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Monday, August 20, 2007
Does Spurrier have problems on the O-line?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s getting close.
With only 10 days left before the opener between LSU and Mississippi State, here are five things we think we know from the first two weeks of practice:
1. Steve Spurrier is really concerned about his offensive line. Spurrier’s entire offensive system is based on giving his quarterback enough time to make the reads and for his receivers to run very precise routes. If Spurrier has to keep an extra body or two in the backfield to protect his quarterback, then the offense is not nearly as effective. If the problem is not solved by Sept. 8, when South Carolina goes to Georgia, then Spurrier will pull in the reins and try to win a very low scoring, defensive game.
2. Nick Saban downplays everything with the media. That’s okay because what coaches do. But it is significant if place kicker Jamie Christensen of Norcross does not answer the bell on Sept. 1 against Western Carolina. Christensen, who missed several games with a groin injury last season, suffered a strained quadriceps muscle last week. He has proven to be a clutch kicker and with Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida State in consecutive weeks in September, it’s fair to say that Alabama will be in some close games. Maybe Leigh Tiffin can make those kicks. We’ll see.
3. This would be a very good time to own a bar in Baton Rouge and season tickets to LSU football.
How good is this home schedule: Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas? And the Tigers will probably be favored to win every one of them.
Here’s another question: You think they might be able to sell a few tickets to a Southern Cal-LSU national championship game in New Orleans? How big would that be?
4. Florida State needs to be tougher on the offensive line. While everyone is looking at the quarterbacks-Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee-the reality is that the Seminoles may not be good enough on the offensive line to do what new OC Jimbo Fisher wants to do. Florida State was No. 103 nationally in rushing last season (96.54 ypg). LSU, where Fisher worked in 2006, averaged 165.77 yards per game rushing even though it had a quarterback and two wide receivers that were picked in the first round of the NFL draft. Fisher’s offense won’t work if there is no running threat.
5. Eric Berry is the real deal. The freshman cornerback from Fairburn (Creekside) has impressed coaches with his athleticism and football knowledge. He is competing with sophomore Marsalous Johnson for a starting cornerback’s job. Conventional wisdom says you shouldn’t start a freshman on the road against a California offense the scored 32.85 points per game last season. But Berry might be one of those guys who goes against conventional wisdom
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