSU is a killing machine. All told, this mild-mannered offense and deadly defense has LSU sitting at No. 15 in scoring at 39.25 points per game.
Of course, running a mild-mannered offense is easier when you’re facing the nation’s No. 75 defense (Auburn) than when you’re facing the No. 1 defense (Alabama). Miles will likely have to get more aggressive against Saban’s guys (No. 1 in rush defense, pass efficiency defense, total defense and scoring defense), but we’ll know early on as he will surely probe the Alabama line and test our running ability. But I think we saw a tiny taste of Bama preparation in the two long throws to Reuben Randle Saturday. No, you’re not going to beat Fonzie’s secondary like that, but I think Miles was trying to build some comfort with throwing long without giving up his actual playbook.
I’ve become pretty comfortable with the Miles Method. The offensive efficiency of this season helps out a lot there. I think there’s a long-term question of whether LSU can continue to attract bigtime playmakers like Randle, Russell Shepard (theoretic playmaker) and the like at wide receiver if throwing becomes a last resort, but I like the strategy. Don’t show future opponents more than you need to and just pound away at the other team.
Get us past Bama and this strategy will serve LSU well.
